Gram the Rhino: Journey Begins
Posted at 10:41 am October 11, 2007 by Laura WeinerGram has arrived! Or left, actually. This past week our Indian rhino made the trip from the San Diego Zoo all the way to Kansas (see Laura’s previous blog, Gram the Rhino: New Experiences). It all started at 6:30 a.m. when we got the call that the trailer was here. I called Gram into the barn so his crate could be set up with his morning diet of hay and grain. He was let out and did not immediately go to his crate as usual; probably because he is never fed this early in the morning and I never get his exhibit cleaned in 3 minutes. Smart boy! I leaned over the bars to call him as he was walking back over to his barn door. I was a little nervous that for some reason today would be the day he decided to not come into the crate. Of course, he proved me wrong and walked right over and began eating his early morning roughage.
I stood at his head while my co-workers stood on top of the crate and dropped four metal bars vertically down behind him. He did not flinch at all. All of training to desensitize him to noises on the crate really paid off. As the crate was lifted off the ground by the forklift, he got agitated: being lifted was certainly a new experience! Four thousand pounds of rhino and 1,800 pounds of crate is a lot of weight to balance and drive backwards on the service road. My supervisor, Rod, drove the crate as Wayne and I walked on either side of the crate, guiding it down the service road. Throughout the whole forklift ride Gram was very calm. If he got agitated, I would just talk to him and he would calm down. It was a great feeling to know I was a comfort to him on this leg of his trip.
The trailer was a large enclosed metal contraption that Gram would share with quite a few other animals: a Vernay’s ratel, two fossas, and some tufted deer. I am sure the herbivores did not appreciate smelling the carnivores for 25 hours! Getting Gram’s crate into the trailer was the most time consuming part of the process. It had to be secured and pushed in far enough to be able to close the back door.
Throughout the whole process Gram was mostly calm and ate his breakfast. He was such a good rhino and I was proud of him. You never know what an animal of that size will do in that situation, but he was perfect. I said a sad goodbye and told him to be a good boy and enjoy his new home. So far it seems he is.
Laura Weiner is a keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
Note: We received the following news from the Tanganyika Wildlife Park staff in December 2007: Gram is doing great! Everyone loves him, he’s like a big puppy. Staff is continuing his conditioning and we hope to get him painting again in the future. He will also be gaining some Indian rhino companionship in the spring when winter goes away.
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October 11th, 2007 at 11:52 am
Thanks for telling us about Gram, Laura. You’ve certainly done a wonderful job getting him ready for his brave new world in Kansas. Please tell us the name of the animal park he’s going to, and how he did on the long trip across half the country. I saw the tapirs in his old area yesterday, and am looking forward to seeing the giraffes there when their enclosure is made ready for them. It will be a treat having giraffes, tapirs, and elephants on the same mesa.
October 11th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Thanks, Laura, I was laughing and teary eyed at the same time. I am sure you were sad to say Goodbye, but grateful that your training paid off. It sounds like it was not super stressful for Gram thanks to all your hours of hard work and attention. Did anyone ride with the animals in the container on their journey for 25 hours? I sure hope so or there would have been a trailer load of stressed out animals. From your last sentence it sounds like everyone made it to Kansas OK and that Gram, at least, was not overly stressed. How long will he be in quarantine adjusting to his new environment? Hopefully his new keepers are as patient and encouraging as you have been. They will build a new trust relationship with him, and he will be on to even more exciting adventures in his brand new home. He is a smart boy and will respond accordingly. You have done a terrific job of preparing him for his new life. Talk about enrichment, this journey was enough enrichment to last him for several years!
October 11th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Laura, Since I live in Wichita, KS and Goddard is not that far (maybe 20 minutes) I will try and get out to see Gram at his new home and let some of you know how he is doing. We people in Kansas will take good care of Gram!!!! Laura, will he be in quarantine for 30 days?
Moderator’s note: We would love to hear how Gram is doing, Karla. Thanks for looking out for him!
October 11th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Ohh…thanks for the update on Gram Laura! Your patient training really helped minimize Gram’s stress…and your words just show how much you care. Gram knows this too – that’s why you’re a comfort to him. I’m sure you will miss him loads but he sounds like an independent boy. Best wishes Gram!!
October 12th, 2007 at 6:34 am
Thank you Laura for taking such good care of Gram. It’s so great to know that you were with him for the *heavy lifting* and that he behaved as the true rhino champ that he is! Good luck to him in his new home.
I’m also glad he has a new friend in Karla (#3) to visit him when he’s ready.
October 12th, 2007 at 8:27 am
It’s almost like sending a child off to college. I am a huge animal lover, but for some reason I never took to the Rhino. Then one day I saw a Rhino run and I was hooked. I thought it was the funniest thing I had ever seen. Rhinos are loaded with personality. Good luck Gram.
October 12th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Thank you so much for telling us the story of how Gram got ready for this journey. It was fascinating to read about him progressing through each stage and inspirational to know how hard you worked so he wouldn’t be upset by the journey.
October 16th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Karla, #3, thanks for checking on Gram for us, and for keeping us posted. He is a lucky Rhino to have a fan living so close to his new home. We look forward to your updates on him in Kansas.
Hopefully Laura will ge to visit him in his new home some day too.
It is interesting to witness the animals reactions when former keepers come to see them years later. They still recognize their voice and scent, especially the elephants.
October 29th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Laura, Just a quite little update on Gram. My Mother went to a wedding reception Saturday evening at the animal park and she asked them about Gram. She didn’t get to see him as it was evening. They couldn’t believe that she knew about Gram. They told her that he is doing GREAT and they LOVE him. They said he is like a big baby, he loves to have his belly scratched.
Moderator’s note: What wonderful news, Karla! Thanks for sharing.
July 19th, 2009 at 12:13 am
I was exploring there site today and found a link to video of Gram painting. There keeper also gives a nice shout out to San Diego’s success with breeding.
heres the link
www dot kwch dot com/global/catergory.asp?C=87607
you may have to scroll through the video toolbar on the side
Moderator’s note: Thanks for sharing this fun video of our lovable Gram. So glad to see he’s doing well in his new home in Kansas.