Now that giant panda mating season is over, this becomes both the easiest and the hardest time of the year: so many questions and too few answers! So as a review for all of us, here’s a list of the questions to which we have no definitive answers and why:
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Over the weekend, the San Diego Zoo began its celebration of Bear Awareness Week, which runs through May 13. This effort is in collaboration with many other institutions and organizations and is an effort to better inform the public about the role of bears in our world. Understanding the diversity of species that share our planet with us, and appreciating the balance that results from each plant or animal filling their niche, helps to inspire people to promote conservation of these creatures and their habitats.
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I want to thank all who ” granted” wishes from the San Diego Zoo’s Veterinary Services wish list. You are helping care for the animals through your donations. Our department (gathered for a group shot with a sea lion!) works very hard to provide veterinary care for the collection and your support is appreciated. Your donations will allow us to replace some aging surgical equipment as well as provide more comfortable housing for hospitalized patients. The remote monitoring of hospitalized patients using cameras has improved our ability to assess how animals are responding to treatment without disturbing them.
Thanks again from Veterinary Services and the animals we care for!
Dr. Meg Sutherland-Smith is veterinary clinical operations manager at the San Diego Zoo.
The San Diego Zoo regrets to announce our 12-year-old polar bear, Shikari, who lived at the San Diego Zoo for 11 years, was euthanized by veterinary staff on Monday, April 23. The female bear had been under veterinary care for several days and monitored under 24-hour care for a medical condition. Unfortunately, her health and quality of life continued to deteriorate despite diagnostic and therapeutic efforts. The veterinary and animal care staff made the difficult decision to euthanize Shikari.
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Rain time in the Zoo is like no other. A more personable time. An event
that brings a kind of camaraderie. We are momentarily drawn together in sheltered places, speaking and laughing, grinning and smiling. My sense of environment changes. I feel somehow changed. Fresher, cleaner, with a new jump start. People and critters all focused momentarily on the liquid sunshine that slipped under the radar, …and surprise!
Gary Voyles is a visitor assistance officer at the San Diego Zoo.
Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 every year. In San Diego, there is a large gathering of people in Balboa Park (where the San Diego Zoo is located) to learn about the Earth and its state of balance. The Zoo gets pretty busy on this occasion as well, so you can imagine that our animal shows are well attended. What better time for Sven to recycle (read Maureen’s previous blog, Sven Olof, Conservation Star) than to an audience already primed for conservation? The only glitch was the fact that Sven had not practiced his recycling skills during my 10-day vacation. Knowing that this might be a problem, I started Sven’s music early and began to dance with him–shuffling my feet, moon walking, flapping my arms–whatever it took to get our dog ” charged” for his show spot. He loved it, barked happily, and I sent him out for his solo spot before the show.
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