Morning Papers - continued...

Zoo Officials: Tiger Attack Blamed On Human Error (video)
POSTED: 12:27 pm CDT July 18, 2007
UPDATED: 1:08 pm CDT July 18, 2007
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SAN ANTONIO -- Human error led to a recent attack by a tiger on a keeper at the San Antonio Zoo, officials announced Wednesday.
During a news conference, Zoo director Steve McCusker said Jeff Tierney, 28, was leaving water inside a tiger's cage on Saturday, when he left the area and accidentally left a door that leads to the exhibit open.
Tierney quickly realized his error, and when he went to close the door, Berani, a male Sumatran tiger, attacked the keeper.

http://www.ksat.com/news/13705705/detail.html



Some general principles for zoos looking for funding from the EU
Jump to Comments
Get to understand the basic policies, principles and ethos of the EU first, rather than immediately plunge in with your funding need. If possible try to participate in policy making at the ground floor
Your best opportunity may not lie in the most obvious area. Thus zoos should not only look to DG Environment, but take a wide strategic approach
Understand where the decisions are being made - at national or EU level?
Form partnerships and networks
I shall post more on this subject if you ask

http://zoofunding.wordpress.com/2007/07/10/some-general-principles-for-zoos-looking-for-funding-from-the-eu/



Zoo has eight possible homes for Maggie; process complex
DECISION: Choice may be made within week but there are still obstacles to move.
By MEGAN HOLLAND
mholland@adn.com
Published: July 11, 2007
Last Modified: July 11, 2007 at 03:12 AM
The next home for Maggie, the Alaska Zoo's lone elephant, may be chosen this week but that's not quick enough for those who want her moved out of Alaska pronto.
Zoo director Pat Lampi said he plans to present a list tonight to the Alaska Zoo board of several options picked from eight institutions that have told the zoo they want the African elephant.
He does not know, though, when the board will make a decision or how long it will take to get Maggie ready for the move.

http://www.adn.com/front/story/9123561p-9038928c.html



Red Wolf Pups at The VLM
Posted by LGK in news (Wednesday July 11, 2007 at 0756)
Red Wolves at Virginia Living Museum
I got an email from James Dean at The VLM a few months ago and I apologize for being so late in announcing this — I have been swimming in a sea of boxes packing up and readying for the sale of the house.
The pups are now out in public view so stop by the VLM today and visit!!
Six pack of red wolf pups born at the Virginia Living Museum
The Virginia Living Museum announces the birth of six red wolf pups on April 26. Red wolves are one of the world’s most endangered wild canids.
The six pups (three males, three females) are the second litter for the museum’s adult red wolves. On April 28, each pup weighed about ¾ lbs. (314-382 grams). On May 9, their weight ranged from 1½ to 2 lbs. Their eyes opened on May 10 and one of the pups began walking on May 13.

http://www.wolfsource.org/?p=210



Virginia Living Museum

http://www.thevlm.org/



Okapi's In UK Zoo's
Hey i thought some of you guys may be able to give a bit more information on the other okapi in uk zoo's
Chester - 1.1 - Male is called Mbuti and is the offspring from the female at bristol zoo (which they tried horse whispering with him so that they could attend his hooves without using a cruch). The female is called Stuma and came from strugart.
Bristol - 1.1 - There male died after Mbuti was born and so londons male was sent to them.
London - 1.1 - The male is called dicky that was at Chester for a while.
Woburn safari park built an exhibit for them but before they could obtain any animals, a decision was made to not allow any zoo without okapis to introduce them as they had a few poor years with okapi and the capitive population.

http://www.zoobeat.com/38/okapis-uk-zoos-7472/



SAFETY: Petting zoo perils
Animal exhibits educate children but precautions should be taken
Comment on this story
MELISSA GARZANELLI, melissag@mywebtimes.com, 815-431-4049
Photo: Jeremy Reed
Two-year-old Neva Morris of Ottawa pets a calf at a petting zoo in Sheridan during the Fourth of July celebration. Petting zoos offer children a fun and educational encounter with animals, but health experts warn children and adults must take precautions around these animals to stay safe.
Fuzzy ducklings, silky-smooth rabbits, friendly pygmy goats.
None of these animals conjure up threatening images. But petting zoos can be dangerous if visitors don't take precautions while visiting these furry creatures.
Petting zoos -- common exhibits at zoos, fairs and community festivals -- are both entertaining and educational for young children. For FFA members, hosting these petting zoos is often a highlight of their annual activities.
But petting zoos also have made national headlines as children and adults have become sick after visiting such attractions.

http://mywebtimes.com/ottnews/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=302392



Zoos 'failing' over work in wild
The Highland Wildlife Park said it was introducing snow leopards
A wildlife charity has criticised Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park for not giving enough support to conservation projects in the wild.
The zoos were among 13 highlighted by the Born Free Foundation, which also said the zoos did not do enough to protect threatened species.
London, Bristol and Whipsnade zoos have also come under attack.
The Royal Zoological Society, which runs both of the Scottish zoos, defended its record.
Under EU legislation, zoos have a legal obligation to keep and breed threatened animals and support conservation projects.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6293892.stm



Conservation commitment
Last updated: 11 July 2007
Are zoos meeting their legal obligations to conservation of threatened species?
A new report released today questions the commitment of UK zoos to conservation.
The Born Free Foundation claim many threatened species are being ignored with scant spending on projects in the wild.
Since the European Zoos Directive of 2002, zoos have a legal obligation to keep and breed threatened animals and support conservation projects in the wild.
13 zoos named

http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=26390



Franklin Park Zoo’s Gorilla Family
The renovated gorilla exhibit at the Franklin Park Zoo let’s you get up close to the gorillas. They are interested in looking at us as much as we are interested in looking at them.

http://bostonnow.com/community/blogs/stevegarfield/2007/07/11/franklin-park-zoos-gorilla-family/



Helping animals can be sweet deal
Sarah D'Esti Miller
This weekend is going to the dogs. And cats, coatimundis, otters, bears and more. Animal lovers will have a busy weekend with two four-legged-friendly fundraisers.
First up, it's time once again for the Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park's Ice Cream Safari, featuring the flavors "coatimundi" cookies-n-cream, howling mint chocolate chip, "sandhill crane" butter crunch, spectacled black rasp"bear"y, "big cats" cookie dough and peanut "otter" fudge. Rest assured there will not be bears, cats or otters in the ice cream, which will be provided by Friendly's. It all works like this: Purchase a safari 'passport' at the ticket booth and as you wander through the zoo you can stop at six different stations for ice cream.
The Ice Cream Safari runs from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, during which time you also can check out various animal spotlights featuring some of the denizens of the Binghamton Zoo, which recently became home to a pair of bison, not to mention a baby reindeer born May 3. Zoos often get a bum rap, and bison are an excellent success story about the good zoos can do. Bison numbered only a few dozen at the turn of the century, but thanks to captive breeding in zoos and re-introduction into protected areas, they now number in the thousands.

http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070712/COLUMNISTS10/707120348/1004/LIFESTYLE



Striped skunks can cause quite a stink for beekeepers
Sunday, July 15, 2007 4:01 AM
By JIM FRY
Tim DanielDivision of Wildlife
The striped skunk usually hunts for food at night.
Ohio has 54 species of mammals, and the one that most people want to keep as far away as possible is the striped skunk. Its reputation precedes its presence.
The body of the striped skunk is black with a narrow white stripe up the middle of the forehead.
Broad white patches adorn the head and shoulders; the patches split into a V at the shoulder, and the two white lines continue along the back. The length and width of the stripes vary. The tail might have a white tip.
Skunks aren't seen frequently because they're mostly nocturnal.
During their nightly forays in spring and summer, they eat mostly insects. But they are omnivorous and also consume berries, carrion, crayfish, eggs, fish, frogs, fruits, grasses, grubs, lizards, mice and nuts.

http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/home_garden/stories/2007/07/15/fry15_ART_07-15-07_H3_4P78PV2.html



Coyotes attack dogs in Golden Gate Park
Jim Herron Zamora, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, July 16, 2007
San Francisco officials posted warnings in Golden Gate Park on Sunday after the first known coyote attack in the city in decades, when a pair of the wild canines charged two leashed dogs on a small path in the park.
"We're taking this very seriously," said Deb Campbell, spokeswoman for the San Francisco Animal Care and Control Department. "We have officers looking for the coyotes, and we are letting the public know about these coyotes."
The attack occurred about 9 a.m. Saturday, when a woman was walking her two large dogs along a path just south of Speedway Meadow near a large pile of mulch. Two coyotes bit one of her dogs, leaving it with minor injuries, and lunged at the other, according to animal control officials.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/07/16/MNG9TR15PH1.DTL


This is a new conservation society noted on the internet this week. Don't know much about it, but, if they are serious the 'plight' of these lions should be interesting.

are other conservation interests in Asia, notably is this one from Sri Lanka. If one recalls, they were struck by the Holiday Tsunami whereby many people died and the biotic balance of the nations involved have suffered damage. Additionally, the damage of the tsunami is only the tip of the iceberg, as there has been a resurgence to rebels, namely the Tamal Tigers.

tsunmai did a lot of damge and if the people there rather rebuild their biota over rebellion then I am all for it. I simply caution donors to be aware and well educated to the 'use' of all the monies. This is a volitile part of the world, as is the Middle East, adding monies to a cause is admirable as long as it acts to improve the plight of people interested in practicing conservation.

larger danger is to NOT donate to these efforts out of misinformation and fear. I am simply using this opportunity to point to a new start up conservation group that needs the help of others, while promoting 'responsibility' to the act of donating. Good luck.

http://www.slwcs.org/volunteer/


Detailed Information on Asiatic Lions in India, its Habitat, Gir Forest, and other animal residing in Gir

PLEASE NOTE...
This site is developed by Wildlife Conservation Trust of India (a group Wildlife enthusiasts) purely with intention of spreading information of Asiatic Lion and Gir. It will be our privilege to assist those who are interested to have more information or those wild-lifers & photographers who wish to visit Gir. Our office is at Rajkot in India. Any information on this website can be freely used by any person or institute for any reason.

http://www.asiaticlion.org/index.htm


Pride Rock Wildlife Refuge

http://www.priderock.org/


“The Belize Zoo is one of the best I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of zoos.”
Dan Haug's Recommendations
On July 3, we hopped a boat to Belize City and headed inland. Despite the warnings of pushy cab drivers, we had no problems navigating the local bus system. Sure, they’re converted school buses from the US, but they’re just as comfortable as the buses I ride every day in St. Paul, and their patrons are more respectable. The bus let us off at the Belize Zoo , where we stowed our bags at the gift shop and walked around for two or three hours. The Belize Zoo is one of the best I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of zoos. Instead of the artfully contrived shotcrete and plastic trees you’ll see at American zoos, this is the real deal. They’ve basically enclosed little patches of rainforest and stocked it with animals native to Belize. Not only are there agoutis and foxes in the enclosures, there’s also some wild ones wandering the trails. The weather was cool when we visited and the animals were surprisingly active. The baby jaguar was climbing trees and pouncing, the puma sat in front of the pen and purred, the tapirs squeezed their flexible noses through the fence to be petted, and the otters raced around psychotically. Birds were featured as well: a harpy eagle with a leg as thick as my bicep, a colorful toucan, and a spectacled owl with an unnerving stare. The signs are full of corny Belizean slang (i.e. “We toucans love Belize. No true.”) but you can tell that the children will actually read them.

http://realtravel.com/san_ignacio-journals-j5031994.html


Endangered Black and White Ruffed Lemur Born at Zoo
Published: July 12, 2007
SACRAMENTO - The Sacramento Zoo is pleased to announce its newest arrival—one male Black & white ruffed lemur—born to 8-yr old parents. This is the second set of offspring for this pair. The mother is taking exceptional care of her infant which has not yet been named. The three lemurs born last year and the father remain in the exhibit.
The infant was found in the “nest” on the morning of May 16th. Two lemurs were born, but the other male died shortly after birth of natural causes. High infant mortality is not uncommon in this species. Although ruffed lemurs are capable of having up to six infants at a time, typically two or three youngsters (weighing about 100 grams each) are born.
Black and white ruffed lemurs live in small groups of 2 to 16 individuals. Females are dominant over males in their groups. A female yearling will often be forced out of the group by the breeding female when the next litter is born. “Here at the Sacramento Zoo, we are working to keep our female yearling born in 2006 a part of the group. To do so, we have kept the female yearling with the mother when she gave birth and each night since. We also rotated each one of the male yearlings inside at night to keep the youngsters familiar with the mom and infant.,” said Leslie Field, Lead Zookeeper/Supervisor. “All three yearlings are very comfortable with the new baby and the mom has shown no signs of excluded the young female,” Field said. This is a unique situation and our animal care staff collaborated with other zoos to formulate the best plan to keep our group well-bonded.

http://www.sacunion.com/pages/sacramento/articles/9227/



Animal Ark or Sinking Ship?
At least 5,624 species of vertebrate animals are currently threatened with extinction worldwide.
The role of zoos in the conservation of biodiversity, and specifically ex situ conservation, became a legal obligation in Europe in 2002 with the implementation of the European Zoos Directive. The Directive was fully incorporated into UK zoo legislation in 2003. Perhaps recognising an opportunity to refute growing scepticism over the keeping of animals in captivity, zoos assumed the role of animal ‘arks’ and promoted their new conservation purpose.
However, despite claims by zoos that their contribution to conservation is significant, to date there has been no reliable mechanism to assess zoos’ performance. Should the conservation credentials of zoos be taken on trust?
In the last 12 months, the Born Free Foundation has undertaken a series of investigations to assess the conservation commitment of the UK’s more ‘progressive’ zoos.
Download the report summary - pdf 815KB

http://www.bornfree.org.uk/campaigns/zoo-check/uk-zoos/zoo-conservation/




Vail’s newest creative creatures
Ford Park hosts a slew of bronze animal sculptures through Labor Day
Luciana Love, 17 months, stands next to a bear called “Indigo’s Dream” created by artist Dan Ostermiller. The bronze bear is one of six wildlife sculptures being showcased at Ford Park through Labor Day.
VAIL — Giggling, a mom and her two blonde-haired daughters lie sprawled on a blanket next to a towering bronze elephant sculpture in Ford Park. The remnants of a picnic lunch sit on the grass beside them.
“We came looking for wildflowers to picnic next to and we found this,” said Colorado Springs resident Terry Hall, gesturing to the surrounding botanic gardens and the sculptures.
“It was a lucky accident.”

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20070717/AE/70717015



Meet the Galops
Once again this year we are hatching Galapagos tortoises. This has become an annual occurence here at the Gladys Porter Zoo, and young Galapagos tortoises are always on exhibit in the Herpetarium.
This little fellow will soon break out of his egg. You can see his egg tooth, the little projection on the tip of his beak that is used to puncture the egg shell from within.
This is his sibling who just broke out of his egg a few days ago. In the wild they would still be underground at this point, digging their way to the surface only after resorbing their yolk sacs. It is rather humbling to realize that, if all goes well, these little tortoises will see much of the 22nd century.
Presently we have 7 adult Galapagos tortoises here at the Zoo, 2 males and 5 females. These 4 are currently on exhibit:

http://herpblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/meet-galops.html




Crocodile farms opened in Russia
17.07.2007
Two crocodile farms have opened in the Krasnodar Region of Russia. Every evening experienced crocodile tamers entertain tourists with animal shows. However, the crocodile owners claim that farms were created not for business purposes only – they are also an asylum for reptiles left by beach photographers or exotic animal lovers.
One of the farms with two crocodiles and one alligator is situated in Temryuksky district, and the second farm near Anapa keeps four crocodiles. However, crocodiles are not the only dwellers of the farms – they also keep such reptiles as snakes and lizards.
After the beach season is over, all animals will be brought to the Voronezh Region for wintering.

http://www.russia-ic.com/news/show/4357/



Houston Zoos Chinese Tigers
A Chinese Tiger training session at the Houston Zoo. These
tigers are twin brothers and 8 years old each.

http://onlyanimalvideo.blogspot.com/2007/07/houston-zoos-chinese-tigers.html



Compendium of Measures to Prevent Disease Associated with Animals in Public Settings, 2007
National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV)
Prepared by NASPHV
Summary
This report has been endorsed by CDC, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, and the American Veterinary Medical Association. The material in this report originated in the Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Mitch Cohen MD, Director; and the Division of Foodborne, Bacterial, and Mycotic Diseases, David Warnock PhD, Director.
Corresponding preparer: J.B. Bender DVM, Co-chair, NASPHV Animal Contact Compendium Committee, University of Minnesota, Veterinary Public Health, 136F Andrew Boss, 1354 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, Telephone: 612-625-6203; Fax: 612-624-4906; E-mail: bende002@umn.edu.
Certain venues encourage or permit the public to contact animals, resulting in millions of human-animal interactions each year. These settings include county or state fairs, petting zoos, animal swap meets, pet stores, zoologic institutions, circuses, carnivals, farm tours, livestock-birthing exhibits, educational exhibits at schools, and wildlife photo opportunities. Although multiple benefits of human-animal contact exist, infectious diseases, rabies exposures, injuries, and other human health problems associated with these settings are possible. Infectious disease outbreaks reported during the previous decade have been caused by Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, Coxiella burnetii, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, ringworm, and other pathogens. Such incidents have substantial medical, public health, legal, and economic effects.
This report provides recommendations for public health officials, veterinarians, animal venue staff, animal exhibitors, visitors to animal venues, physicians, and others concerned with minimizing risks associated with animals in public settings. The recommendation to wash hands is the single most important prevention step for reducing the risk for disease transmission. Other critical recommendations are that venues not allow food in animal areas, venues include transition areas between animal areas and nonanimal areas, visitors be educated about disease risk and prevention procedures, and animals be properly cared for and managed.
Introduction
Contact with animals in public settings (e.g., fairs, farm tours, petting zoos, and schools) provides opportunities for entertainment and education. However, inadequate understanding of disease transmission and animal behavior can increase the likelihood of infectious diseases, rabies exposures, injuries, and other health problems among visitors, especially children, in these settings. Zoonotic diseases (i.e., zoonoses) are diseases transmitted from animals to humans. Of particular concern are instances in which large numbers of persons become ill. Since 1991, approximately 50 human infectious disease outbreaks involving animals in public settings have been reported to CDC (1). During the preceding 10 years, an increasing number of enteric disease outbreaks associated with animals in public settings (e.g., fairs and petting zoos) have been reported (1).
The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) understands the positive benefits of human-animal contact. Although eliminating all risk from animal contacts is not possible, this report provides recommendations for minimizing disease and injury.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5605a1.htm?s_cid=rr5605a1_x




Practice petting zoo hygiene
Be aware that animals sometimes carry germs that can be harmful to humans
Monday, July 16, 2007
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As a child, I was oblivious to germs. I remember once, during a family outing to a a popular upstate New York animal farm, being surround by 15 to 20 goats and deer as I attempted to feed a small goat.
I don't remember washing my hands afterward. I didn't get sick and, most likely, my mom was there with a washcloth, wiping our hands and faces as we left the petting pen.

http://www.silive.com/living/advance/index.ssf?/base/living/1184582756264420.xml&coll=1




Zoo advertising that won’t eat you alive
Here’s a BBDO West ad, with animation work by J.J. Sedelmaier, for the new Grizzly Gulch exhibit at the San Francisco Zoo. The grizzly roars, but otherwise does no harm. It’s an oddly restrained approach for Sedelmaier, last spotted severing arms in a zany clip promoting workplace safety in Canada. That ad featured a blood-lapping dog, which thankfully (or unfortunately, depending on your taste) doesn’t appear in the zoo’s procession of animals. In fact, San Francisco’s approach bucks a recent trend of zoos using edgy ads in which their denizens consume luggage or family pets. Actually, that gizzly looks well fed, so who knows what he was snacking on before the camera started to roll.
—Posted by David Gianatasio

http://adweek.blogs.com/adfreak/2007/07/zoo-advertising.html



Chinese zoo condemned over boxing bears
By Martin Beckford
Last Updated: 2:58am BST 17/07/2007
Animal rights campaigners have condemned a Chinese zoo at which bear cubs are forced to fight each other for the entertainment of laughing visitors.
The Captive Animals’ Protection Society said the spectacle was “horrific” and urged holidaymakers to boycott the shows as well as lobbying the Chinese Government to outlaw them.
Pictures taken at the zoo in Xi’an, in the Shaanxi province of north west China, show two bear cubs being encouraged to box each other while a crowd of parents and children look on and laugh.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/16/wbear116.xml



35,000-Year-Old Mammoth Sculpture Found in Germany
In southwestern Germany, an American archaeologist and his German colleagues have found the oldest mammoth-ivory carving known to modern science. And even at 35,000 years old, it's still intact.
Archaeologists at the University of Tübingen have recovered the first entirely intact woolly mammoth figurine from the Swabian Jura, a plateau in the state of Baden-Württemberg, thought to have been made by the first modern humans some 35,000 years ago. It is believed to be the oldest ivory carving ever found. "You can be sure," Tübingen archaeologist Nicholas J. Conard told SPIEGEL ONLINE

http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,489776,00.html



The flip side of penguins
As we know, some surf, some dance, some live at zoo. And some sell snowballs for 5 cents!
The Akron Zoo had a special delivery a few weeks ago -- make that four deliveries -- of newly hatched Humboldt penguins. To celebrate the event, you are invited to help name the chicks. After the names have been collected, the animal-care staff will narrow them down, and the final selection will be made by the penguin parents and the chicks themselves, according to Vice President of Communica-tions Linda Troutman. All the chicks have different parents, so determining the names could be exciting.
``We aren't really sure yet how we are going to do that, but it will be creative,'' Troutman promised.
Endangered Humboldt penguins are temperate-climate birds that are commonly found in Peru and Chile in South America. The births are a success story for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. A volunteer group oversees a species survival plan that determines how the penguins are best served in and outside captivity. The group makes recommendations for breeding of the species, which could become extinct in the wild in the next 10 years. It works sort of like a computer dating service, Troutman said.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/living/home/17495082.htm



Fair has Jake Owen
By Steve Sharp of the Daily Times staff
Friday, July 13, 2007 12:56 PM CDT
Natalie Fenner of Watertown’s Buckaroos 4-H club guides her miniature horse, Red Chief, through a speed and lead equine competition at the Jefferson County Fair. The 155th annual gathering continues through the weekend at the Jefferson County Fair Park in Jefferson. (JOHN HART/Daily Times)
JEFFERSON - The Jefferson County Fair's grandstand stage heats up tonight with the country music of Madison County as it opens for the young, high-energy Jake Owen band.
Owen, a Florida native who made his way into the country music world almost overnight in Nashville, Tenn., is viewed by fair organizers as a promising draw for fans of new country.
“We have Madison County opening and they are very high-energy. Owen is young, up-and-coming and is also very energetic - he should have the crowd really going,” Jefferson County Fair Secretary Gail Zastrow said this morning.
Owen's debut album, “Startin' With Me,” was released in the summer of 2006. He had planned to be a professional golfer and walked on to the Florida State University team before suffering a career-ending injury.

http://www.wdtimes.com/articles/2007/07/13/news/news1.txt



Zoo leads blitz on breeding elephants
07/13/2007 03:32 PM
By: Adrianne Flores
N.C. Zoo Change
The N.C. Zoo is helping to increase the numbers of elephants and rhinos born in captivity. See how.
GREENSBORO - Years of poaching, a shrinking habitat, and trouble breeding in captivity have landed elephants on the endangered species list according to Rod Hackney at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro.
"Rhinos and elephants are in trouble both in the wild and in captivity."
Tough new restrictions by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and a shortage of space has forced many national parks to close their elephant exhibits, says Hackney.
"There are becoming fewer and fewer zoos that can accommodate these animals because they are so large and they require such a great deal of space."

http://news14.com/content/top_stories/584806/zoo-leads-blitz-on-breeding-elephants/Default.aspx



Endangered Black and White Ruffed Lemur
on Exhibit July 12th
Visit the Sacramento Zoo’s newest baby July 12th as he explores the exhibit for the first time! The Sacramento Zoo is pleased to announce its newest arrival—one male Black & white ruffed lemur—born to 8-yr old parents. This is the second set of offspring for this pair. The mother is taking exceptional care of her infant which has not yet been named. The three lemurs born last year and the father remain in the exhibit.
The infant was found in the “nest” on the morning of May 16th. Two lemurs were born, but the other male died shortly after birth of natural causes. High infant mortality is not uncommon in this species. Although ruffed lemurs are capable of having up to six infants at a time, typically two or three youngsters (weighing about 100 grams each) are born.

http://www.saczoo.com/2_happening/_zoo_news.htm



Chattanooga Zoo Receives $250,000 Challenge Grant
Richard Simms
July 10, 2007 - 4:32PM
The Chattanooga Zoo’s planned new entrance just got a $250,000 boost from the Kresge Foundation in the form of a challenge grant.
The funds will be used for “Zoo Debut,” the new front entrance for the Zoo and Warner Park. Scheduled for completion summer ’08, the new entrance will be built at the eastern park entrance from the heavily traveled, four-lane Holtzclaw Avenue, Warner Park’s most visible boundary.
The project includes new ticketing areas, a bus loop, better pedestrian and traffic access, an endangered species carousel as well as other park and Zoo visitor amenities.
“After many years in its ‘off-road’ location, the Zoo is finally getting a new entrance that leads straight to our front door,” said Darde Long, Zoo director. “In addition to an immediate aesthetic upgrade, this grant will enliven and expand the visitor experience.”

http://www.newschannel9.com/articles/zoo_13711___article.html/foundation_grant.html



Baby Rhino Born at Sedgwick County Zoo (video)
Posted: 1:42 PM Jul 10, 2007
Last Updated: 5:46 PM Jul 10, 2007
Email Address: news@kake.com
The Sedgwick County Zoo staff welcomed a rhinoceros calf into the world on Friday. The female calf weighed approximately 60 lbs at birth.
Mother, Bibi and calf, are doing fine and will be accepting visitors in the indoor exhibit. You will also be able to see the proud father, Eugene in the outdoor exhibit. During these first few months the male is separated from the mother and calf.
However, the newborn calf does not yet have a name. J.J. and Jeff’s Friends of the Zoo Board adopted the rhinos at Zoobilee 2006. Friends of the Zoo Board have given the naming privileges back to the Zoo for auction at Zoobilee. The privilege of naming the newborn female calf will go to the lucky person(s) who adopts the rhinos during the live auction at Zoobilee 2008 Party with the Penguins on Saturday, September 8!

http://www.kake.com/news/headlines/8414187.html



Sunset at the Zoo brings in clams for park
Sunset at the Zoo is always one of Metro Detroits best society parties, and this year was no exception. Billed as "Detroits Wildest Party," the event featured a strolling supper offering tastes of signature dishes from 40 of Metro Detroits most popular dining establishments.
Nearly 2,000 people showed up at the zoos main picnic grove to partake in the festivities, which also included several open bars (many featuring zoo-themed martinis), dance music, live entertainment from the Jerry Ross Band, and live and silent auctions. And like most of the other components of the event, the auction items were also zoo- or animal-related, such as a gourmet dinner for 12 with the giraffes at the Zoos new Giraffe Encounter and a custom piece of zoo-themed jewelry from Jules R. Schubot Jewellers.
General admission to the June 15 gala was $125. Guests were also encouraged to visit the animal habitats as the sun went down. Those who paid $250 or $500 were invited to a VIP champagne reception held in the zoos African grassland area, complete with rhinos, peacocks and wild African dogs. They were transported to and from the area by train and a team of multi-passenger golf carts.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070710/LIFESTYLE/707100420/1005



Zoo event seeks to benefit Madagascar region
Staff reports
(July 10, 2007) — The Madagascar Fete, an evening of conservation science and fun at the zoo, is planned for 6 p.m. Sat. July 21 at the Seneca Park Zoo, 2222 St. Paul St.
Dr. Jeff Wyatt, director of animal health and conservation at the zoo, has traveled to Madagascar several times to research the lemur, which is endangered due to dwindling rain forest.
Tickets are $30, which includes a Madagascar-themed dinner, music and talks from Laura Alport and Erik Patel. The money will be used to fund conservation projects to save lemurs and villagers in the Madagascar rain forest.
For more information or for tickets, call (585) 336-7200 or visit www.senecaparkzoo.org.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070710/NEWS01/70710041/1002/NEWS



Red-tailed Hawk Patient
Posted at 10:54 am July 10, 2007 by Yvette Kemp
Kiowa, a red-tailed hawk from the Hunte Amphitheater at the San Diego Zoo, has been one of the recent patients as the Zoo’s hospital. A few weeks ago, Kiowa arrived at the hospital after fracturing his left leg. The veterinarians on duty performed surgery, setting the leg bones and placing a fixator to keep it from moving. A fixator is an apparatus where two firm bars are placed on either side of the leg, and then pins go from one bar to the other through the leg. This stabilizes the leg, allowing it to heal properly while giving it strength.
Needless to say, a fractured leg in a bird of prey can be very difficult not only physically but also behaviorally. Hawks hold their food in their talons and then rip pieces off it to eat. This is a hard thing to accomplish with just one foot. Kiowa was having a tricky time trying to balance on the fractured leg, hold his food in his good foot, and eat.

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/red-tailed-hawk-patient/



New curator called 'a good catch' for Mill Mountain Zoo
The general curator has worked at SeaWorld and with the bird collection at San Diego Zoo.
By Pete Dybdahl
981-3376
Dave Orndorff, who in 35 years of working with animals has nursed a manatee and been pursued by an African lioness, is now the general curator at the Mill Mountain Zoo. His first day was Sunday.
He joins the zoo as it plans to rebuild its prairie dog exhibit, climbs out of debt and faces a national accreditation review later this month.
"He has small-zoo experience, but he's got big ideas," said Sean Greene, the zoo's executive director. "He's a good catch for our zoo."
Orndorff has big-zoo experience, too. He comes to Roanoke following an 11-year stint at the San Diego Zoo, where he managed the zoo's bird collection.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/wb/xp-123859




Two deers quarantined at zoo
Wednesday July 11 2007 09:54 IST
TPURAM: One more black buck succumbed to the foot-and-mouth disease at the city zoo on Tuesday.
Two sambar deers have also been quarantined after lesions were spotted in their feet. However, the zoo officials have not confirmed whether the lesions were owing to FMD.
Meanwhile, a high-level meeting of the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) officials was held to review the situation.
AHD additional director Udayavarman, district animal welfare officer Prabhasuthan and chief disease investigating officer H Viswanathan were among those who took part in the meeting. The zoo remained closed to visitors for the third day on Tuesday.


Zoo cautious on foot and mouth disease
Thursday July 12 2007 11:34 IST
MYSORE: The closure of Trivandrum Zoo due to foot and mouth disease has sent a warning signal to officials of the Mysore zoo. Not ready to take any chances, they are being extra cautious before the onset of the disease.
Though, the Mysore zoo has no history of foot and mouth disease in the last decade or so, the veterinary department has gone the extra mile for a fool-proof system to avoid viral diseases. In fact, the system was in place at the outset of monsoon itself, when the zoo made it mandatory for foot dips for visitors.
The foot dips is a trough filled with Khorasalin chemical medicated water, placed at the entrance of the zoo. And it was mandatory for the visitors to compulsorily pass through it to remove viruses and bacteria. Recently foot dips were made obligatory for even zookeepers to enter the enclosures.
We protect all animals through regular vaccination of six months, 10 months and annual vaccination. The foot dips outside the enclosures also prevents cross infection, explains senior veterinarian of Mysore zoo Nanjappa.
The pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons were a high risk time for animals to get affected with foot and mouth or haemorhagic septisamia. Bisons, elephants, rhinos, zebras --cloven-footed animals are more prone to this desease, he told this website's newspaper.
TRANSLOCATION OF SPOTTED DEER, SAMBAR: Next week, the Mysore zoo will embark upon a special task to translocate excess spotted deer to the wild. Keeping with the SC ruling on the number of animals and birth control, the zoo will shift about 75 spotted deer and 30 sambar to wild-life reserves in Bandipur and Nagarahole. Presently, the zoo has 120 spotted deer and up to 60 sambar.



Question Time: What's the zoo do when it's hot?
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
By Michael Birnbaum, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburghers have sweated out recent heat by hiding in air-conditioned buildings, going to water parks and pools and reminiscing about bitter January blizzards.
This gorilla gnaws on a piece of frozen peach nectar, laced with yogurt and gorilla food, to beat the heat.
Click photo for larger image.
Our furry friends at the Pittsburgh Zoo have been doing roughly the same thing. While two-legged Pittsburghers might head to the local watering hole for a beer, four-legged Pittsburghers have been enjoying the cooled water at their own establishments.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07192/800724-294.stm



Zoo In Need
Debbie Williams
Jul 10, 2007
It may look like the Zoo of Northwest Florida has recovered from two years of back to back hurricanes but looks can be deceiving. Zoo officials say they have a crisis on their hands and it may force them to close the zoo forever.
For 13 years, Karen Sutton has volunteered at The Zoo of Northwest Florida. It’s a place she loves but worried it may close for good. "I think we were really at a point of being a-okay and hurricane Ivan the first year and Dennis the next rust really hurt us bad."

http://www.wkrg.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WKRG%2FMGArticle%2FKRG_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173351954026&path=!news!local



Arts, zoo spared budget slashing
Mayor Pam Iorio proposes smaller cuts for nonprofits.
By JANET ZINK
Published July 11, 2007ews Video
TAMPA - The Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, the Homeless Coalition, Humane Society and other nonprofit organizations won't take as big a hit as expected in this year's city budget cuts.
Mayor Pam Iorio on Tuesday proposed cutting city funding of the organizations by 10 to 20 percent, which should save the city about $467,000.
As a result of tax reform measures that are shrinking local government revenue, Iorio originally indicated she would yank all funding to nonprofits, which last year totalled nearly $3.4-million.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/11/Hillsborough/Arts__zoo_spared_budg.shtml



Animals best high temperatures at Maryland Zoo
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - As area residents scramble to beat the heat with air conditioning, fans and bottled water, animals at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore are hardly breaking a sweat.
“Animals are a lot smarter than people when it comes to the heat,” zoo spokeswoman Lainie Contreras said. “With humans, we feel like no matter what the weather is, we want to be outside doing things. With animals, they just want to take it easy.”
Tuesday’s downpour offered the animals at the zoo a short reprieve from the mid-Atlantic’s recent blast of heat, but when temperatures spike, Contreras said, the animals stay cool the same way as many humans: by drinking plenty of water and staying in the shade.
If zookeepers find that an animal is getting too hot, they also have the option of moving the creature to cooler, indoor areas away from the public.

http://www.examiner.com/a-822680~Animals_best_high_temperatures_at_Maryland__Zoo.html



Roar of new sounds at Brookfield Zoo
Wednesday, July 11, 2007 12:56 AM CDT
BROOKFIELD, ILL. Brookfield Zoo will hum a new tune this weekend. Usually filled with the sounds of animals, the zoo will add music to the mix with a performance by Crash, a Dave Matthew Band tribute band.
Zoo Tunes, a series of outdoor concerts, begins this weekend and continues on Sundays through August. The concerts will be on the East Mall and are free with general admission.
More information about Crash, which performs at 3 p.m. Sunday, can be found at www.aboutcrash.com.
Following the Crash performance, U2Zoo will play at 5 p.m. Founded in 2003, U2Zoo is a four-piece concert-caliber band that imitates the experience of a real U2 concert. More information about this band can be found at www.u2zoo.com.
To wrap up the July Zoo Tunes, the Chicago Sinfonietta will take the stage at 4 p.m. July 29. The group will perform a mix of classical, light pop, and family favorites, including summertime selections from "Carmen” and music from “Lord of the Rings,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” "Star Trek" and “Apollo 13.” More information about the orchestra can be viewed at www.chicagosinfonietta.org.
Zoo Tunes continues in August. For updated information on Zoo Tunes’ scheduled entertainment, visit www.BrookfieldZoo.org.

http://nwitimes.com/articles/2007/07/11/community/illinois/doce4cdf40a6d5575a78625731400554311.txt



Apples studded with nails found in Prague zoo gorilla enclosure
[11-07-2007] By Ian Willoughby
The gorillas at Prague Zoo were the focus of media attention around the world a couple of years ago, when they were constantly monitored on the internet, in a parody of reality TV shows like Big Brother. Today Prague Zoo's gorillas remain very popular with the Czech public. However, it seems not everyone likes them - on Tuesday apples studded with nails were found in their enclosure, and officials say the apes could have suffered serious injury.
Dangerous apples, photo: www.odhaleni.cz
On Tuesday morning zoo keeper Marek Zdansky was conducting a routine check of the run at the gorilla compound at Prague Zoo when he made an alarming discovery: five large red apples studded with steel nails. Luckily, the zoo's six gorillas - including Richard, "winner" of the Big Brother parody show - were inside at the time, because it was raining.
"I would put whoever left those apples here in a cage with Richard and let them sort it out between themselves," said Zdansky.

http://www.radio.cz/en/article/93269



Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals
Product Overview: “Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals,”* the biggest expansion pack to date for the hugely popular, award-winning “Zoo Tycoon 2,” lets gamers bring animals that once roamed the Earth back to life. With new challenges and more than 30 new animals, players can create environments the creatures once lived in and learn about times that date back to the Ice Age.
Features:
• Impressive never-before-seen animals. “Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals” features more than 30 new animals, ranging from the adorable dodo bird to the dangerous saber-toothed cat, and more than 10 new dinosaurs, such as the T. rex and stegosaurus, for the ultimate zoo experience.
• New gameplay. With exciting new ways to play, “Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals” challenges players to recover escaped dinosaurs, with the new first-person tranquilizer mode. Players can also search for hidden fossils around the zoo, build animal fossils and create new extinct animals in the Extinct Research Lab.

http://www.fragland.net/games.php?id=3781



E3: Microsoft's taking us to the zoo tomorrow
Wednesday 11-Jul-2007 10:53 AM Well, Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals actually, and in October - new screens inside
Zoo Tycoon 2 expansion Extinct Animals will let fans bring animals that once roamed the Earth back to life, so very Jurassic Park-ish it sounds.
So now, while managing your zoo, you'll be able to create these animals' native environments which you can populate with the likes of the dodo bird, the saber-toothed cat, T-Rex and stegosaurus. In total, over 30 new beasts are being introduced.
Microsoft elaborates, "With exciting new ways to play, Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals challenges players to recover escaped dinosaurs, with the new first-person tranquilizer mode. Players can also search for hidden fossils around the zoo, build animal fossils and create new extinct animals in the Extinct Research Lab."

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=167694


Zoo names new water park
Wednesday, July 11, 2007 7:21 PM
By SUZANNE HOHOLIK
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The voting is over and the new name of the water park next to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium will be (drum roll) — Zoombezi Bay.
“This has gotten the most votes,” said Tom Heiby, a board member and chief executive at Clary Communications. “The public has spoken.”
Zoo officials bought the financially troubled Wyandot Lake water park last year from Six Flags for $2 million.
The public was invited to vote on the zoo's Web site for a new name.
Zoombezi Bay beat out other names in the running, including Kisawa Waves, Katoomba Lagoon, Kahuna Island and Tahiti Tides.
Jerry Borin, executive director of the zoo, said at least 3,000 people voted for Zoombezi Bay.

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/07/12/ZOO12.html



Zoo closing early for fundraiser
VIC CONDIOTTY / THE SEATTLE TIMES
The West Seattle Bridge spans Harbor Island and the Duwamish Waterway where it enters Elliott Bay.
Woodland Park Zoo will close early Friday for its annual Bank of America Jungle Party fundraiser.
Visitors can enter the zoo from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and gates will close at 4 p.m.
Closures and traffic advisories will be in effect:
• The north entrance off North 59th Street and Phinney Avenue North, and the main loop path from the Butterflies & Blooms exhibit to the north-entrance restrooms, will be closed all day.
• The north-entrance parking lot will close at noon. For those parking in the north parking lot, there will be no exit from the zoo grounds via the north entrance. Visitors may park at the north entrance but must move their vehicles to the west or south parking lots by noon.
• Visitors may enter the zoo through either the south entrance at North 50th Street and Fremont Avenue North or the west entrance at North 55th Street and Phinney Avenue North.
• The carousel will be closed all day.
Information: 206-684-4800 or www.zoo.org.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003785527_here12m.html




Protest planned at zoo Friday
By KATHY MULADY
P-I REPORTER
Members of Friends of Woodland Park Zoo Elephants and the Northwest Animal Rights Network will distribute information and demonstrate outside the Woodland Park Zoo entrance during the annual Jungle Party fundraiser Friday.
The zoo closes to the public at 3 p.m. for its biggest fundraiser of the year, which raises over $1 million for animal care, conservation and education programs.
Last year, animal rights activists were required to stay on the sidewalk on the edge of the zoo grounds near the street. This year they will be allowed to distribute information on the sidewalk outside the North entrance at 4:30 p.m. as the fundraiser starts.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/323484_zoo13.html



Chattanooga Zoo Donation
The Kresge Foundation will give the facility a 250-thousand dollar grant.
Director Darde Long says those funds will go toward construction of "Zoo Debut" ... a new "front entrance complex" ...which will actually move the entrance to Holtzclaw Avenue...
It will include new ticketing areas ... a bus loop ... better access ... and an endangered species carousel. Long says it'll be a boon to the entire area... "What this will do is create an entrance that makes the zoo very visible and also allows people to come and find other entities in the park. Combined with the new softball expansion, we're going to have a very different Warner Park in the future."

http://www.wrcbtv.com/news/index.cfm?sid=9628



Animals/Pets
'Ulysses' the killer whale 'will never return to Barcelona zoo'
By:
thinkSPAIN
In response to a question raised by PP councillors at Barcelona Town Hall yesterday, it was confirmed that 'Ulysses' the killer whale, who was loaned by the council to Sea World in San Diego (USA) back in 1994, "will finally never return to Barcelona."
PP council representative, Alberto Fernández Díaz, proposed yesterday that the new marine zoo should have a whale park to complement the planned dolphinarium, and that 'Ulysses', who is now in her thirties and reaching the very end of her maximum expected life span, should be the star attraction.
The killer whale was initially loaned to the American facility on a four year contract, renewable every two years thereafter.
The only Spanish zoo with killer whales is in Tenerife, although Valencia are hoping to acquire one for the city's new zoo complex being built at the end of the River Turia gardens, in Mislata.

http://www.thinkspain.com/news-spain/13381



Airflights, the home of flights to Tenerife
Tenerife's killer zoo
Holidaymakers who want to see some one of the most impressive marine creatures while in Spain will have to head to Tenerife.
The Atlantic island's zoo is the only Spanish zoo to boast a killer whale after it was confirmed that Ulysses, the carnivorous sea mammal that used to be housed in the Barcelona zoo, would not come back from a loan stint in San Diego.
Visitors to the sunny island will find that a rental car gives them the liberty to travel when and where they want to, so they can visit the zoo or beaches or the national park.
The Teide volcano and crater were recently designated a World Heritage site by Unesco.

http://www.airflights.co.uk/news/category/438004654/story/18210236/default.aspx



S.F. Zoo tops 1 million visitors
San Francisco Business Times - July 12, 2007
The San Francisco Zoo reported the most annual visitors in 15 years, topping 1 million for the second time in three years.
The zoo, where fiscal years run July 1 to June 30, reported 1,093,099 visitors for the year just ended. That's the most visitors since the San Francisco Zoological Society took over management of the 100-acre zoo in 1993.
Back in 1984, when the zoo showed off two giant pandas on loan from China, 1.3 million people came through its gates.
Manuel Mollinedo, the zoo's executive director, said the zoo "made great strides" in attracting both locals and tourists.
Last month, the zoo opened Hearst Grizzly Gulch, the largest grizzly bear zoo exhibit in the United States. Two grizzlies that had been scheduled to be killed in 2004 were rescued by the zoo and the $3.7 million habitat was built for them.
The zoo also opened a walk-in aviary of 500 Australian birds this summer.

http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2007/07/09/daily38.html?jst=b_ln_hl



Young hippo dies at zoo
DUSTY RICKETTS
Thursday July 12th, 2007
GULF BREEZE — Niles, The Zoo of Northwest Florida’s Christmas baby hippo, has been killed.
The one-and-a-half-year-old hippopotamus was born Christmas Day 2005.
It died Saturday after suffering a massive wound to its side that shattered its ribs and punctured a lung. The wound was caused by one of its parents, but Zoo officials do not know for sure which one killed the calf.
“We’re all very sad. We’ve lost an animal that we watched grow up,” said Tom Realing, the zookeeper who cared for Niles since the hippo’s birth. “It’s a pretty shocking time here.”
Realing and another zookeeper noticed the hippos acting differently when they arrived at The Zoo on Saturday morning. Realing said it appeared Niles was ill when they first spotted it. It wasn’t until the young hippo swam over on its side that the zookeepers noticed the large injury.

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/article/7105



Spot a fossa at the Dallas Zoo
12:00 AM CDT on Friday, July 13, 2007
Nancy Moore
SPOTLIGHTWhat in the world is a fossa? With a face that looks like a mongoose and a hyena combined, and with the color and physique similar to a puma, it's a critter that almost defies description. The fossa's scientific name is as complicated as a season of Lost – even the scientists have changed their minds several times. It's easiest to describe it as a carnivorous cousin of the mongoose. Fossas are native to Madagascar, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, and they like to eat another Madagascar mammal, the lemur. The Dallas Zoo has both a fossa enclosure and a lemur exhibit, but thankfully they're a good distance away from each other. Dollar Day, this Tuesday, is a wallet-friendly time to check out the fossa and the hundreds of other species at the zoo.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-gowild_0713gui.ART.State.Edition1.438d140.html



High-low pals treat zoo patrons
CLOVIS, N.M. (July 12, 2007) - What's a little height between friends especially when this Odd Couple is captivating visitors to the Hillcrest Zoo in Clovis?
Moses, an African pygmy goat, and Jael the giraffe have become fast friends since zookeepers introduced them last month.
The zoo said Jael, pronounced J-L, had been lonely living by herself for the past five years. Now she and Moses are like peas in a pod.
"Anything he drops she is picking up," zookeeper Lisa fox said. "It's just one of those weird odd couple relationships for them; it just really does work.
"One goes in one direction in the pen, and the other has to follow."
The zoo says it's trying to raise money to bring in a male giraffe for 15-foot-tall Jael. For now, though, knee-high Moses is the boss of the pen.

http://www.krqe.com/Global/story.asp?S=6784000



Minnesota Zoo attendance tops 1 million for the year
Associated Press - July 13, 2007 12:34 PM ET
APPLE VALLEY, Minn. (AP) - The Minnesota Zoo has topped the one million attendance mark for the fiscal year for the first time in five years.
Zoo Director and Chief Executive Officer Lee Ehmke said more than one million people went through the turnstiles for the year ended June 30th -- that's up by more than 38,000 visits over the previous year.
The zoo expects its 30 millionth visitor sometime this summer.
Ehmke credited the attendance jump to interest in recent upgrades to zoo attractions, including the refurbished Minnesota Trail that opened Saturday and a new exhibit called "Russia's Grizzly Coast" currently under construction.

http://wkbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=6785781



Philadelphia Zoo Celebrates Puppy Days of Summer
Zoogoers can see Praire Dog Pups and Help Name Otter Pups
Philadelphia - July 13, 2007 - Zoogoers can enjoy Puppy Days of Summer with the Zoo's giant river otter pups and prairie dog pups! Weekend activities include Prairie Dog Pup Talks, Ottermania - interpretive stations, "otts & crafts", games, otter feedings and lots of "otterfacts" about these amazing carnivores.
Visitors to the Zoo's website (www.philadelphiazoo.org) can help name the latest additions of the giant river otter family: a boy pup and a girl pup! The pups were born on November 26, 2006 at the Zoo. The Philadelphia Zoo is one of only two zoos in North America to exhibit this endangered species and the only North American Zoo with successful births. The pups live with their parents, Nina and Banjo (BAN-yo), and older siblings Primero, Kara, Magnus, and Dante in their 13,600-gallon habitat in Carnivore Kingdom.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=animals_oddities&id=5477503



Zoo wins welfare excellence award
Chester Zoo is to receive a prestigious animal welfare award for the work it has done with its mandrills.
A team from the Cheshire zoo and Durham University carried out a study on the behaviour of the vulnerable monkeys.
They found planting a barrier of small shrubs between the mandrills' enclosure and the visitors' viewing area reduced their stress levels by 54%.
They are to get the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) Wild Animal Welfare Award.
It will be presented by TV vet Steve Leonard.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/6897760.stm



PETA Blasts Fort Worth Zoo for New Money Partnership With Ringling
July 13, 2007
RaeLeann Smith 757-622-7382
Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas -- This morning, PETA fired off a letter to Fort Worth Zoo Director Michael Fouraker urging him to immediately sever all ties with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The zoo has partnered with Ringling--which has a long history of failing to comply with the minimum standards of the federal Animal Welfare Act--on a fundraising event. PETA points out that forward-thinking zoos long ago rejected affiliations with the circus. Animal circuses are notorious for separating baby elephants from their mothers in the wild, beating elephants with metal bullhooks, and shackling and confining bears and other animals to cramped transport cages and boxcars--practices conducted every day by Ringling.

http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=10020

Dated:

50,000 at Croc Hunter service
Mike Tait - Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Hundreds of surfers held hands in a circle and cast wildflowers into the Pacific Ocean off the Sunshine Coast, Australia yesterday. The ceremony was one of the services to mark the funeral of TV personaltiy Steve Irwin
More than 50,000 fans of crocodile hunter Steve Irwin will be able to pay their respects at a funeral next week.
The public event is likely to held in a 52,000-seat stadium in Brisbane on Tuesday or Wednesday next week.
It follows a private ceremony at the weekend when family and friends of the TV documentary-maker said their farewells at a private gathering around a campfire in Australia.
The funeral was held at Australia Zoo, the wildlife park Irwin turned into a tourist attraction in Queensland.
Irwin's father, Bob, said most of the service was spent talking about the star, who died when he was speared through the heart by a stingray while diving off Queensland last week.
He said: 'Because Steve loved the bush and yarning around the campfire so much, the service was held just like he would have wanted, with everyone telling their favourite stories.'
However, the star's American wife, Terri, and their children are expected to attend the public ceremony.

http://www.metro.co.uk/home/article.html?in_article_id=19581&in_page_id=1&ct=5&ct=5



'Crocodile Hunter' to be Buried in Family Zoo
Published: 9/11/06 at 9:41 AM
Written By: Graham Silnicki
Steve Irwin, known to wildlife lovers as The Crocodile Hunter, was given a private funeral service on Saturday.
According to Reuters, Hunter will be laid to rest at his family's Australia Zoo, located in Queensland.
The Australian government had offered to give Irwin a state funeral, but his father, Bob Irwin, declined.
Later this month, a public memorial service will be held for Irwin. Thousands are expected to attend and pay tribute to his memory.
Irwin died 6 days ago at the age of 44 after being struck in the chest by a stingray barb. He was diving on Australia's Great Barrier Reef while filming a documentary.

http://www.andpop.com/article/6990



Rush expected for Irwin memorial tickets
September 13, 2006 - 11:49AM
AdvertisementAdvertisement
Thousands of people are expected to camp out at booking outlets on Thursday night for tickets to the memorial service for Australia's Crocodile Hunter.
The life of Steve Irwin will be honoured at a special public memorial service next Wednesday at the family's Sunshine Coast animal park, Australia Zoo.
The memorial will be held at the park's Crocoseum, which was built by Mr Irwin and holds a capacity of 5,500.
Three thousand tickets - a maximum of four per person - will be released to the public at no charge from 9am (AEST) on Friday at Australia Zoo's box office and Ticketek outlets at Maroochydore and Brisbane.
A police spokeswoman said officers were working on a plan of action to deal with the crowds of people who were expected to queue for tickets.
Mr Irwin's manager and close friend John Stainton said the service would involve guests sharing their memories of Mr Irwin, with John Williamson to perform the Crocodile Hunter's favourite song, True Blue.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Irwin-memorial-service-planned-for-Zoo/2006/09/13/1157826992463.html



Charges Possible In Death Of Tiger At Tampa Zoo
Former zookeeper could faces charges
(AP) TAMPA The state attorney's office will decide whether a former zookeeper will be charged for letting a tiger escape an enclosure at Lowry Park Zoo.
The office has received a report and recommendation from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that a misdemeanor charge be filed against the former handler -- who has not been identified.
Enshala, a 200-pound Sumatran tiger, escaped from her night enclosure and was trying to scale a seven-foot wall when she was killed with a shotgun by the zoo's president.
Before it was shot, the tiger roamed an exhibit as zoo officials moved visitors into secure buildings.

http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_255101858.html



Giambra Backs Funding for Zoo Rain Forest
Mark Leitner
Zoo President Donna Fernandes
BUFFALO (2006-09-12) Erie County Executive Joel Giambra is asking the Legislature to help fund
the Buffalo Zoo's planned Rain Forest Exhibit.
Giambra is including $4-million for the project in the county's 2006 capital budget.
With a price tag of many millions of dollars and construction costs escalating,
the County Executive and Zoo President Donna Fernandes contend delays would
be costly and could jeopardize the project. That's why the County Executive
is filing a resolution today, asking lawmakers to allocate $4 million from
the County's current Capital budget and apply that money toward construction.
The $4 million would match the $4 million private donation from M & T Chair
Robert Wilmers.
The Zoo is also slated to receive an $8 million dollar Empire State Development grant.

http://publicbroadcasting.net/wned/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=966531&sectionID=1



Council OKs clinic at zoo
By James Carlson
The Capital-Journal
The Topeka City Council voted 7-0 on Tuesday night to approve a new animal health clinic for the city zoo, a project that zoo director Mike Coker called "vitally important" hours before the meeting.
"It would certainly be a challenge to meet our growing needs with the existing facilities we have," he said.
Council members Brett Blackburn and Lana Kennedy were absent from Tuesday's meeting.
The current clinic is about 30 years old and at its maximum operating capacity, Coker said.
Tuesday's approval paves the way for a $587,500 building project that will create a minimum of 2,400 square feet to accommodate veterinary care medicine, surgical needs and treatment of zoo animals.

http://cjonline.com/stories/091306/loc_zooclinic.shtml

continued...

Another chance with a Prehistoric Horse. Can we replenish the herd?

A Przewalski's horse filly has been born at Toronto Zoo, the first such birth in 15 years. Solstice was born on June 22. She is by Phoenix, and is the first foal out of Alexandra, who is 14.



Wikipedia is occassionally resourced for this blog, but, their 'inventory' of living members of this species is impressive.

Przewalski's Horse (click here and at title, thank you), also known as the Asian Wild Horse or Mongolian Wild Horse, or Takhi, is the closest living wild relative of the domestic Horse.
Most "wild" horses today, such as the American Mustang or the Australian Brumbies, are actually feral animals, horses that were once domesticated but escaped and reverted to an apparently wild status. The Przewalski's Horse, on the other hand, has never been successfully domesticated and remains a truly wild animal today. There were once several types of equid that had never been successfully domesticated, including the Tarpan, Onager, and others. However, most have become extinct, with the Przewalski's Horse the only remaining truly wild horse in the world....

I have to precede this entry with an understanding about 'trust.'

The Gulf of Mexico. A NASA photo.

I have a very low tolerance level of trust regarding people that surround the issue of Human Induced Global Warming. There is a reason for that. The nation of the USA has been lead down the "W"rong path for decades regarding that issue.

With that said, everyone needs to know there are some members of upper management of The Weather Channel that have given misleading testimony to the USA Senate. It was the "W"rongest thing they could do. Such an act endangers people's lives. The Weather Channel should know that. Especially them.

Now. The reason I bring this up is because I have been listening to The Weather Channel over the last week and I have heard interesting things that lead me to believe whatever was going on that lead men to make "W"rongful statements before the USA Senate has been rethought.

For those that enjoy zoos, you'll absolutely love this segment from a program The Weather Channel broadcasts called, "Forecast Earth." It is a segment starring Jack Hanna. The Weather Channel calls him, "Jungle Jack Hanna." It is a wonderful presentation and I sincerely DO TRUST Jack Hanna. He speaks to my heart and this program was no exception. Kindly click on the title of this entry AND THEN click on the link entitled "Gone for Good" to enjoy "Jungle Jack Hanna" in his 'environmentalist hat.'

Enjoy. I did. I really appreciated Jack at his best.

Look at that face. That is a Happy Michael face. He has a grin on his face. You know why?

Why you ask would Michael Moore be smiling? Because Michael is turning a good deed. He is fighting the 'good fight.' That makes Michael happy.




Today.




Today is a special day.




Michael has received an apology from CNN.




Thank you. I like it when Michael smiles and is able to fullfil his goals in life to turn a good deed for the people of the USA.




Thank you very much.




The following observation is NOT for Michael Moore. At all. I have one other request and the one person that bobbled this issue will recognize the reference. When reporting about 'changes' in medical/surgical diagnosis techniques and strategies, the 'age' of physicians is NOT to be referred to because that is 'age discrimination.' The USA needs every available physician to treat the people of this country. Where science advances and some physicians are not practicing the 'cutting edge' medicine that is available, it is the obligation of the media to educate the public about 'the cutting edge' measures. It is not the media's responsiblity to impose 'an idea' of incompetency of physicians due to age. That needs to stop. NOW !




Have a good day.

One last peak at the Southern Hemisphere today

July 17, 2007

1313 gmt

Southern Hemisphere

Look at that gloriously intensely dense cold air mass topping the ice continent. It's expansive today. The 'point' regarding 'where' some of Sol's 'direct' rays are reaching can be noted in the higher latitude vortices. They are not making it into the continent because they heat has settled where it is most intense for now and that is where there is still direct sunlight.

There are two lower latitude vortices, 'below' Australia that are making it into the coastal continent. While these vortices contribute to the hotter air mass at lower elevations of Antarctica they cannot explain everything. There is a 'reason' for the lower elevations to be affected while the highest elevations are not. The 'reason' is that the lower elevations are receiving 'radiation heat (also known as convection, but, we'll keep it simple)' and facilitating some transfer into the continent.

In order for Vostok to receive any 'heat transfer' at this point the lower elevations would have to be unable to compensate for the change of temperature it was receiving. The amount of calories to change this very densely cold air over Vostok is far higher than being delivered to Antarctica today. In order to change the temperatures over Vostok it would have to receive direct sunlight.

Antarctica Wind Chime

Click here for 24 hour loop. Temperature Satellite image from 3 PM and 6 PM missing.

July 17, 2007
12:00 PM UTX
Antarctica Winds (click for 24 hour loop)

Okay. This is interesting. The wind over Vostok is still. Vostok is the middle-east of Antarctica. There is no wind. There is also no wind over the Peninsula. That is unusual. It welcome.

What is interesting is the higher winds from 15 mph to an occassional 40 mph gusts now circulating around the outer reaches ON the continent. These are reflected in the reporting at Scott Base, Antarctica. What is also noted at Scott Base are warmer than 'usual' temperatures that has been noted in recent weeks. Scott Base is something like 9000 feet? Let me see.

Here is an interesting article regarding the 'phenomena' of an environmental reality of Ross Base which has varying elevations due to the status of 'island.' It won't explain everything but alludes to dynamics of air movement due to 'unique' conditions sometimes encountered in Antarctica. It's just an interesting article.

Surface airflow around Windless Bight, Ross Island, Antarctica (click here)

The elevation of the station is somewhere around 9000 feet because Mount Herschal is approximately 10,000 to 10,500, maybe a little more. I didn't find an official elevation for Ross Base. The scientists from New Zealand might not even consider publishing 'an official' elevation because they have a lot of field stations. They do a lot of research on that island. So, to get to my point. Any 'change' in heat capacity is going to occur at a lower altitude than Vostok. The heavier air over Vostok will not 'allow' through inertia the 'rising' of 'changing' temperatures due to the slow migration of Sol south.

Understand, Sol's rays are not 'over' Vostok yet. But, the 'heat' from the approaching sunlight is being 'felt' at the elvations lower than the 'peak' of the Ice Continent. Without 'direct' sunlight to raise temperatures the 'impinging' heat is limited to 'radiation' into stable and 'lazy/inert' air masses. So, it's extrapolated that Sol's heat although not direct is making it's presence known at lower elevations from Vostok, that are receiving that direct sunlight at higher 'latitudes' of Earth but now in the Southern Hemisphere. I hope I made that clear. It is my belief the current 'warmer' temperatures at the elevations of "Scott Base, Ross Island, Antarctica" is directly related to solar 'rays' at higher latitudes than Antarctica that is 'migrating/radiating' into some elevations of Antartica because of 'gentle' molecular heat transfer without the turbulence. I am sure I lost some interested folks here.

OFF TRACK as an example. A old style radiator where hot water heats the radiator 'causes' the entire room to heat because of 'radiation' due to molecular 'irritation.' One molecule of air heats and transfers that heat to the next and then to the next. The 'volume' of heat from Sol under a thick carbon dioxide blanket is trapped and is moved through the troposphere in the same mechanism. I believe the warmer temperatures and higher winds without 'affect of the upper troposphere' are due to this 'radiation' of heat from higher latitudes. I think that is clearer.

Point of Reference :: Conversion tables to understand the velocity of the wind at the Scott Base reference. The "Kiwis" report the wind in 'knots.' Click here for some 'handy' conversion computers. The Current Reporting of Scott Base, Ross Island is 17.4 knots, that is equated to 32 km/hr or 20 mph. There ya go. Best I can do. Good luck.

July 17, 2007
0600 gmt
Antarctica Jet Stream

"I told you so." Do I have to explain this? Vostok is cold because of...WHAT? Yes, cold air, but, ALSO, inertia of the Jet Stream. The coldest of the cold air is not moving anywhere else and we are witnessing some profoundly sincere freezing of glacial ice that is more precious than gold. The 'homogenous' temperatures of 'the coastal' Antarctica is because the Jet Stream is 'quiet' and there is no transcending of turbulence to the surface/lower elevations.


July 17, 2007
12:00 PM
Antarctica Temperature Satellite

The temperature is getting warmer. It's uniform, still cold, but, NOT AS COLD as it has been. Oh, my. Sol is making the trip south. The center of the continent, where the 3 mile high ice exists is still as cold as last week.

Yo, babe, there are cold toes in Vostok today. I have not seen these temperatures ANYWHERE in Antarctica in years. Holy smokes. It's going to be interesting to see what it going on with the jet stream over this continent of ice.

Vostok, Antarctica

Time ::00 PM VOST

Elevation :: 11220 ft / 3420 m

Temperature :: -101 °F / -74 °C

Conditions :: Not stated

Humidity :: 48% (Kindly note, the humidity is lower than usual. Too cold to be anything but ice.)
Dew Point :: -105 °F / -76 °C

Wind :: 2 mph / 4 km/h / from the ESE

Wind Gust :: -

Pressure :: in / hPa (Falling)

Visibility :: 12.0 miles / 20.0 kilometers
Raw METAR
Aviation
Flight Rule :: VFR ()
Wind Speed :: 2 mph / 4 km/h /
Wind Dir :: 120° (ESE)
Ceiling :: 100000 ft / 100000 m


Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica

Elevation :: 9285 ft / 2830 m

Temperature :: -68 °F / -56 °C

Conditions :: Snow

Wind :: 16 mph / 26 km/h / from the ESE

Wind Gust :: -

Pressure :: in / hPa (Falling)

Visibility :: 4.0 miles / 6.0 kilometers

Clouds :: Few 8858 ft / 2700 m
(Above Ground Level)


Clean Air, Antarctica

Time :: 11:50 PM NZST

Temperature :: -69 °F / -56 °C

Conditions :: Ice Crystals Blowing Snow

Humidity :: N/A%

Pressure :: 28.71 in / 972 hPa

Winds :: ESE at 16 mph / 26 km/h / 7.2 m/s

Length Of Visible Light:

0h 00m :: Length of Day

0h 00m :: Tomorrow will be 0m 0s shorter.

Warmest reporting stations of Antarctica

Dumont D'Urville, Antarctica

Time :: 12:00 PM GMT

Elevation :: 135 ft / 41 m

Temperature :: 17 °F / -8 °C

Conditions :: Blowing Snow

Humidity :: 98%

Dew Point :: 17 °F / -8 °C

Wind :: 43 mph / 68 km/h / from the SE

Wind Gust :: -

Pressure :: 29.35 in / 994 hPa (Falling)

Visibility :: 1.0 miles / 2.0 kilometers

Clouds:
Mostly Cloudy 4921 ft / 1500 m
(Above Ground Level)
Raw METAR
Aviation
Flight Rule :: IFR ()

Wind Speed :: 43 mph / 68 km/h /

Wind Dir :: 130° (SE)

Ceiling :: 4900 ft / 1500 m

Palmer Station, Antarctica

Time :: 8:00 AM CLT

Elevation :: 26 ft / 8 m

Temperature :: 16 °F / -9 °C

Conditions :: Snow

Humidity :: 72%

Dew Point :: 11 °F / -12 °C

Wind :: 7 mph / 11 km/h / from the East

Wind Gust :: -

Pressure :: 29.70 in / 1006 hPa (Falling)

Visibility :: 10.0 miles / 16.0 kilometers
Raw METAR
Aviation Flight Rule :: VFR ()
Wind Speed :: 7 mph / 11 km/h /

Wind Dir :: 80° (East)

Ceiling :: 100000 ft / 100000 m

end

The weather at Scott Base, Ross Island, Antarctica (Crystal Ice Chime) is:

15 minutes. A quarter of an hour. 900 seconds. One half inch of water. Fell from the sky. NORMALLY. Inches per month are measured.

July 16, 2007
Louisa, Virginia
Photographer states :: I couldn't respond to the firehouse for a fire call because of the downed trees. Taken on Ellisville Drive (Rt.669)just after the hardest portion of the storm passed.

This is a darn shame. Trees are like Americans, they bend to stress until they break. This tree is dead. The part of the tree remaining as living is now exposed to insects, disease, stress including loss of sap. It was a gorgeous tree with many years of life to achieve such a status. The wind that causes this is incredibly strong and powerful. It's immediate. Frequently in storms older trees, weaker trees are knocked over and that is why it is better to remove old and weak trees from any property where it is obvious if when they topple a house will be hit and ultimately it's inhabitants.

The wind that causes this is taking down/out/destroying very healthy trees. That is real worry. There is no immunity for any tree stand from this level of disaster. I sometimes wonder how some of our precious national tree-stands are doing. I'll have to get out there and see sometime soon, hopefully. I just never know. Very often my life is not my own to inspect the areas of 'concern' I would like, so I 'check out' the internet when I can.

But.

This tree is making me upset. If one looks at the remaining 'stump' in this picture, it is jagged and coarse. It yielded NOT to direct impact or a lightning strike. This tree had it's cellulose 'sheered' in a tortuous event. In other words, the wind was causing the tree to 'whip' in directions that put the trunk in a bending circle. The cellulose of that trunk could not withstand the tortuous movement of the trunk to prevent it from breaking. The size of that trunk is not any easy one to break. That means the wind that caused the tortuous 'tearing' of the cellulose had incredibly high energy. Dangerous, very. I wouldn't be venturing out into these storms when they occur.

People need to have 'safe rooms' to retreat to when these storms occur. Sometimes that can be a basement but keep in mind a basement floods and no one wants to be trapped in a rising water level. There are areas of the country where basements are not a reality. If a household wants to designate a 'safe area' within a home where there is little to no chance of glass shattering and perferably where there are strong beams it can be made into a small entertainment area where emergency radio can be turned on with batteries and a small public band radio can call for help if necessary. Children can be educated to this 'special safe place' and be allowed to spend time in it even if there is no severe weather. The room needs to be 'child proof' with storage areas for radios and batteries as well as plenty of favorite books and crayons. Right? Parents know what makes their children happy. Bottled water, snacks and short term safety plans until help arrives. Okay? Okay.

Now this picture above. There is a lot of water in the ditch to the left. There is actually two streams of water. A lot of water, a severe storm. Severe downpour. In these 'running' streams are lines of white bubbles. Those bubbles are 'aeration' of the water. They occur because there are 'currents' in those small streams of water. That is very fast running water with conflicting movement. It isn't safe for a child to step into without being knocked over. The water is moving at a very high velocity on nearly a level road. That tells me how much water was dumpd in this event. There is a 'piling up' of the water on the available 'gully' surface. Water always takes the path of least resistance. Always. So does anything in it's path.

In the picture below, if there was warm air in the vacinity and the reality is that the ice 'should be' melting, it could be that the air mass delivering the hail was frozen at very high altitudes. If that is the case then this was a high altitude supercell and explains the torturous winds that destroyed that beautiful tree.


July 16, 2007
Louisa, Virginia
Photographer states :: Representative size of the two inches deep hail from storm on 7/16/07.

That is a very cold looking hand. That is not just a hail storm affiliated with a tornado although it probably came very close to that level of turbulence. The hail on the ground is not melting quickly. This hail came from an infusion of Arctic Air that belongs over The Arctic Ocean. Long way from home. It has to be because if the air wasn't as cold as the ice there would be nearly immediate melting and this photographers hand would not be showing signs of 'cold exposure.' Flushed fingertips, wrinkled skin at the palms which tend to be blanched. Has to be cold air from the Arctic. I haven't looked at a satellite to know for sure so maybe I'm getting it wrong, but, I like to test my observational skills.






July 15, 2007
Licking, Missouri
Photographer states :: THIS IS THE HAIL WE GOT HERE AT 5 PM SUNDAY EVENING LASTED ABOUT 8 MINS AND GOT .50 INCHES OF RAIN IN ABOUT 15 MINS


AmerenUE Announces $1 Billion 'Project Power On' Reliability and Environmental Improvement Program (click here)
Customers in 62 Missouri counties will benefit from improved reliability,
upgraded delivery system, and enhanced environmental performance
ST. LOUIS, July 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AmerenUE, a utility
operating company of Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE), plans to invest $1
billion over the next three years to improve reliability, upgrade delivery
systems, and enhance the environmental performance of its power plants.
"With the severe weather patterns of the past few years and a focus on
improving air quality, we are working even harder to ensure reliability for
our customers of today and tomorrow," said Thomas R. Voss, president and
chief executive officer of AmerenUE. "We've been working closely with
community officials and leaders across our system to determine the best
approach for improving our delivery system, while ensuring that we meet the
growing demand for energy."
Named "Project Power On," this three-year initiative involves a
commitment over and above the $500 million per year the company has been
spending on efforts to upgrade and maintain the system....

The weather at Glacier Bay National Park (crystal wind chime) is:

Elevation :: 33 ft / 10 m

Temperature :: 55 °F / 13 °C

Conditions :: Overcast

Humidity :: 82%

Dew Point :: 50 °F / 10 °C

Wind :: Calm

Pressure :: 29.88 in / 1012 hPa (Falling)

Visibility :: 4.0 miles / 6.4 kilometers

UV :: 0 out of 16

Clouds :: Overcast 300 ft / 91 m
(Above Ground Level)

Raw METAR
Aviation

Flight Rule :: LIFR (PAGS)

Wind Speed :: 0 mph / 0 km/h / 0.0 m/s

Wind Dir :: N/A

Ceiling :: 300 ft / 91 m

The link to the title is a video of a couple with a 'corn' burning stove that appeared in The Washington Post. While that is interesting, The Washington Post has the wrong focus. Their focus is on the economics, "Climate Change Debate Hinges On Economics Lawmakers Doubt Voters Would Fund Big Carbon Cuts. (click here)"

That is not correct.

Climate Change is happening.

There is no more debate.

This is no joke.

Economics has nothing to do with Climate Change.

Climate Change is a product of Human Induced Global Warming. GREED. There is no reason for it. Funding 'Corporate Friendly Carbon Cuts' has absolutely NOTHING to do with Climate Change. That won't do a darn thing. The reversal of Human Induced Global Warming is having leadership in a country ready to do what is right. If corporations survive it is because they found a way WITHOUT exploiting the naivety of an electorate and it's representative government while the scientists responsible for 'correct' information delivers this country from it's current path of demise.

The Washington Post has gotten use to 'misinformation' in Washington, DC. It has gotten used to looking to the Executive Branch for answers to it's problems. This administration will never deliver this country from it's own demise. Legislators cannot succeed without the guidance of scientists such as Dr. James E. Hanson (click here). In the years to come, when the USA has sufficient leadership to guide it out of it's own destructive path, competent and trustworthy scientists, void of corruption or false agenda, will be known around the American dinner table. There is no other way.

As a nation we have 'lolly-gagged' in addressing this issue and now the recovery is so very, very late and getting exponentially worse by the moment that scientists have to take the helm and lead. You are all used to daily weather reports. Moment to moment on the mobile devises. That's going to change because it will be replaced with daily reports on the progress or lack thereof of Earth to recapture it's vigor, biotic diversity and health for the generations of Americans yet to be born.

I don't see an obligation to corporations in creating Carbon Cuts. It's futile. It's immoral. It is like saying these corporations that ONLY do the right thing when forced to by law are actually equivalent to the people of this nation whom are devoted to do absolutely the right thing. The people of the USA, like this couple in this video, are taking on the challenge of saving Earth for their children. The citizens of the USA don't have to be told how important this is or how to seek innovative ways to find solutions. To compare corporations in the same breath with citizens while they do NOTHING but pander to government for tax breaks and grants while they are the ones that could not care less about the quality of the environmental inheritance of our children is ludicrous.

Corporations need to find solutions or go out of business. Just that simple. The limits on their lack of leadership is coming. Survive or die. They get real or they get out of the way.

end

I can't let this pass by. CNN is a global corporation. They are attempting to destory an Independant Filmmaker. CNN needs to apologize.

They completely 'diss' Michael and I am not about to put up with their trashing of a much needed reform to American Healthcare.

They posted a response regarding the 'corrections' to the record made of Sanjay Gupta's report which tried to overshadow SICKO with innuendos and suppositions. They dug themselves deep while trying to be slick.

This is what CNN said of Michael. You have to know that that angel of all angels works at CNN. Always above the frey. "It's ironic that someone who has made a career out of holding powerful interests accountable is so sensitive to having his own work held up to the light by impartial journalists, as we did in our examination of 'SiCKO,' " the spokesperson said.
"In our original report, we made one mistake...

STOP RIGHT THERE. There are grossly MORE than one mistake. The 'corporate suit alone' makes two. All you need to do is apologize to Michael Moore profusely because CNN's response to Michael's postings on his website is more spin on top of the Gupta Spin. I could go point by point and spend a better part of my day 'setting it straight' on behalf of Michael Moore for the hero he is, but, it's a waste of my time. CNN is being manipulative and attempting to undermine SICKO. That'll never happen. Too many people have been hurt and we thought the deaths at Abu Ghraib were terrible. The deaths right here in the USA go unnoticed. Something is very, very "W"rong here and CNN is attempting to defend it!

Not.

On.

My.

Time.


POINT NO. 11:

FROM MOORE'S WEB SITE:

GUPTA: (On the lone expert shown in the original piece, Paul Keckley). "His only affiliation is with Vanderbilt University. We checked it, Michael. We checked his conflict of interest. We do ask those questions."

"The Truth" (from Michael Moore's Web site):

Keckley left Vanderbilt in October 2006 to become the executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. The chyron on CNN even notes his new position ("Vandy administrator to head Deloitte research center," Nashville Business Journal. November 1, 2006).
The independent chairman of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions is Tommy Thompson, who was George W. Bush's Health and Human Services Secretary from 2001 to 2005 and is currently running for president as a Republican ("Meet Tommy G. Thompson," Deloitte Center for Health Solutions).
Keckley has made large contributions to Republican candidates and organizations. He gave $1,000 to GOP Senator Bob Corker in 2006, $1,000 to the Tennessee GOP in 2002, along with $1,500 to two GOP congressional candidates and $1,000 to the Tennessee GOP in 2000 (www.fecinfo.com).
Keckley was also the CEO and Founder of EBM Solutions Inc., of Nashville, Tennessee, which counted among its customers Blue Cross of Tennessee, the drug company Aventis and others. Considering Keckley makes his living in the for-profit health care world -- a world "SiCKO" argues should be abolished -- viewers should have been told exactly where Keckley was coming from.

CNN RESPONSE:

Moore is correct. End of discussion because the rest of this mess simply tries to 'take issue' where there is none. Sanjay Gupta stated Keckley was ONLY affiliated with Vanderbilt University. He stated it on an international global corporate network news channel to 'save face.' Additionally, Gupta was emphatic that CNN checks all the 'conflict of interest.' Gupta's LACK OF KNOWLEDGE regarding the 'many affiliations' of Keckley and the ability or willingness to verbalize them is completely offending. Gupta picked the most benign of the affiliations of Keckley and made a huge issue of the fact there are taxes affiliated with 'single payer' healthcare.

NO CLUE !

It was the most astounding revelation I thought I ever heard when Gupta/Keckley stated, "...but, it's not free, there are taxes." Something tells me that is one of those 'common knowledge' things that people figure out when discussing such a large paradigm shift in an ESSENTIAL SERVICE. I did. I didn't think for one minute that what Michael was putting forth was ABSOLUTELY FREE. You want to know something, the 'Crap' the health insurance companies put forth as 'policies' ain't free either, but, it sometimes seems that way because it is taken out of one's paycheck BEFORE you get it, JUST - LIKE - TAXES. So, let's get real here, Gutpa and his corporate suit, Keckley are making something out of nothing because every American that has health insurance pays for it. Not only that but they pay deductibles amounting to thousands of dollars minimally per year ON TOP of their WEEKLY/BI-WEEKLY enrollment fees. There, of course, are the Co-Pays. When one adds all that up at the end of the year, it ain't peanuts.

What makes the 'single payer system' so attractive is that we CAN COUNT ON IT. We can, our children can, their children can, our seniors can (...and let's not BEGIN to go down the road of how our Seniors are gouged for their healthcare. Don't even start that. Minimally, a hospital admission can have an initial deductible PER ADMISSION of nearly $1000. So don't even go there.), our veterans can (...and we all know what a mess the VA system has been without any improvment in decades) and etc, etc, etc.

While Gupta and 'what's his name?'...oh, yeah...Keckley criticize the issue of taxes, those they defend (and they are defending the very health care systems that have abandoned Americans causing them hardship and death) ain't cheap either and we don't even get services we need from them.

This is the rest of CNN's Spin regarding Keckley. Tell me it matters.

Paul Keckley left Vanderbilt in late 2006. That is the affiliation Gupta referenced on "Larry King Live." In addition, CNN obtained the following details about Paul Keckley from his current employer, Deloitte Center for Health Solutions:
"The original CNN report accurately described Paul Keckley's role as a Deloitte health care expert. Keckley is executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. He left Vanderbilt University in October 2006 to take this new position.
"The comments by Keckley in the CNN interview were factual, neutral and descriptive. The accuracy of his balanced comments in the broadcast has not been challenged.
"Neither the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions nor Paul Keckley has a political or ideological agenda. The center's mission is to develop innovative, practical and workable solutions to systemic issues of the U.S. health system. As such, it embraces a diversity of viewpoints that transcend easy labels.
"Keckley as an individual and Deloitte as an organization operate under rigorous rules, government regulations and professional standards designed to ensure his and our independence.
"The center has been an active participant in the national dialogue about the critical challenge America faces to preserve the best that our health care system delivers -- while at the same time seeking ways to provide coverage for the uninsured, promote wellness and prevention, deploy more effective information technology to improve patient outcomes, and reduce soaring health care costs.
"One example of how the Deloitte Center's approach is a report issued in late 2006 titled, 'The Catalyst for Health Care Reform: Providing More Choices and Innovation to Heal the U.S. Health Care Financing System.' In addition to providing a thoughtful and comprehensive overview of the key issues, it presented one possible, innovative approach to solving health care coverage for America's [46] million uninsured citizens. It reflects the serious, thoughtful and independent nature of the Deloitte Center.
'Keckley does not maintain any professional or financial ties to Aventis or Blue Cross. From 1998-2002, Keckley did serve as CEO of EBM Solutions, a private company formed by researchers from Vanderbilt, Duke, Emory, Washington University and Oregon Health Sciences University. EBM developed and licensed evidence-based guidelines to 32 hospitals, medical groups, insurance companies and drug companies during this period. Among those licensing these guidelines were Aventis and Blue Cross of Tennessee.

Maybe I'll be forced to do one point everyday, but, that will take another ten days and like CNN stated, the initial mess started six days BEFORE Mike's appearance and the rebuttal began. So, I guess we are looking at dragging this out weeks yet. That is nothing but a bore !

Mike is right.

Mike is always right.

And with every documentary there are always 'corporate spin machines' that try to 'spin dry' their dirty laundry.

NOT

THIS

TIME.

NOT AGAIN.