My Outtings Synopsis - Saturday December 21, 2013

Synopsis from the blog  http://mysanfranciscozooouttings.blogspot.com/

> December 20, 2013 -  And her name is ... Kabibe!   Finally the Zoo came up with a way to assure this little one got a decent name.  All three names to be voted on were nice, this was the one I voted for :) , which means "little lady" in Swahili.   The photos at the link below of Little Miss Kabibe and her Grandma are precious.  They had me in tears, because of how wonderful Grandma Bawang is.  A real Gem of a Being.  Raised three babies of her own and now two other infants.  She is an Incredible Lady!

Screencap from this link

http://sfist.com/2013/12/20/sf_zoos_baby_gorilla_runs_this_town.php#photo-1

> December 19, 2013- Happy Birthday Ulu!  Our Precious Polar Bear Ulu turned 33 today!  Wild born, her Birthdate is estimated and may be the date she came to the Zoo, but the year is pretty accurate.  She is presumed to be the oldest Female Polar Bear in a North American Zoo!  I was happy to be able to spend some of her special day with her and sing her the Birthday song :)  

The Zoo of course didn't celebrate her day OR even give it a mention.  Their post today was about buying Memberships.  Always with the money grubbing, instead of valuing the Animals who are the real "bread and butter".  Without these wonderful beings, there would be no Zoo.

Photo taken from All-Bear Birthday Party in 2011 (meant for 2010 Birthdays), that we were able to make happen with the help of our kind Keeper friend Dave.  Party Enrichment Toys made by my friend Lee and I. Pictured is the "Birthday Cake" I made and Mache Party Ball Lee made :)

I plan to write a longer blog post on the non-celebration of the Polar Birthdays, will post the link here when I get to that.  

> December 16, 2013-  Meet Bronevik!   Took my camera back today and got some face time with our new Handsome Boy!  :)

> December 15, 2013 -  What the heck?  I actually thought the Zoo did a decent job on their first attempt at a Zoo Lights event last Holiday Season, so I had high hope this year would be even better.  As well I'm a fan of the Point Defiance Zoo's offering for this type of event. Spectacular!  That said, I haven't gone to any of the previews yet, but will go when its in full swing after the 20th.  BUT again, What the heck?  Was someone drunk when they not only made the decision to put lights on this statue, but also HOW the lights are put on?? I can't imagine it looking any better at night.  So, yea, color me afraid of the rest of the display.  .. Everytime I look at this I just laugh.  

> December 15, 2013 - Spur of the moment Zoo Visit and yay!  New Male Amur (Siberian) Tigers first day out in the yard!  I've been anxiously waiting for him to get out of quarantine, so lucky me!  Welcome Bronevik!  He is handsome!  I didn't have my camera, but will post photos as soon as I do!   Til then I share with you some of my research about him :)

Screen cap of him from this link:

http://www.visitsaltlake.com/media-gallery/view/tiger-at-hogle-zoo/#.Uq6Y5NJDuKY

Born at Hogle Zoo, this is their announcement page that includes photos of him as a cub, with his two Brothers and Mama :)

http://www.hoglezoo.org/news-new-babies/baby-amur-tigers/

Happy Birthday Maggie and Minnie! - Chimp Girls Birthday!

Yesterday Maggie and Minnie added another year to their lives!

Happy Birthday Maggie!

Happy Birthday Minnie!

The Zoo has their Birthdays listed as April 24, 1963, but the Chimpanzee Studbook has it listed as April 25, 1970.  Either way, since they were wild born, the right info date would be an estimate, as well give or take two years.  I go by the Studbook which would make them between 41 and 45.   According to the Zoo info, this would have been their 50th Birthday.  Even that milestone didn't get them a Birthday Party :(  Another Big Fail on the Part of the San Francisco Zoo.  

I have posted before about the disrespect I think not celebrating the Zoo Friends Birthdays is.  Additionally for these Chimps, not only do they love a party, they need extra and varied Enrichment.  Their boredom hurts me the most because of how smart they are.   They have lived at the Zoo at least 40 years.  Tallulah who recently passed, was (I believe) the oldest Chimp in a North American Zoo.  As well Cobby ranks up there in stats.  Still they get no celebration.   I'm sure the Staff celebrates their Birthdays.  Tsk Tsk.

View the Happy Birthday sing-a-long

(well it was just me but still :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TklEGHX1tWk

Google "Zoo Chimp Birthday" to see what other Zoo's have celebrated their Chimps special day.

RIP Tallulah - Chimpanzee Passes

Forever Loved

Forever Missed

RIP Tallulah

You were a Sweet Special Girl

XO

I was at the Zoo when I was told of this very sad news.  I cried that very moment and am still shedding tears.  I loved that Lady.  Tallulah and all the Chimps are Zoo Icons.  They have lived together at the Zoo for over 40 years.  They are the Chimps I grew up with.  I always think of Miss T/Tallulah Belle (as I called her) as the Queen of the Chimps.  It will be hard to not see her there with her Family.  My heart breaks for them, Minnie, Maggie, and Cobby. 

Happy Birthday Jonesy! - Gorilla Bday!

Jonesy turns 23 today!
~ July 31~

Happy Birthday Jonesy!

I love this photo of him :)

He's smiling! & almost looks like a laugh is brewing :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Please check the Post Archive to keep up to date

on what's happening at the San Francisco Zoo!

Happy Birthday Cobby! - July 10th

Cobby turns 54 today!

Happy Birthday Cobby!

In 2009 when I was doing Animal Resident Biography posts for my goober's sf zoo friends blog, I was researching the Chimps and saw that Cobby's estimated Birthday is July 10th, 1958.  Since he was wild born his age is estimated at +/- two years.  Most Studbooks list wild born Animals this way.   At the time I didn't know this and was very excited that it would be Cobby's 50th Birthday!  Yes, in hindsight I realize I was so excited that I obviously couldn't count either ;)   Anyway, I emailed the gal who was in charge of Member's Mornings which at that time were focused on celebrating Birthdays!  I asked if there would be anything for Cobby and she said she would check with Primates and see if they had anything planned.  A couple days later she said Yes there would be something, so my friend Lee and I proceeded with our idea to make Cobby a Birthday Card.  She did the card and I did the balloons on the photo :)  

You can read more about the festivities here

http://gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com/2009/07/happy-birthday-cobby.html

In hindsight, I believe that the only reason Cobby's Birthday was recognized was because I inquired about it.  No Chimp Birthday has been recognized since.  We made gift bags and mache items  (by Lee) for all the Chimps in April of 2010 and gave them to a Keeper the day before Chimp Girls Birthdays and the day of there was nothing put out.  It really is awful how the Animals special day is not celebrated, especially ones who make it to milestones and even surpass expectancy.  As well Birthdays are a celebration of ones life.  

See the video I made of his 2009 Birthday Party!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m61hxG9kUFA