true colors

looking out the window

well I found out over the weekend that they offered the h/b position to someone else. I am trying to keep my head up, and still keep thinking positively. I am trying not to think that maybe it was a hopeless dream to try and become a keeper. Who am I kidding? There are so many people that are trying to get into this field, and it sometimes seems like it will be impossible to get in. I know that this is how every keeper has felt at some point. I am getting more and more frustrated I think, because I feel like I am standing in a room full of doors, and every time I try to open one, it slams in my face. Sometimes doors need to close before more can open...

So for now, I'll just keep looking out the window.

monkey madness

editor's note: I don't think I have mentioned Monkey Village so far on this particular blog, so let me explain real quick. It is one of 3 exhibits like it in the world, and the only one in North America, where zoo visitors can actually enter and share the same space with our troop of squirrel monkeys. There is a pathway through the exhibit, with a low rope as a human barrier, but no barriers for the monkeys. The visitors are not allowed to bring in food or drinks, (except water) and there is no touching of the monkeys either. The exhibit is always staffed with employees and volunteers to assist people and maintain the safety of the people and animals. They don't jump on people, or rummage through their pockets. Mainly they just keep to their monkey business, but with the addition of 5 juveniles, and 5 new babies, things have gotten interesting lately! They keep us all on our toes...

It is amazing what kinds of crazies the full moon brings out. Every month, you can count on at least one weird person that just leaves you speechless. The other day at Monkey Village, the wierdos came out of the woodwork. And I'm not talking about squirrel monkeys. Now I am not one to judge or poke fun at anyone, but these stories were too funny not to mention:

There were a couple people that were high on something, and it sure wasn't life. They were reaching out towards the monkeys, that were actually about 10 feet away. I don't even want to know what experiencing the exhibit would be like in an altered reality...

There was also a crazy lady with her pants rolled up (in one big cuff, from her ankle to her knee...) who was quite a character. She ran through the exhibit screaming "OH!!! They are PRECIOUS!!!! so precious!!!" clapping and screaming her head off. I wasn't there to see it, but I saw her, and can only imagine. A co-worker shared this story with me, but I was in fact priveliged to see her, and can only imagine what I would have said to her. I am glad I wasn't there. She was telling him how she has one of those monkeys at home. It bit her on the nose once, so she had all its teeth removed, and that she shaves it.

Oh. My. So another staff member says how they are illegal to own without special permits, (not that she was telling the truth, but I pray to God that it was not in fact true). The lady got into an argument with her about how it is not illegal, and she got it from the humane society for $500, and how she has had it for 20 years, and never had no damn permit. They then politely mentioned that she was in violation of the law. LOL... Like I said, I don't know what I would have said. Later in the day, my boss saw her at the Orangutan exhibit, where she apparantly "found" a cookie in her pant leg that she must have dropped earlier. She was screaming at her grandson(?) to come and get it for her, since she herself could not bend over. yeah, I missed that one too... lucky me! LOL.

THEN, this kid was standing under one of the ropes that the monkeys climb across, whic goes right over people's heads, and I explained that you never really want to stand directly underneath them (especially with your mouth open). Sea World has their splash zone... we have ours. That is definitely NOT raindrops falling on your head. So he ignored my warning, and ran after them yelling "pee on me! pee on me!!!" I said, "you don't want to get peed on!" to which he replied, "why not!? My uncle pees on my dad!"

Oh it was an interesting day for sure.

in a world of uncertainty, hope is born

I have found myself to be somewhat depressed with the world lately. Not so much depressed, but I sense a definite lack of faith and hope in humanity. While doing research on orangutans last week, I found some pictures that caused me to immediately break down, and this heartbreak and feeling of hopelessness overcame me. I know it seems miniscule in relation to lots of other world problems, but the situation in Indonesia is critical. Orangutans could become extinct in as little as 10 years if people continue to cut down their homes. They are slaughtered, and burned and captured as infants for the illegal pet trade. There were even more horrifying things that I can't even bring myself to type. I couldn't take it. how can people do such a thing. They are some of the most beautiful, gentle and intelligent animals to have ever lived on this earth. But apparently cookies and crackers are more important and valuable. People don't realize that an area the size of 6 football fields of old growth rainforest, are cut down every single minute to put up palm oil plantations. Palm oil is found in 1 in 10 supermarket items. Oreos, snickers, cheezits, granola bars, chips, etc. After seeing these pictures, I refuse to buy anything with palm oil. Check your labels, I bet you would be surprised. The trade off, oil for apes, is completely mind boggling to me.

This is just one example of thousands of species who are in danger of disappearing forever. I have understood this for many years, but it is easy to turn a blind eye to the utter horror and devastation that takes place. Those pictures really opened my eyes, and the "shock value" certainly worked as far as I am concerned. The feeling of helplessness stayed with me for several days. Then I slowly realized that just by doing what I do at the zoo every day, I am making a difference. As small as it is, every person I talk to about Orangutans, Otters, Elephants, Wild Dogs, Mhorr's Gazelle, and so on, every person I touch with the stories I share, is one small step. Knowledge is power, and by helping people fall in love with the species makes a big difference. As Steve Irwin said: " If people love animals, then they want to save animals." It feels great to have a fraction of the passion and enthusiasm that the famous "Crocodile Hunter" had about saving wildlife. Sometimes I wish I could do even more.

As I mentioned, wildlife conservation pales in comparison to some of the other problems in the world. We live in an age where people can fly planes through buildings, kill thousands and evoke terror in millions of people. On the anniversary of September 11, we need to remember the little things that have been done to make this world a better place. Whatever the cause, no matter how small, every little bit helps. These acts of courage, kindness, and compassion, when multiplied by millions can transform the earth. You have to look at the good things that surround you in life, like family and friends.

What will the future hold for a child born today? Will Orangutans, and other endangered animals still exist? What progress will be made in the war on terror? Will global warming continue to threaten the planet? Time will tell. All we can give them is love, faith and hope. There is always hope... sometimes in the form of a bundle of squishy newborn baby boy, that happens to be Jarrett's newest nephew!

9-11-01 - A day we will never forget

9-11-06 - Welcome to our crazy world, Tanner!

Hay

I don't know how one manages to get hay in their socks, but I have done it. Hay in the bra... a little easier to understand.

But the socks?

One of the many perks to zookeeping I am sure. Week 3 of keeper assistant has gone well! The good news is that each week that goes by it gets cooler and cooler outside. The summer heat is DOOMED!!! Sept is still a hot month in AZ, but by the time October rolls around, there should be no more 100° days! Can't wait!!!

volunteer

My relationship with the zoo began a couple of years ago, when I began as a volunteer in their walkthrough squirrel monkey exhibit. It actually began many years before THAT, visiting the zoo as a child, dreaming of someday working there - whaddya know, some dreams come true! Although I'm sure those childhood dreams did not include a rake, a shovel and a whole-lotta-poo. (aka: job security) Now as a volunteer, I worked in the exhibit, interpreting behaviors of the monkeys, explained rules of the exhibit, and made sure no one brought any food or drinks, etc. It was great fun, and the people were awesome! That volunteer position has now evolved into a part-time job, and I am still working with the public, but I am doing scheduled animal encounters, where I feed and/or talk about the animals. There are 6-10 of these a day. I basically talk to the public and answer their questions, because the keepers have so much work on their plates, that it is difficult to spend a big part of their days talking with the public. So my job enhances the visitor experience, and people (hopefully) learn something too. There are 4 people that used to do my job, started as a volunteer as well, and have worked their way up to being a zookeeper. They all put in time as a volunteer keeper to gain experience.

So following in the footsteps of the great ones before me, I have started volunteering as a zookeeper on Wednesdays. I am helping out the "hoofstock-birds" trail, which is basically anything with hoofs or feathers. This includes giraffes, antelopes, gazelles, bighorn sheep, rhinos, arabian oryx, warhog, javelina, capybaras, and all the birds, etc. My first day was last week, and I almost died. Just kidding. I had not been feeling well, and the combination of that and the heat (106 and VERY humid), made for a wonderful case of heat exhaustion. I had to go home early, with my head hung very, very low. Why would they ever hire me as a keeper if I couldn't even make it through one day!?! I suppose that going home was better than going to the hospital. It definitely takes time to get used to doing a lot of physical labor in the heat.

But today was a much better day. I had received tips and tricks on how to overcome the heat, and I was very well hydrated yesterday. I can't tell you all of the wonderful, amazing things that makes being a zookeeper such an incredible job (there is this thing called a "confidentiality policy"). The feeding is by far the best part though. A particularly cool one to watch is the vultures. (If you don't mind a little blood).

So with this experience, I will either A: Show everyone what a GREAT addition to their team I would be; or B: figure out that being a zookeeper is not for me. but I was never a B student, so keep your fingers crossed for A!

exploding cactus

I just thought I would share an incident from work where I humiliated myself. Why not?

Some of my favorite regular zoo visitors were at the zoo yesterday. I was preparing for my 11:00 Orangutan talk, and they came over to tell me about a cactus on one of our trails that looked like it had "exploded" and was all over the trail. "exploded?!" I said laughing. They said it was a cholla, which is a segmented cactus that is full of sharp spines, and it really DID look like it has exploded cactus peices everywhere. OK... I should probably let someone know.

Now the main form of communication between staff members is by radio. There are two general channels for communicating, 1 and 2. All normal correspondance takes place on channel 1. Everyone keeps their radios tuned to this channel. Now if there is something you don't need to be blared across all radios in the park, you call someone and ask them to go to channel 2. This could be something as simple as "where do you want to eat for lunch", or something a little more private, like "which orangutan needs a stool sample?"

So I wanted to report to the horticulture department about this so called exploding cacti.

"P-34 to Hort" I say

"Hort 21, go ahead!"

now at this point, I contemplated going to channel 2 to describe this, since I had no idea what I was going to say, but I for some stupid reason decided no to.

Here comes the public humiliation: " I just had a visitor report that up on the desert lives trail up to bighorn on the meerkat side, a cactus has exploded onto the trail, and just wanted to let you know"

Hort 21 (laughing) "EXPLODED!!!"

ME- Oh GOD. " Yes, thats what they said it looked like."

Hort 21 (still laughing) "Ok, I'll go take a look, thanks!"

Me - "P-34 clear."

You don't want to know how many people gave me crap about that. Oh well, I think it is like a right of passage, to say something humiliating on the radio. At least I didn't ask Operations 7 for a "long screw" That one will probably go down as the most memorable radio blooper.

blahhhhhhh

What do you get when you spend almost 8 hours outside in 110° heat?

A massive headache that wont go away.

I have drunk almost 4 litres of water today (1 was powerade). I got home, and my head was about to explode. I have taken 4 asprin, and it has not helped. Luckily I have the next two days off. I might need it to get rid of this headache!

We are primates too

Sometimes talking about primate evolution can be a controversial topic. They are some of the most fascinating animals on the planet, and they happen to be distant cousins of you and I. Today a child commented on the Orangutan's feet, and how they were just like hands. I said that was a very good observation, and it is the opposable big toe, or thumb on their feet that is one major difference between us and them. He asked more questions, and I explained that having lost that opposable big toe, has enabled us to walk upright, giving us the advantage over all other primates. They are one of our closest relatives. There is just NO denying that we all came from a common ancestor. Science is a tangible thing that can be proven time and time again. Science and Religion clash so often, but can't there be a middle ground? With a strong understanding of the natural world, and evolution, as well as being a spiritual Christian, I believe in a mix of the two. It is especially hard when trying to touch on these subjects with children, not knowing what the parents believe, and if they approve of the message you are trying to get acrross. I got lucky today, and wasn't met with criticism and defiance against the scientific theory... although it is always a touchy subject.

While we are on the subject, on a lighter note. I am often asked very interesting questions about our more entertaining primate species. And when I say entertaining... I mean the self-fornicating kind. Oh, ya gotta love interpreting primate behavior... "What is he doing?"

I don't think I get paid enough to teach kids about masturbation, especially why primates feel the need to do it. Boys will be boys. Lets just say I have to think on my feet a lot... and have come up with some pretty interesting answers. I need to write a book with all the questions I am asked, and my educational or less-educational answers.

(Also... after throwing Leaf-eater biscuits to various monkeys and elephants, etc. I tried a nibble of one today. It wasn't going to kill me. I had heard it tasted like apples... and while it didn't really taste like apples, it wasn't disgusting either.)

new skin

The eyes become a milky blue color, and the skin starts to appear dull. These are signs of an impending change. Blindly seeking a surface on which to begin this transformation. This vulnerability is essential for growth. Pushing its way through rough obstacles, the snake will break away, and separate from the past. Revealing the shiny new skin underneath. Old, deep scars may remain, as a reminder of journeys past. But the past is left behind as a new cycle of growth begins.

Welcome to the new me.