This Blog is created to stress the importance of Peace as an environmental directive. “I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.” – Harry Truman (I receive no compensation from any entry on this blog.)
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Morning Papers - continued
Pampered Knut with his keeper, Thomas Dorflein of the Berlin Zoo
Emerald ash borer larva Photo: Michigan Dept. of Agriculture
Counter intuitive - relaxing over the water
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is home to six jaguars, the largest collection in the nation. BARRY RABINOWITZ/SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BANNER
Zoos
Champion of the species
The Cincinnati Zoo's world-renowned Sumatran rhino program has gained even more luster with the birth of a healthy 86-pound baby boy a few weeks ago.
It was another coup for the zoo, and not just because the Sumatran branch of the rhino family is loathe to reproduce in captivity.
The species is perilously close to extinction - fewer than 300 are believed to exist in isolated pockets of forest in Malaysia and Indonesia. The Sumatran rhino is the most endangered of the large mammals, more so even than the panda. Scientists believe the population has declined by fully 70 percent over the past two decades, mainly because of habitat destruction and killings by poachers who only want the horns (which are reputed in parts of Asia to be an aphrodisiac and have medicinal properties.)
http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070522/EDIT/705220304/1003
Gorilla goes on Dutch zoo rampage
Somehow, this reminds me of "King Kong" creating havoc!
A 180kg (400-pound) gorilla has escaped from its enclosure and run amok at Rotterdam zoo in the Netherlands.Witnesses reported seeing the gorilla, a dominant male, climb the enclosure's wall and apparently bite a woman, as well as injuring three other people.The zoo was evacuated as the gorilla was subdued by a sedative dart after it sought refuge inside a zoo building.The Diergaarde Blijdorp Zoo, which was packed with visitors on a holiday weekend, later reopened.The 11-year-old gorilla, called Bokito, managed to climb a high wall to escape from his enclosure."He got over the moat, which in itself is remarkable because gorillas can't swim," zoo director
Ton Dorrestijn told reporters.Visitors then described scenes of panic, as families ran screaming from the animal."I saw the beast running through the park with a woman behind him, him grabbing her forearm," eyewitness Robert De Jonge told NOS radio."He bit her, or I think he bit her, because when he stood up his mouth was covered in blood," Mr De Jonge said.Some visitors tried to barricade themselves in a restaurant, but Bokito smashed part of a door and gained entry. He was eventually trapped there by zoo staff and tranquilised.None of the injured was thought to be in a serious condition.
http://spluch.blogspot.com/2007/05/gorilla-goes-on-dutch-zoo-rampage.html
After-shocks of gorilla attack still felt
Tuesday 22 May 2007
The after-shocks of the gorilla Bokito’s attack on a frequent visitor to Blijdorp zoo in Rotterdam continue to be felt in the Dutch media, with more photos and videos of his break for freedom showing up online. The zoo authorities are due to announce what action they plan to take on Wednesday.
The Volkskrant quotes gorilla expert Frans de Waal who says Bokito’s victim is very luck to be alive. His action was a warning to visitors and zoo keepers.
‘Don’t try to attract attention, don’t try to provoke wild animals,’ he says. ‘A zoo is not some fun event with real interaction with preditors and primates.’
MPs from the animal rights party PvdD have been quick to seize the opportunity to call for a ban on keeping primates in zoos.
http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2007/05/aftershocks_of_gorilla_attack.php
Zoo to give press conference Wednesday
21 May 2007
ROTTERDAM – The Blijdorp Zoo in Rotterdam will evaluate the events surrounding the escape of gorilla Bokito in the coming days.
The employees of the Blijdorp Zoo met on Monday to discuss the situation. The zoo still wants to hold talks with the emergency services and will organise a press conference on Wednesday, a spokesperson reported.
At that point the zoo will announce what measures will be taken
http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=1&story_id=40012
Eagle egg missing at Illinois zoo
Saturday, May 19, 2007 09:57:59 PM
One of two eggs laid by a bald eagle at a central Illinois zoo is missing and authorities think the culprit could be a raccoon or a human.
The discovery was made Friday afternoon at Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington, where attendance has been up since an eagle named Beauty laid eggs for the first time in her 13 years at the zoo.
No broken egg shells were found, zoo director John Tobias said, and both eggs appeared intact Thursday.
Beauty laid the eggs during a brief visit from a wild eagle that perched in trees over the enclosure for four days in late April. If the remaining egg is fertile, it could hatch around Memorial Day.
A captive male eagle named Mathata has been helping incubate the eggs. Neither eagle can fly because of injuries they suffered before their captivity.
Raccoons live nearby but haven't been spotted in the exhibit, Tobias said. His only other theory is that a human stole the egg.
Whoever the culprit was had to have been brave to venture into the enclosure and face two protective birds, he said.
http://www.theconservativevoice.com/ap/article.html?mi=D8P7RJ1G0&apc=9024
Maggie's out of her sling, but wearing a harness for safety
Anchorage Daily News
Published: May 20, 2007 Last Modified: May 20, 2007 at 04:20 AM
ANCHORAGE -- Maggie the elephant roamed freely in her pen at the Alaska Zoo Saturday after zookeepers released her from a sling.
She's now wearing a tailor-made body harness in case she goes down and can't get up on her own again, said Eileen Floyd, Alaska Zoo spokeswoman. The harness, encircling her girth with cargo straps, will make it easier to winch her up.
The Alaska Zoo's lone and controversial elephant, Maggie went down on her side Sunday for as many as 19 hours and couldn't get back up. Zookeepers blame colic or stomach pain.
http://www.adn.com/front/story/8903064p-8802912c.html
Jacksonville Zoo is constantly updating
BY CAROLE SAVAGESPECIAL TO THE STAR-BANNER
Jacksonville can be a real zoo, if you know where to go. Fortunately, the city's zoo is not difficult to find, and a day can easily be spent there.The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has several exhibits that are educational and intriguing. For the bird lover, the Birds of the Rift Valley duplicates conditions of the Wilds of East Africa with a two-story enclosure that allows the birds - and there are 65 of them representing 19 species - to fly about.
http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070520/FEATURES03/205200312/1368/googlesitemapnews
Zoo promotes ash borer awareness
Event Saturday part of governor's proclamation.Tribune Staff ReportGov. Mitch Daniels has declared this week Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week along with the governors of Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, according to a Indiana Department of Natural Resources news release.The DNR and Purdue University are co-hosting an awareness week kickoff event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday at Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend. Fun educational activities will be part of the event and experts will be available to answer questions and to show people how to identify ash trees and the insects.Similar events will be held at the Indianapolis Zoo and Mesker Park Zoo in Evansville.
The emerald ash borer threatens the future of ash trees in North America. It is spreading throughout the state and country because of people moving ash wood.
http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070520/News01/705200320/-1/NEWS01
Singaporean Zoo Treats Ailing Animals With Traditional Chinese Medicine
Senior veterinarian Oh Soon Hock's methods may seem unorthodox and cruel to the uninformed.In fact, only a few years back, there were people who were outraged when they saw news coverage of him using acupuncture to treat an ailing komodo dragon.Some questioned whether it was practical (and ethical) to use acupuncture on an animal, since it was a treatment that had been developed for humans. Others expressed (rather unkindly) their wish that the komodo dragon would bite Oh's fingers off.
http://fisherwy.blogspot.com/2007/05/singaporean-zoo-treats-ailing-animals.html
Ex-Detroit Zoo elephants Wanda, Winky enjoy Calif. retirement
5/20/2007, 2:31 p.m. EDT
The Associated Press
ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) — Two years have passed since Wanda and Winky left behind their cement-floored elephant exhibit at the Detroit Zoo for a sunny hillside refuge in California. Some of those left behind aren't letting go.
The aging elephants moved to a Performing Animal Welfare Society shelter in the Rocky Mountain foothills, about 50 miles east-southeast of Sacramento.
Wanda, 48 and Winky, 53, had been facing increasing health problems, including arthritis, aggravated by Michigan's climate and the limitations of their zoo accommodations.
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-44/1179686348138290.xml&storylist=newsmichigan
Texas Zoo undergoing transformation
New structures, animals and programs set for Victoria zoo
May 21, 2007 - Posted at 12:00 a.m.
BY REBECCA HOLM - VICTORIA ADVOCATE
The times they are a-changin' at the zoo.
Texas Zoo animal curator Angie Killough walks through the zoo pointing to areas where animal exhibits will be changing, but one doesn't have to look very far to see the transformations. Construction seems to be ever-present as enclosures are being taken down and new structures are going up throughout the zoo, located in the heart of Riverside Park.
The first big change will be the loss of the two tiger cubs on display, she said. They will be shipped off to Busch Gardens in the next month. Taking their place will be their parents, who have been off display while the cubs have been in the enclosure.
In exchange for the tigers, Busch Gardens will be sending the zoo nine Hamadryas baboons, she said. The baboons will have to remain in quarantine for a couple of months before they can go on display, but that gives the zoo plenty of time to complete their new home. The baboons will be located in part of what used to be the zebra exhibit.
http://www.thevictoriaadvocate.com/233/story/59700.html
Pocatello Zoo Seeks Funds for Facility Upgrades
The Pocatello Zoo wants to upgrade its facilities.
In an effort to find funding, they asked Sara Ifft to chair a committee to help start the process.
The Pocatello Zoo has thousands of visitors every year.
While it is the largest zoo in Eastern Idaho, Zoo Director Scott Ransom says it needs some tender loving care.
Scott Ransom, Director, Pocatello Zoo: "Pocatello Zoo needs to be completely re-modernized and the biggest priority is a new exhibit for the grizzlies."
They have a plan, but it lacks the funding.
http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=6543043
Woodland Park Zoo: Time for plan B?
After receiving the City Council's support on financing a new parking garage, Woodland Park Zoo has a less-welcome message. A council majority wrote a letter seeking reconsideration of the garage plans.
If the zoo feels blindsided, it may be because it didn't open its eyes all that eagerly when neighbors pointed out rising costs, concerns with an above-ground structure and less auto-centric options. Although council members (led by park committee Chairman David Della, who still supports the garage) did their own share of looking the other way, the zoo hardly could have failed to notice the council wasn't all that enthusiastic, either.
Council President Nick Licata said the letter is a "last-ditch effort" to raise concerns and suggest the city won't bail out any surprise costs. Unless the zoo takes the hint about putting the money toward exhibits and the like, the council better hold onto the thought about being firm on costs.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/316336_zooed.html
Zoo sponsors polar bear naming contest
By David SteffenToledo Free Press Staff Writernews@toledofreepress.com
The public has until June 5 to name three polar bear cubs at the Toledo Zoo. The zoo will announce the names of the cubs on June 8. Citizens can vote for their name of choice at www.toledofreepress.com, www.k100country.com, www.13abc.com and www.toledozoo.org. Paper votes can be sent in from entry forms enclosed in Toledo Free Press (see page A10) and at North Star Trading Post and Monkey Business gift shops at the Zoo. There are four polar bear cubs in captivity in the United States; three are at the Toledo Zoo.The name choices are:Male:
http://www.toledofreepress.com/?id=5585
Adult Zoo Brews back at Blank Park
May 21, 2007
Zoo Brew returns Wednesday for its fourth season at the Blank Park Zoo, 7401 S.W. Ninth St.The event is designed for adults 21 and older to take in the zoo's sights and sounds without children.Entertainment will include music from the Swing Crew and special looks at exhibits and chats with zookeepers.Free koozies will be given out to the first 1,000 guests.Admission is $5 for zoo members and $10 for nonmembers.For details, call 323-8383 or visit
www.blankparkzoo.com.
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070521/NEWS/70521023/1125
and
http://www.blankparkzoo.com/
Rare Egyptian tortoises born successfully in Rome zoo
Rome's main zoo has successfully bred several rare Egyptian tortoises whose parents were rescued from a smuggler's suitcase in 2005.
The first egg hatched in April, six more followed this month, and there are still several eggs waiting to hatch, said Stefano Micarelli, the head reptile keeper at Rome's Biopark zoo.
"These animals are so rare in nature that we are trying to breed them so we can have a stock of these animals also in captivity," he told AP Television News.
The Egyptian tortoise, known as Testudo Kleinmanni, is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES. It is an Appendix I reptile, meaning it is afforded the highest protection. Trade in such animals, many of which are threatened with extinction, is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
http://english.pravda.ru/news/society/21-05-2007/91845-born_tortoises-0
Memphis Zoo to Offer “Butterflies: In Living Color”
People tend to abhor insects, but a rare exception to that rule will soon be fluttering around one area in Memphis. The Memphis Zoo is set to offer an exhibit, titled “Butterflies: In Living Color,” that will present a multitude of the dainty, colorful creatures.
According to www.memphiszoo.org, up to 1,000 butterflies comprised of 35 species will be shown in the exhibit. Viewers can also see 56 varieties of plants that the butterflies eat to preserve their energy in the Memphis heat.
The Special Members’ Preview is May 19-25, and the exhibit opens to the public May 26.
http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=oid%3A28658
Koala, Shark, Stingray Prepare For Saturday Zoo Debut (Video)
MILWAUKEE -- From a tree to the sea, two new exhibits make their debut this weekend at the Milwaukee County Zoo.
A couple of 3-year-old Koala from the San Diego Zoo are settling in for a summer in Wisconsin.
Their names are Bamba and Muuri
http://www.themilwaukeechannel.com/news/13361107/detail.html
Photos of newborn baby giraffe at the Bronx Zoo
mongabay.com
May 21, 2007
A baby giraffe born October 30, 2006 at the Bronx Zoo in New York is doing well reports the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The youngster is the second offspring of Margaret Sukari, a 12-year old giraffe that lives on the African Plains’ Giraffe Lawn at the zoo. Giraffes have a gestation period of 14-15 months and give birth standing up, with the baby falling 5-6 feet to the ground. Researchers believe the fall helps to jumpstart the newborn's heart as well as clear their breathing tubes.
http://news.mongabay.com/2007/0520-giraffe.html
Rebuilding The Zoo With Community Support
If there was even a question before, which is not likely with the lines of zoo goers weaving through the entrance nearly every sunny day, the Buffalo Zoo has been finding out recently how much it means to the community.
Since the zoo turned to the public for help raising funds to improve its facilities, in an effort to comply with Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) standards, the public has stepped forth in a myriad of ways. The campaign to renovate the elephant house has raised more than $350,000 on a grassroots level, through both individual campaigns citywide efforts like the sale of wristbands.
"We're so heartened by the way the Western New York community has embraced this initiative for us," said Adair Saviola, the Zoo's director of development and marketing, of the elephant house fundraising. "From a small boy doing a private puppet show to huge corporations doing dress down days, people have been very creative in the way they approach this. Nearly every kind of group imaginable has participated in this."
The Zoo has been working since February to raise the $1 million needed to expand the interior holding area of the elephant house from 1050 to 1800 sq. ft. Without the expansion, the zoo would have to send one of its three female Asian elephants elsewhere.
http://www.buffalorising.com/story/rebuilding_the_zoo_with_commun
Monkey at Denver Zoo dies of plague found in squirrels
The plague found in squirrels in the City Park area has killed a hooded capuchin monkey at the Denver Zoo.
The 8-year-old monkey probably ate an infected squirrel before dying Wednesday, senior veterinarian David Kenny said Monday.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's lab confirmed the plague.
Kenny and state epidemiologist John Pape both said the risk to humans remains extremely low, and there is no reason not to visit parks or the zoo.
The best thing to do is simply avoid contact with squirrels, and that includes not feeding them, said Pape.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5548571,00.html
Penguins lure visitors to zoo
More than 12,000 members of the Sedgwick County Zoo visited its newest creatures over the weekend: 11 Humboldt penguins.
Although the new exhibit was open to members only, about 16,700 people total visited the zoo on Saturday and Sunday. That's about 4,000 more people than the zoo gets on a nice summer weekend, spokeswoman Christan Baumer said. About 300 people signed up to be zoo members last weekend.
The penguins exhibit will open to the public Friday.
-- Barbara J. Isenberg
http://www.scz.org/
DUTCH ZOO DIRECTOR WARNS ABOUT KNUT
Is Berlin's Zoo Spoiling its Animals?
By David Crossland
The director of the Dutch zoo where gorilla Bokito escaped last Friday has accused Berlin's zoo of bringing him up badly and warns that it's going to have trouble with pampered polar bear superstar Knut. Berlin denies spoiling its animals, but admits it took the gorilla out to a pizza restaurant once and let Knut play on a children's slide.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,484245,00.html
Zoo director Rapp to resign
SALISBURY -- Zoo director Jim Rapp is leaving his position to become executive director of Delmarva Low-Impact Tourism Experiences.
DLITE is an alliance of local, state, and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, local tourism providers and natural resource managers organized to encourage nature-based tourism on Delmarva and foster a sense of wonder and value for the natural world.
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070522/NEWS01/70522011/1002/NEWS01
Welcome to the Louisville ZooBabies Page
It's been a banner year for babies at the Louisville Zoo. Use the links on this page to learn more about these amazing animals.
http://www.louisvillezoo.org/zoobabies/index.htm
ELEPHANT BABY NAMING CONTEST (Video)
Presented by Norton HealthcareVote for one of the 3 finalists on the kiosk at the Zoo May 7-24. Choose from Jonesy, Angus or Scotty.
Winner announced June 1, 2007
Grand prize includes two round trip tickets on Frontier Airlines, Zoo Family Membership, $50 gift card from Whole Foods, Norton Healthcare gift basket, Lowe's charbroil gas grill & hide-a-way hose and a behind-the-scenes tour at the Zoo. Runners up will receive gift baskets and $25 gift card from Whole Foods.
Click here for a complete list of prizes.
Click here for contest rules
Sponsored by Frontier Airlines, Lowe's, Whole Foods, Wave 3 TV and WXMA
http://www.louisvillezoo.org/zoobabies/elephant.htm#Contest0
Rare Gorilla Twins Surviving At Atlanta Zoo
Created: 5/15/2007 10:49:31 AM
Last updated: 5/15/2007 10:50:16 AM
Zoo Atlanta has a mother worthy of world-wide acclaim. She has done something that currently only one other mother in the world has done. It's a zoo out there which, for this group of gorillas is a good thing, compared to what they'd face in the wild. Still, every family has its dramas and this one has something that no other gorilla family in captivity has --- twins. Dr. Tara Stoinski of Zoo Atlanta says, "They're incredibly rare. Our mother here is the only female to successfully rear twins in captivity."
http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=119333
Wolf pups debut at Brevard Zoo
The Brevard Zoo is celebrating the birth of two red wolf pups, which are just starting to get curious about the world outside their den.Two red wolf pups are starting to poke their noses out of their den at the Brevard Zoo this week.The little girls, the first to be born at the zoo in more than four years, were born almost a month ago. By the weekend, they’re expected to be a bit more visible to the public.“In the next couple weeks, you’re going to get that opportunity to see, because they are going to come out of the den and be curious and be a lot more playful,” said zoo marketing director Andrea Hill.
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070515/BREAKINGNEWS/70515015
Spring sees four camel calves born at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Tuesday 15 May 2007
No less than four bactrian camel calves have been born this Spring and can be seen snuggling up to their mothers in their paddock at the Asian Drive-through.
These two-humped species, a domestic breed of the Bactrian camel, were all born in April to four separate mothers. Now they are taking their first brave steps out with the rest of the herd and can be seen by visitors on their journey on the Jumbo Express train, in the paddock at the edge of the Asia drive-through.
The camel calves, three females and one male, have been given names by their proud keepers. They are: Genghis, Georgia, Gypsy and Ginny born to mothers Jubilee, Hayley, Clarissa and Sherry.
http://www.zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo/news/spring-sees-four-camel-calves-born-at-zsl-whipsnade-zoo,359,NS.html
Missing monkey found, returned to Ontario zoo
A Japanese snow monkey that escaped from a private zoo near Picton, Ont., has been found.
Ontario Provincial Police Const. Kim Guthrie said the adult male Japanese macaque named Julian was spotted by a local resident in a wooded area surrounded by marshes less than half a kilometre from its enclosure at a zoo owned and run by Joe and Pat Bergeron.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/05/15/zoo-070515.html
L.A. Zoo's Oldest Elephant Leaves For Sanctuary
Ruby Ready For Retirement
By Nannette Miranda
May 15 - KGO - Another victory today for animal rights groups. Ruby the elephant left the Los Angeles Zoo today for a much easier life at the Paws Elephant Sanctuary in San Andreas. She joins Lulu who was relocated from the San Francisco Zoo a couple of y ears ago.
Rosemary Arnot, 'Ruby Fan': "It's glorious. It's really glorious."
It was a moment animal rights activists have been waiting for. Ruby the Elephant being close to free as she can possibly be at the Performing Animal Welfare Society Sanctuary.
Rosemary Arnot: "To see her come up here is really coming home."
The 46-year-old African elephant left the L.A. Zoo early this morning and endured the seven-hour, 350-mile journey to her retirement home.
John Lewis, L.A. Zoo Director: "She was calm during the whole trip. We stopped three times to check on her and she was doing fine."
The 9,000-pound loveable lug is going to be kept here in the barn for a while so she can get used to being in a new place.
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=state&id=5308758
Berlin zoo worker killed by musk ox
May 16 2007 at 01:23AM
Berlin - A woman working in the zoo in the former East Berlin was crushed to death by an angry musk ox on Tuesday, the director of the zoo said.Bernhard Blaskiewitz said it appears that the 41-year-old woman, an experienced keeper, forgot to close the gate of the enclosure where five furry, horned muskoxen are kept."It is a case of tragic human error," he said.One of the muskoxen, who carries the name Ludowiko and weighs 240kg, charged at the woman in an apparent attempt to defend his territory, Blaskiewitz said.He said nobody witnessed the incident as heavy rains in the past week have kept down visitor numbers at the East Berlin zoo.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=24&art_id=nw20070515222936412C172487
Marghazar Zoo to get lions and giraffes
ISLAMABAD: Marghazar Zoo, for long without star animals, is now preparing to procure lions and giraffes, the head of the facility said on Tuesday.Raja Muhammad Javed, the Zoo and Wildlife director, told Daily Times that terms of reference were being prepared in this connection and it was likely that the animals would be in during the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) next financial year.“We always had plans to have these animals which are almost always a big attraction for visitors but now we are seriously working to induct them here,” Javed said, adding that they would have a pair of both animals. The zoo does not currently have giraffes but the only lion it had died months ago because of old age and arthritis.The management of the beautiful facility only recently brought in two pairs of zebras, vertex monkeys, African grey parrots and white cockatoos.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C05%5C16%5Cstory_16-5-2007_pg11_8
Smithsonian National Zoo Has Selected New Fujifilm Curatorial Resident
Made possible by a grant from Fujifilm, a National Zoo partner in conservation education, this new, post-doctoral residency program builds on the Zoo's tradition of training students in a variety of disciplines and inspiring them to pursue careers in animal care, conservation science and science education.
http://www.imaginginfo.com/online/article.jsp?id=2595&siteSection=52
The person in this picture doesn’t look like Jack Hanna.
Docent trained under Hanna
May 16, 2007
By ANNIE ALLEMAN Special to the Herald News
Carol Ritchie of Joliet can say she knew a celebrity "when."
Ritchie was a docent in animal expert "Jungle" Jack Hanna's first docent training class at the Columbus Zoo.
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/lifestyles/387037,4_5_JO16_HANNA_S1.article
This looks like Jack Hanna.
http://www.jackhanna.com/index.html
Penguins glide right into new zoo exhibit
Soaring through the cool green water, half a dozen Humboldt penguins circle each other and playfully zip by their friends. They don't swim so much as fly, using their wings to glide smoothly through the water.
One decides he's had enough and waddles ashore, spreads his wings wide and turns his face to the sun.
Eleven of the Sedgwick County Zoo's 17 new penguins are exploring their South American exhibit. The other six are in quarantine and will come out by May 25, when the $1.5 million Cessna Penguin Cove opens to the public.
The penguins are adapting well to their home, said curator of birds Joe Barkowski.
http://www.kansas.com/196/story/71200.html
Zoo's Water's Edge Exhibit To Open Thursday (Videos)
Slideshow: Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Debuts The Water's Edge Exhibit
(KDKA) PITTSBURGH The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is set to officially debut its new Water's Edge exhibit tomorrow.The $14 million exhibit boasts two underwater tunnels and a huge convex underwater window. The 30-foot tunnel provides a view of polar bears, sea otters and eventually sea lions and walruses.Visitors are sure to be as stunned as dignitaries were at today's sneak peek."It's hard to believe that just 12 years ago, all of these assets were in trouble" said Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. "They were being proposed to close because the city was out of the money in the mid-90s. Then we spun them off and have a public/private partnership. This place has never looked so good." Also at the Water's Edge trail is Pier Town, a replica of a coastal fishing village where man meets nature. It includes a cannery, seafood market, alternative energy company and a town hall. Stay with KDKA for a behind-the-scenes tour of the exhibit.
http://kdka.com/local/local_story_136074243.html
Zoo worker returns after bear bite
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
By GUY BUSBY
Staff Reporter
A longtime employee of the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is expected to return to work today or Thursday after being bitten by a bear Friday, said Patti Hall, facility director.
Rusty Gilbert, facilities manager, was working with another employee to repair the cage of Booda, an adult American black bear, at about 2 p.m. Friday. Gilbert reached into a hole in the cage to pet the bear and the animal clamped down on his arm, Hall said.
"We don't know why Booda did that. Rusty raised him from the time he weighed 6 pounds. He might have been upset that Rusty didn't get into the cage with him," Hall said.
http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/117930704951520.xml&coll=3
Hidden Places: From Food to Foot Aches at the Jacksonville Zoo
By Grayson KammFirst Coast NewsJACKSONVILLE, FL -- Our Hidden Places series takes you to off-limits spots at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, including animal hurricane shelters, their high-tech hospital and feeding time with the lions."You gotta get wet! Lean in!" called out animal keeper Jami Fletcher. And the massive elephant standing just feet away did exactly what she asked. Another keeper opened the nozzle on a spray hose and started treating Ali to a refreshing shower.As the creature positioned itself up against the 12-inch-thick poles that separate person and pachyderm, Fletcher called out in the reassuring tone you'd use with your pet dog. "Steady, steady, good boy!"A few hunks of raw sweet potato, tossed onto the floor by hand and scooped up by trunk, are the perfect way to get cooperation."Every now and then, you kinda stand back and say, 'Wow, this elephant is actually listening to me,'" Fletcher said.
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=82152
Private zoo owner facing charges
CanWest News Service
Published: Wednesday, May 16, 2007
OTTAWA — Police have laid trespassing charges against the owner of a private zoo in Prince Edward Country from which a monkey escaped on Sunday.Julian the Japanese macaque was hit with a tranquilizer dart after 48 hours on the lam on property adjacent to Bergeron’s Exotic Animal Sanctuary in eastern Ontario and returned unharmed to his enclosure. Const. Vance Kewley of Picton OPP said Wednesday that the charge was laid against Joe Bergeron who is alleged to have ventured on to the neighbouring property to assist in the primate’s recapture.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=18e0a3f3-3a0a-4703-968b-3856450f7141&k=40824
Meerkats, Warthogs Arrive at Zoo
Zoo Atlanta completed its acquisition of two warthogs and nine meerkats that will part of the new Kalahari Connections habitat.The last of the two warthogs, 1-year-old Shirley, arrived May 12 from a private facility in Texas. She will be quarantined for 30 days.Shirley joins 1-year-old Vern, who arrived earlier this year from the Erie Zoo in Erie, Pa. Vern has already completed his 30-day quarantine, but will remain behind the scenes in the Zoo's hoofstock barn while his new habitat is prepared.In a month, Vern and Shirley will be able to get acquainted behind the scenes by staffers. The pair is not expected to breed for a couple of years.The nine meerkats, indigenous to the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa, arrived in early May from the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, N.C. They will also be in quarantine for the next 30 days.
http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=97130
Zoo's elephants named Norfolk's ambassadors of the year
By DEBBIE MESSINA, The Virginian-Pilot © May 17, 2007 Last updated 10:53 PM May. 16
NORFOLK - In the competition for Norfolk's ambassador of the year, how could the judges resist a trio of ladies who like to eat heartily, burp loudly and relax with a bit of mud bathing?
They couldn't. So they bestowed one of the city's highest tourism honors Wednesday to Cita, Monica and Lisa, the Virginia Zoo's popular pachyderms. It's the first time a non human has been honored.
Zoo director Greg Bockheim wrote in his nomination that the elephants "represent the 'big picture' when it comes to hospitality and customer service" as they "happily go about their day performing their various crowd-pleasing assignments."
http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=124803&ran=8951
Zoo Green Team keeps growing
Facility leads the way with recycling efforts, biodegradable plates, increased use of compost.
At the Detroit Zoo these days, you may sense the whiff of new technologies and a greener spirit.
"Take me to the compost pile!" urged Paul Ruesch, an Environmental Protection Agency engineer from Chicago, who on Monday toured the zoo with recycling officials from around the Midwest.
They supped on chicken fingers and potato pancakes served on "cornware" and "spudware" -- biodegradable plates made of corn and potatoes.
They competed for eco-friendly raffle prizes, like a gaggle of goblets made from recycled green glass, and tipped their hats to the cardboard compactor and the pop bottle-shaped bottle collectors.
But their very presence on zoo grounds signals the zoo's latest environmental coming-of-age.
A zoo is, after all, not only a refuge for wild animals but a collection site for refuse of all kinds, from the cardboard boxes used to transport butterflies to camel dung.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070517/OPINION03/705170382/1003/METRO
Hamilton Zoo's family of white rhinos split up
Hamilton Zoo's white rhino family of five were separated yesterday, when patriach Zambese and his sons Inkosi and Mtoto left for Auckland Zoo's bachelor herd.
They left behind matriach Caballe and one-month-old baby girl Imani, who was the first female white rhino born in the Waikato.
Hamilton Zoo exchanged the three male rhinos for a breeding white rhino male called Kruger, who brings with him fresh hope for more Waikato baby rhinos.
Kruger has a homegrown connection to Zambese and Caballe - all three rhinos were born and captured in Kruger National Park in South Africa.
Zambese and Kruger arrived in New Zealand in 1999. They were on the same shipment from South Africa.
Mammals team leader Samantha Kudeweh said the journey to Auckland Zoo was set to take almost three hours, and that moving the rhinos into crates and on to trucks had been very stressful.
She said saying goodbye would be very sad.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikatotimes/4063075a6579.html
Sea otters, polar bears make a splash at zoo
Chugach and Alki, 2-year-old sea otters, have arrived at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, which will host four days of festivities this week to welcome the playful boys.
The grand opening festivities, which begin today and go through Sunday, will celebrate the opening of the new Sea Otter Cove. The cove is in the Water's Edge exhibit, which opened last year with polar bears. Visitors can watch the otters frolic around in their 60,000-gallon pool, complete with a rocky cove and kelp forest, from windows both above and below the water line.
Visitors who have seen the sea otters since the zoo unveiled them last week have given wonderful feedback, says Gabriele Boldizar, special-events manager for the Highland Park zoo.
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/rss/s_508017.html
3rd Annual Red Hat Society Day at the San Francisco Zoo
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, (NAMC) - Strutting Peacocks, an official chapter of the Red Hat Society, will mingle with the resident peacocks at the San Francisco Zoo. The catering services at the zoo have graciously agreed to recreate the tea service for the Red Hats, something that is not normally on their menu. Their previous tea parties at the San Francisco zoo each had over 100 Red Hat Society chapter members from Northern California dressed in their purple outfits and red hats to meet, eat, play games, win prizes, and celebrate the birthday of the Queen Peacock.
http://www.namcnewswire.com/releases/content/view/936/2/
More animals at Singapore Zoo being treated with TCM
SINGAPORE: More animals are being treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) at the Singapore Zoo. The practice has been going on for years but now research at the Zoo is getting a new injection of funding. Veterinarians at the Singapore Zoo have been using TCM to treat animals such as snakes, orang utans and even a miniature horse. TCM herbs are crushed and fed with food for these animals. One horse, named Bollin, was given TCM treatment for about four weeks for respiratory problems. The prescription included herbs such as Black Cohosh and Lilly Bulb. The medication was given to the miniature horse because of an infection near his throat, affecting his breathing.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/276769/1/.html
Puma is using pony hair on their sneakers. Huh?
Puma Clyde Zoo
Thursday May 17th 2007, 12:36 pm Filed under: Puma
Puma is really dropping some hot kicks lately, following the Solebox snake skin Puma dropped recently, another Clyde “Zoo” series has been revealed, featuring Pony hair / Permium leather uppers! Very sexy.
http://www.nikeskateboarding.org/2007/05/17/pump-clyde-zoo/
Zoo earns global black eye
Fri, May 18, 2007
Tyson the kangaroo didn't even throw a punch -- this is an Internet boxing match.
By RANDY RICHMOND, SUN MEDIA
Australians are hopping mad and Canadians as red-faced as the Maple Leaf on their flag over the treatment of a kangaroo in London.
The environment minister from Down Under has called for a probe and Aussie reporters are writing back home about coming face to face with the Mounties.
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2007/05/18/4189794-sun.html
Chilean zoo shows off rare white tiger
One-year-old Pampa weighs 265 pounds and measures more than 10 feet
SANTIAGO, Chile - A rare, one-year-old white tiger named Pampa had a coming-out party Thursday at a Chilean zoo.
Weighing 265 pounds and measuring more than 10 feet from nose to tail, he was introduced to dozens of photographers and children by at Santiago's Metropolitan Zoo.
The blue-eyed Pampa was born in Argentina and will be mated with Luna, a two-year-old female from a Mexican zoo. Officials expect cubs as soon as December.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18728729/
County Council leader urges $500,000 for zoo
By Amanda Iacone
The Journal Gazette
The Allen County Council is considering using income tax dollars to help the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo pay for a new project.
Council President Paul Moss has asked that the county give $500,000 the county uses for economic development efforts to the African Journey project that is transforming the zoo’s 30-year-old African Veldt.
Expected to open in 2009, the African Journey will include new animals, exhibits and an area for patrons to feed giraffes.
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/17244774.htm
Special-ed teens learn job skills, from A to zoo
If you look to the right side of the path leading to Big Cat Falls, where snow leopards and jaguars make their home, you'll see the work.
The dark brown mulch around the plants and the metal sculpture of a white-backed vulture may not seem like a big deal to most people. But to the students responsible for the effort, it was a victory.
The teenagers are special-education students from Moorestown High School, and their work is part of the five-week Workplace Wonderment program at the Philadelphia Zoo, where they are learning job skills.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/burlington/7567862.html
Roadside zoo owners defend Lickety Split
Sun, May 20, 2007
By PATRICK MALONEY, SUN MEDIA
Ontario zookeepers came out swinging yesterday in defence of a small London zoo that's apparently shut its doors in the midst of an international kangaroo controversy.
Alerted by an associate of Toronto's World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), a major Australian newspaper attacked south London's Lickety Split Ranch last week over its treatment of a kangaroo named Tyson.
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2007/05/20/4194384-sun.html
Perth Zoo - Pt 4 - The Orang Atungs
Perth Zoo is considered a world leader in the breeding of Sumatran Orang-utans. The Zoo has successfully bred 25 orang-utans since 1970 as part of an Australasian captive breeding program. In 2006, Perth Zoo released one of its female orang-utans, Temara into Bukit Tigapuluh National Park as part of a release program to re-establish a viable population of Sumatran Orang-utans.
As a part of this breeding program it was necessary to prepare an environment which was familiar to the Orangs. These steel, wood and rope constructions may not look very natural but they fulfil all the requirements of a tree. There are about ten of these trees, in several adjoining enclosures.
http://archiearchive.wordpress.com/2007/05/20/perth-zoo-pt-4-the-orang-atungs/
Pocatello Zoo Money
The Pocatello Zoo is hoping to upgrade its facilities. In an effort to find funding they asked Sara Ifft to chair a committee to find the money they need. Ifft accepted the challenge and even contributed money from the Ifft foundation to start the process.
The Pocatello zoo has thousands of visitors every year. Hosting field trips for elementary schools. While it is the largest zoo in eastern Idaho, zoo director Scott ransom says it needs some tender loving care.
Scott Ransom: "Pocatello Zoo needs to be completely re-modernized and the biggest priority is a new exhibit for the grizzlies."
http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=6536819
23 Baby Chickens Stolen Silently from Zoo
Workers at the Gothenburg children's zoo in Sweden have stated that 23 baby chickens have been stolen over two nights, marking the largest crime the zoo has seen since it opened. The chickens were stolen without a sound.
Zookeeper Josefine Rees said: "The children love them when they are small and sweet. It makes you very cross and upset ... There has been graffiti and broken plant pots and such like, but we've never had chickens stolen."
http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=62535
UC Students Want To Return Bearcat To Zoo
Posted By: Sheri Hammel
Some University of Cincinnati students say the time has come to return their mascot, the bearcat, to the Cincinnati Zoo.
So at their carnival Saturday, members of the University's honorary fraternity Sigma Sigma will be raising money to make that happen.
They hope to raise the $5,000 needed for a down payment on an exhibit to host the animal at the zoo.
But even if they succeed, they're a long way from having a timeline for the project.
The 68th annual Sigma Sigma carnival is from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday on Sigma Sigma Commons on campus. Admission to the carnival is free, with proceeds coming from food, beverages and games.
http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=1eee0cce-8c01-408a-bf81-cd34c9bf8abc
Zoo concert series leads wild summer
By Chase PurdyToledo Free Press Staff Writernews@toledofreepress.comThe roar of lions will be blowin' in the wind this summer when Bob Dylan rocks the Toledo Zoo Amphitheater. The Toledo Zoo plans to throw a variety of summer events, including concerts featuring Bob Dylan and Sheryl Crow, to raise money for the zoo. Events kick off June 5 with the Live Nation Summer Concert Series and the annual Rock ‘n' Roar event Aug. 17. “We have great acts coming in, so we anticipate big crowds for those,” said Andi Norman, director of marketing and public relations of the Toledo Zoo. “It continues to grow each year.”
http://www.toledofreepress.com/?id=5571
Albino born at Johannesburg Zoo
In what could possibly be a world first, an albino blue duiker was recently born at the Johannesburg Zoo.Staff were still trying to confirm whether it was the first of its kind, said zoo spokesperson Senzo Ngcobo on Friday.Born on May 9, the zoo had yet to name it and welcomed suggestions from the public.The white blue duiker and its proud parents can be seen in their enclosure in Lemur Lane, near the gorilla enclosure.Blue duikers are considered endangered and listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. They are hunted for their meat, skin and horns. Known by the scientific name of cephalophus monticola bicolor, they are the smallest species of duiker.They can weigh between 4kg and 10kg with a shoulder height of about 30cm to 40cm.
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=143&art_id=nw20070518160313706C271021
Dated
Academics from around the world to discuss animal welfare
Applying ethology: links between fundamental and applied research
What is the welfare of elephants housed in zoos and do fish experience pain? These are two topics of an international animal behaviour and welfare conference taking place in Bristol next week.
More than 350 delegates from around the world will attend the 40th International Congress of the International Society For Applied Ethology hosted by Bristol University from Tuesday 8 to Saturday 12 August.
The conference will bring together many academics whose common interest is studying animal behaviour and ensuring the welfare standards of all animals throughout the planet.
The range of animal species that will feature at the meeting include mice, rats, budgerigars, cats, dogs, pigs and elephants, and will cover a range of subjects for this year's theme, 'Applying ethology: links between fundamental and applied research.'
The conference will tackle a number of issues including the first study ever to evaluate the health, welfare and housing of elephants in UK zoos. There are 13 zoos and safari parks in the UK who house Asiatic and African elephants. This is just one of a number of studies on elephants that will be presented.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-08/uob-afa080206.php
Russian bear arriving to pair with Ahpun
LUYTYIK: Matchmaking would create much-sought new genetic line in captivity.
By MEGAN HOLLANDAnchorage Daily News
Published: August 9, 2006 Last Modified: August 10, 2006 at 12:59 AM
The Alaska Zoo is making preparations for the arrival of a second polar bear next week to pair and breed with Ahpun, an 8-year-old polar bear that has lived at the zoo since she was a cub.
http://www.adn.com/front/story/8059541p-7952554c.html
continued…
This image is becoming a permanent headline. The Humpback whales.
The river has been visited by stray Humpbacks before as noted as a link to the title of this entry. I can't help but wonder if the female came 'inland' to protect her calf. These beautiful and endangered species normally swim north to the Arctic Circle this time of year. I can't help but wonder if the calf was unable to maintain a good swimming speed and needed to rest or if it was being chased by Orcas/Killer Whales. She might be too scared to pursue an ocean venture with her calf.
The article doesn't really venture a quess as to the age of this female or whether this is her first offspring, but, Humpbacks have enough blubber to produce milk for lactation for some time, especially since she is freshly off her feeding/spawning grounds near the equator. It might be she has decided to raise her calf in a 'safe harbor' rather than the ravages of the open sea.
One of the reasons often given to these type of 'strandings' is illness, but, the scientists involved state they don't believe the whales are ill, except for some 'propeller' injuries, quite possibly. I believe those injuries are indicative to the reason why this female might want to stay in the river. Good luck to everyone, perhaps there should be a way to reassure her she would have a safe escort all the way north to gain her cooperation. Someone needs to find the ship that did this as well. Usually these whales are in protected waters and shipping routes are supposed to be void of any possiblity of hurting or killing these whales. I think this female is a very smart mother.
Moore is a hit at Cannes.
American director Michael Moore poses for a portrait at the 60th International film festival in Cannes, southern France, on Monday, May 21, 2007. Michael Moore's new film "Sicko," premiered at the festival on Saturday, May 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The completely amazing aspect of the response to Mike's latest expose', is that they don't embrace it as a sincere criticism and call to awareness and action needed. You know, I don't care if Cuba has 'display' clinics. The critics of that aspect of the film miss the point. It isn't that Cuban health care makes a mockery of USA standards, it is that the level of healthcare in the USA can be improved to a standard currently in existance. I don't care if the clinics were in Cuba. The fact of the matter is the clinics that actually helped USA citizens exist. They actually exist and we don't have the high quality of care. Amazing. And the Republicans have the audacity to criticize any aspect of "Sicko." I don't think so. I know the desparity that exists between socioeconomic classes in this country. It's not only despicable but profit margins based on deprivation of care are human rights issues. Thank you, Michael.
Film Offers New Talking Points in Health Care Debate (click here)
Few of them may become Michael Moore fans. But some insurance industry officials and health policy experts acknowledged yesterday that the film documentary “Sicko,” Mr. Moore’s indictment of health care in this country, taps into widespread public concern that the system does not work for millions of Americans....
...The film, which will be released in this country on June 29 after a well-calculated publicity campaign by Mr. Moore, is arriving as health care has become the leading domestic policy concern in many national polls, second only to the Iraq war. Although they have not had a chance to see the film yet, many American health care and insurance industry experts have been tracking it intently, based on media reports....
Senator Byrd Admonishes the Senate
Floor Seating Arrangements of the House and Senate (click here). In case they forgot where their assigned seats are.
Yesterday in the Senate the kind gentleman from West Virginias stated, " Senate Resolution 480 states, "Resolved, that it is a standing order of the Senate that during yea and nay votes in the Senate, each Senator shall vote from the assigned desk of the Senator.
This standing order is a point of order of West Virginia Senators. It was passed for respect of Senator Jennings Randolph, a Democrat from West Virginia, as he demanded in his years in the Senate (1958-1984) dignity over disorder. Make no mistake in the recent weeks of this Congress it has been raucous in both the Senate and the House.
At any rate, the West Virginia Senators are quite right. Order for procedural issues has to be implimented to return civility to this Congressional session. I sincerely believe the Republicans have no respect for their collegues or the Constitution. I'll go as so far as to say that if procedure is not followed to the letter, or close to it, any measure with 'ya' or 'nay' votes can be challenged as 'out of order' when resolution is passed. We should all thank Seantor Byrd for bringing that to all our attention.
At any rate, the degree of disrespect by the Republicans is more than evident.
Yesterday when Immigration law was introduced, Senator Kyl began his opening statements by blackmailing the entire legislature in the Senate. He stated, '... that if the 'core wording' to the legislation was changed by one syllable he would not vote for the bill.' Well, who cares. If Senator Kyl calls himself a devoted member of the Senate than he needs to exhibit same by working bipartisanly to resolve a serious issue for the USA. The borders along his state are like seives and he IS one of the problems. He wants to defeat this bill without any shadow of a doubt in my mind. I hope it sinks into oblivion until this country has two legislatives houses they can be proud of, void of people such as Kyl.
In introducing a bill from The Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Senator Sherrod Brown stated the reason for so much inconsistency to any of the bills passed costing so many Americans their jobs, especially with his constituency in Ohio (click here) , is that the Executive Branch virtually ignores any and all amendments to any bill and ONLY abide by the 'core' requirements of it as if it were a 'Power of the Presidency' and where have I heard that before? allows such disregard of the Legislative Branch of the government. He went on to say that Bush literally allows every other country in the world to treat labor as they will, including devastatingly low wages as in the Jordan circumstances with Bangledesh workers, while allowing these products to be imported. He further stated the Executive Branch completely disregards any and all amendments to laws currently governing fair labor treatment abroad and environmental standards to allow cheap goods to be imported to the USA.
This lackadaisical application of the laws of this country allows Bush and Cheney their dictatorial status while attempting to undermine the authority of the legislature. The USA has good laws, but, just as it's gun laws are abused without enforcement so are the standards of decency in the importation of goods from other countries. The Repulican Right Wing will demand a fertilized human embryo is a human being and place oppressive laws to work against the free will of women to choose in their own lives, but, when it comes to demanding decent wages and environmental standards from foreign governments to import to the USA this is just to hard for the Executive Branch to get their minds around. These violations of enforcement of laws already passed in the USA is clearly further incompetency by the Bush Administration and more reason for impeachment.
Senator Brown stated, the 'core statements' of any bill has to reflect the demands of the law and not just expressed in amendments. The amendment process is out of control in the USA House and Senate and needs to be trimmed back. There are committees that are supposed to investigate issues, write legislation and submit to the general assembly of the House and Senate for vote. The process is as old as the USA Constitution and that is being circumvented by amendment after amendment once legisaltion is presented out of committee. The Republican Party has no respect for the USA Constitution, the procedural laws of the Legislation Branch or the decency of submitting to the will of the people of this country. They all need to be replaced. At least the Democrats have it right and demand a return to procedural correctness to rein in the runaway Republican train.
The other day US House Representative Barney Frank, whom recently had surgery on his arm, was attempting to carry an Affordable Housing initiative forward (He has so many of them, it's difficult to say which were in debate.) when a Republican added an amendment that would profoundly change the spirit of the law, if not the actual law itself. It would sincerely defeat the purpose of the legislation, now out of Committee. It was astonishing to realize how much of a temper tantrum the Republican Party is having in the House and Senate in hopes they can impress enough oppression on the electorate to replace them back into majority. Why? They were horrible in the first place, they continue to be horrible and why would anyone in this country ever want a Republican majority of both houses ever again?
They all need to return to procedural laws of both Houses and stop this insane 'gaming' of the Legislative Branch !
As a point of order, one might care to read Senator Byrd's book
In the table of contents one might note seven speeches made by Senator Byrd during the Bush Executive Branch years. The book was released post election 2004. This Senator is sincerely concerned and continues to be concerned for The American Democracy. This is not a minor issue. The Republicans are simply disrespectful of the very government that affords them the freedom to be in their elected seats. Not optional reading.
IN THE MONTHS and years following September 11, Senator Robert C. Byrd has viewed with alarm what he considers to be a "slow unraveling of the people's liberties," when all dissenting voices were stilled and awesome power...
The origins of An Nahr al Barid (click here). The problem with any refugee camp is anarchy. They have little to do with government so much as control. The 'internal' order of the An Nahr al Barid refugee camp was completely dominated by extremists and in recent months violent extremists that were similar in nature to 'drug turf wars' in the slums of some USA cities. That is the issue here and the International Red Cross and Red Cresent Society (click here) have yet to obtain an idea of the number dead and wounded within the refugee camp.
The Lebanese government is attempting to bring the extremists under control for the benefit of those in the camp as well as benefitting the sovereignty of Lebanon. The extremists throughout the country were providing a venue for overthrow of the government. It could not be tolerated anymore. This isn't just about a conflict between extremists and the Lebanese government, this is about the safety of those that live within the camp itself. There were no police, simply armed camps of different groups.
I don't buy the al Qaeda thing. Every extremist group in the Middle East models itself after al Qaeda. They long to be powerful and controlling of populous of people in order to win favor with Allah in a 'bent' understanding of Islam.
The number of victims of the Lebanese shelling of the Nahr Al-Barid refugee camp, north of Tripoli, rose on Monday evening; 15 people are now dead and 80 injured.
The residents of the refugee camp appealed for a ceasefire in order to be able to evacuate the injured and bury the dead.
Eyewitnesses stated that a third party, which they did not name, was behind the resumption of confrontations and the escalation. The assaults became fiercer and heavy artillery was used.
In talks to the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite TV station, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) general command leader, Anwar Rajab, accused gunmen from the Al-Mustaqbal 'future' movement of violating a ceasefire, which was agreed on Monday morning.
A spokesperson from the Al-Mustaqbal movement denied the accusation.
Anwar Rajab warned of the tensions spilling over into other areas. He said "Nahr Al-Barid is not an orphan," meaning there are similar refugee camps in Lebanon that will join forces to retaliate to the attacks.
Head of the Hamas politburo, Khalid Mash'al, telephoned the Lebanese Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, and demanded that he takes the necessary measures to protect the Palestinians in Nahr Al-Barid refugee camp.
According to a statement from Hamas' media office, Siniora pledged to take the required measures in order to preserve the Palestinian lives.Mash'al had earlier telephoned the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Amr Mousa, and the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Saud Al-Faysal, for the same reason; he asked them to do their best to secure the safety of the Palestinian people in the refugee camp of Nahr Al-Barid.
He also asked them to organise talks and consultations, in order to stop the brutal Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.The PLO's envoy to Lebanon, Abbas Zaki, told Al-Jazeera, "
The refugee camps, which contain around 400,000 Palestinian refugees, will not be the fanning the flames of a civil war
AM - Tuesday, 22 May , 2007 08:12:00
Reporter: David Hardaker
TONY EASTLEY: Another car bomb explosion, this one in the mainly Muslim sector of Beirut, has injured six people, set cars ablaze and damaged buildings.
Reporter: David Hardaker
TONY EASTLEY: Another car bomb explosion, this one in the mainly Muslim sector of Beirut, has injured six people, set cars ablaze and damaged buildings.
On Sunday a bomb exploded in the Christian sector of the city.
Meanwhile fighting between Lebanese troops and Islamic militants in and around a big Palestinian refugee camp in the main northern city of Tripoli has continued for a second day, with at least nine civilians killed. Yesterday 50 soldiers, militants and civilians died in the worst internal violence seen in Lebanon since the end of the civil war 15 years ago. Middle East Correspondent, David Hardaker reports. (Sounds of gunfire)...
Militant group Fatah al-Islam offers truce to stop fighting with Lebanese army (click here)
By The Associated Press
Militant group Fatah al-Islam will stop fighting the Lebanese army from 2.30 P.M. (1130 GMT) on Tuesday as long as the Lebanese army does not attack it, the group's spokesman said."We are giving a chance for calm and a ceasefire from 2.30 p.m.," Abu Salim Taha said. When asked how long it would last, he said, "It is open-ended if the army commits to it as well."When asked if he was aware of the truce offering, a military source said, "initially, we do not start firing. We only return fire when we are fired upon. If there is no firing at us, we will not return fire."...
By The Associated Press
Militant group Fatah al-Islam will stop fighting the Lebanese army from 2.30 P.M. (1130 GMT) on Tuesday as long as the Lebanese army does not attack it, the group's spokesman said."We are giving a chance for calm and a ceasefire from 2.30 p.m.," Abu Salim Taha said. When asked how long it would last, he said, "It is open-ended if the army commits to it as well."When asked if he was aware of the truce offering, a military source said, "initially, we do not start firing. We only return fire when we are fired upon. If there is no firing at us, we will not return fire."...
The Brits want Andrei Lugovoi extradicted in the death of Alexander Litvinenko.
It would seem being a former Russia spy leads to a line of business the world finds attractive and welcome. One would wonder why? Could Alexander Litvinenko comrade be muscling in on his business ventures? And everyone said it was Russia that was the culprit. Does Britian actually expect cooperation in extradiction from Russia if they won't cooperate with extradiction to Russia? I won't think so.
Scotland Yard Visits Moscow Hospital
Investigators Finally Question Andrei Lugovoi
Yesterday investigators from the Russian General Prosecutor's office, accompanied by representatives of Britain's Scotland Yard, questioned businessman Andrei Lugovoi in his bed in a Moscow hospital. Mr. Lugovoi is the main witness in the case of the recent fatal poisoning of the Russian former spy Alexander Litvinenko in London. Police in Hamburg, Germany have opened a criminal investigation into the affairs of Mr. Lugovoi's business partner and neighbor in the hospital ward, Dmitry Kovtun, who is accused of illegally possessing radioactive materials. The police speculate that Mr. Kovtun brought polonium-210, the same material used to kill Mr. Litvinenko, from Moscow to Hamburg on October 28, 2006.
Lugovoi and Kovtun are in a special hospital run by the Federal Medico-Biological Agency of Russia. The hospital is completely isolated from the outside world: suffice it to say that the hospital's information center refuses to give any information about patients and maintains that the telephone numbers for the hospital were not even in the phone book until a few years ago. Andrei Lugovoi was questioned in the hospital, where he is undergoing tests whose results will be released on Friday, by investigators from the Russian General Prosecutor's office. The session was attended by representatives of Britain's Scotland Yard who arrived in Moscow on November 6. The investigators questioned Mr. Lugovoi for three hours regarding the circumstances under which he met Alexander Litvinenko, but they were most interested in the final meetings between Lugovoi and Litvinenko in London in October and November of this year....
U.S. Doctor and Daughter Sickened by Poison in Russia (click here)
...“They have positive dynamics, and their condition is improving,” said Dr. Viktor M. Kaznacheyev, the chief physician at the Sklifosovsky Clinic here, said in a telephone interview. The women have been treated at the clinic since falling ill on Feb. 24....
Citing privacy concerns, he declined to discuss further details beyond saying that their symptoms were consistent with thallium poisoning....
...She returned to Russia on Feb. 14 for a vacation and was due back at her office to see patients on Feb. 26, Dr. Arkady Stern, a colleague covering for her at her practice on Santa Monica Boulevard, said by telephone.
The circumstances of the poisonings are unclear, but it appears that Dr. Kovalevsky and her daughter ingested the poison while in Moscow. “She left Los Angeles in perfectly good health,” Dr. Stern said....
Odd.
Film about poisoned Russian spy to premiere at Cannes-1 (click here)
MOSCOW, May 23 (RIA Novosti) - A documentary about former Russian secret agent Alexander Litvinenko, poisoned in London at the end of last year, will have its premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival this weekend, the film director said Wednesday.
Andrei Nekrasov, who was friends with Litvinenko, said "Rebellion: The Litvinenko Case" would be shown at Cannes Saturday, with Litvinenko's widow, Marina, expected to speak at a preview press conference.
French television channel TV5 said the film was a last-minute addition to the festival's program by Cannes Artistic Director Thierry Fremaux, who compared the movie to a "big bang."
Nekrasov said the film was included in the festival's program a month ago, but its screening was officially announced only yesterday due to a "political pressure."
He added that he did not intend to blame anyone for Litvinenko's death, but only wanted to provide a portrait of the former agent during last four years of his life.
On Tuesday, British investigators completed their inquiry into the murder of Litvinenko, who died in London last November after being poisoned with the radioactive element polonium-210.
http://en.rian.ru/world/20070523/65988979.html
Perhaps if the Brits returned Boris to Russia where he is wanted they would consider extradiction.
Russian business tycoon Boris Berezovsky, a friend of murdered former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, attends a funeral service for Litvinenko. Russia's prosecutor general Yury Chaika said he is convinced the U.K. will eventually extradite fugitive businessman Boris Berezovsky and Chechen separatist emissary Akhmed Zakayev.
It would seem no matter the 'exile' the Bush's are always at their side. Odd.
Wanted Russian oligarch arrives in Latvia0
8:09 2005-09-22
Wanted Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky arrived in Latvia Wednesday evening, a spokesperson for Latvian-based Belokon Holding said. He arrived in Riga to meet with Neil Bush, the U.S. president's brother, and other stockholders of his company Ignite, the source said. Latvian Interior Minister Erik Ekabson said earlier that if Berezovsky arrived in Riga, he would be detained and extradited to Russia. The minister made this statement after a meeting with Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office launched a criminal case against Berezovsky in August 2002, accusing him of embezzlement in the VAZ auto manufacturing company, RIA Novosti reports. In September 2004, the tycoon was granted political asylum in Britain, where he has lived since 2000.
What is polonium-210? (click here)
Where would someone obtain polonium-210 from?
Although it occurs naturally in the environment, acquiring enough of it to kill would require individuals with expertise and connections.
It would also need sophisticated lab facilities - and access to a nuclear reactor.
Alternatively, it could have been obtained from a commercial supplier.
Polonium-210 can either be extracted from rocks containing radioactive uranium or separated chemically from the substance radium-226.
Production of polonium from radium-226 would need sophisticated lab facilities because the latter substance produces dangerous levels of penetrating radiation.
Is the public in danger from the traces of polonium-210 found in London, and on the BA flights?
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said monitoring in aircraft, hotels, offices and other venues had shown nothing of public health concern.
It said polonium-210 can only represent a radiation hazard if it is taken into the body, by breathing it in, taking it into the mouth or if it gets into a wound.
After seven workers at the Millennium Hotel's Pine Bar, in London, tested positive for low levels of radioactive polonium-210, the HPA said the risk to the general public was likely to be "very low".
Nevertheless, more than 200 people known to have visited the Pine Bar on the day the bar staff were working - 1 November - are to be offered tests for radiation.
As far as the bar staff were concerned there was "no health risk in the short term and in the long term the risk is judged to be very small on the basis of initial tests", the HPA said.
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