zoo today was...uh...yeah....

[meriones]

Just to get it out of the way, yes a Mexican Wolf escaped and had to be killed today. Unfortunate but a wolf is considered a "potentially dangerous species" and it was walking along the public paths when the trail hadn't been fully evacuated. I personally wish the articles would put more focus into why a tranquilizer gun couldn't have been used because what few comments I've read (many in an article that actually explains why a tranquilizer couldn't be used. Reading Comprehension Fail!) seem to be focusing on that fact. Contrary to what happens in the movies a tranquilizer doesn't spontaneously make an animal drop to the ground asleep. It can take up to 15 minutes for it to take affect and an animal running in a panic from being hit by a tranquilizer would just have posed even more of a danger to the public.

I am curious what will happen to that exhibit because as far as I know the only other Mexican Wolves are the two here temporarily from the flood threatened Dakota Zoo.

I was at the farm when this happened. For those unfamiliar with this zoo the wolf exhibit is right at the fork in the path that visitors take to the farm. The wolf could have just as easily run down our way, so there was quite the sudden rush to get everyone evacuated into the basement of the farmhouse. Glad the action didn't head our way though because those farmhouse doors are glass and it was full of little kids on a field trip. Can you imagine if all those kids actually witnessed the end result? Talk about possibly being scarred for life! I was present when the baby dolphin swam into the tank wall and was fatally injured and I still get shivers just thinking of the awful sound it made.

Here have a photo of a cute baby horse nursing to make up for the downer of an entry.

Comments

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

OK. Most of the comments on the STrib article are infuriating, but this one made me smile:

kappels
Jun. 8, 11
10:22 PM
All zoos should be required to have force fields around enclosures. And put Velcro on the bottom of the feet of all the animals and all of the visitor walkways. Then if an animal does get past the force field, they will be stuck in place by the Velcro. I can't believe our zoo doesn't have that. I will only go to zoos that have these measures in place. Or if they don't have that I will settle for least having spring loaded duct tape barriers and trap doors with pillows on the bottom of the pits. Also as a back up provide all customers with those shoes that Data from the Goonies had that sprayed oil (added bonus of keeping the Fratellis out of the zoo - nice!). With my extensive knowledge of animals and zoos I am sure these are the best solutions.

[uthabiti.livejournal.com]

I love when people use humor and sarcasm to diffuse the tension of a situation - like the STrib comments. I also really wish the site would note and timestamp its article updates, like you said.
Often the comments on the site's articles that I read are rather venomous and distressing - I dunno if many are truly that negative/angry in life, or if the anonymity of the internet encourages such behavior. But I still recall reading comments on the Heart of the Zoo project when the STrib outlined it - most saying it was a waste of money, the zoo sucks anyway, etc. etc. And another one more recently which presented more environmentally friendly alternatives to having turf lawns. It included a gallery of houses that had beautiful gardens and native plantings instead. More than half of the comments were in the tone of "oh, I'm so glad I don't live next to those people - what an eyesore!" or "too much maintenance" (yeah - native plants requiring more care than non-native KBG turf?!) or "but I need huge sprawling lawns for my kids/dogs!" (nevermind that said kids never even go outside anymore, nor keeping in mind the fact that wild green spaces are a natural magnet for curious and exploring young minds).

"Minnesota nice," my foot! D: