Birmingham Zoo Orangutan's SFZoo History

Well, maybe my mental ambition for posts this weekend was more than what I'll end up doing.  On the "resignation" post on Tuesday, I wrote there would be "Unpacking" posts to follow.  Don't worry, there are many docs started and many notes to organize.  Just not sure even one of those will be ready by days end today.

Last week started with me making notes for two posts not related to the Director situation.  They then got back-burnered, as the Director's resignation came to the front.  I'm bringing one to the top of the list now, as I had it pretty much written, and it flows with my last post about our incoming new Gorilla.  

Before I continue, I want to note something I discovered, while researching Cecil, our new Silverback.  I had forgot to share it in my previous post about his acquisition.  Our Bawang, is Cecil's Auntie!  I love learning about familial connections, especially between new acquisitions and existing residents.  Cecil's mama Muke is Bawang's sister.  Curiously, Bawang was moved to SF, the year after her birth in 1980.  Muke was born in '81 to the same Mama, so they most likely never met.  While Cecil's arrival will not be a reunion, since he and Bawang never knew each other, for me, there's a warm feeling knowing they will be living together. 

Monday morning my Mother shared a video to me on messenger of the Johnny Carson Show from the 80s. .... I remember as a kid watching the episodes that had Joan Embory from the San Diego Zoo as a guest.  Without any plan or ambition of a future career, each time I would say, "I want her job".

While the most present memory when I've thought of those appearances, is the Marmoset peeing on Carson's head, the video she shared was of babie Orangutans.  This clip was familiar as I have seen it at least once over the years, the last time must have been so long ago that the name of one of those babies didn't resonate with me.  This time it did.  Oliver, was he one of the Orangutans that was a part of Our Zoo's history?

Those who know my Zoo history, know I have been coming to the Zoo since I was a babie, sixty-one years.  It wasn't until 2008 that a devastating loss had me seeking solace in Our Zoo Animals.  It was then that I started learning about them as individuals.  Research has always been an interest, so learning all I could about these Friends, and the Animals I grew-up visiting, thankfully filled many sad hours.  After exhausting every news article archived online, I developed an interest in the genealogy of Our Animals.  My introduction to Studbooks came when a Keeper shared the Lion and Tiger ones she had with me.  Learning about Our Lions was of initial interest, as I had spent a good amount of time with the three who arrived at Our Zoo from a breeding facility in South Africa as Cubs in 1997.  I learned Our Lion Ladies Amanzi and Sukari were Sisters, and that Our Tiger Ladies Padang and Skylar were Auntie and Niece respectively.  This cool discovery was something Keepers didn't even know.

I wanted to share all I was learning about Our Zoo Friends, mostly to help endear others to Our Zoo, like I was, especially after the Tiger event in 2007.  So, in 2009 I started my first blog ever, "goober's sfzoo friends", like this one, it is also named for my sweet Tapir friend Goober.  That blog holds a special place, as it is pure goodness.  It was before I unintentionally got caught up in Zoo bullshit.

Years ago, I searched online news for the Orangutans who used to live at Our Zoo decades ago.  I knew of four, Lipz, Rusty, Oliver and Thelma.  It was near fifteen years ago, that I found Lipz at Birmingham Zoo.  She was in the news after giving birth to her daughter Nairi.  Nairi's father, is a fella named Oliver.

I learned this Oliver was the same who I had heard many stories about from a friend who was the Ape Keeper from the 60s - 80s.  John Alcaraz was our Senior Chimpanzees first Keeper.  He worked with many Animal species, primarily Apes, and he LOVED his Orangutans.  John developed the Trees Project, which allowed the young Orangutans to play in the trees in the back of the Zoo near the Gorilla enclosure.  Here he is reading with a young Oliver.

So, was this Oliver, the Oliver from the Carson show clip?  After watching it, I pulled up the Orangutan Studbook.  Yes, this was babie Oliver!  While seeing Apes in this way may not be comfortable in today's consciousness, this was a different time, and Oliver is beyond adorable.  I consider this an absolute priceless discovery, and a precious gift.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I8Jl4M-9rbc&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD

While both Oliver and Lipz were SFZoo Residents, their time here didn't overlap.  They never met in SF, but they found love in Birmingham and with their daughter Nairi, all three still reside there together.  Oliver turned 45 in June, Lipz celebrated 43 in May.

Oliver and Nairi

Lipz (next to Nairi)

After seeing the video of Oliver and making the connection, I thought while we all wait for Tanya's exit, I'd build a post around it and share.  Hopefully you've enjoyed this.  Also hoping there will be a time where all I do is write about the Animals, and other good things the future, if done right, will bring Our Zoo.

Related Links ... My warm and fuzzy Zoo blogs!

My first blog, exclusively about the Animals.

*goober's sfzoo friends

https://gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com/2009/06/welcome.html

My Enrichment blog - I made Toys for the Friends

*the big cat nip

https://thebigcatnip.blogspot.com/2010/08/welcome.html

Our Beloved Animal Amanzi with Lion sized Firecracker and Ice Cream Cone, circa 2010.