A Visit to the Zoo

The men left at 7:30 this morning to ski on Mount Hood, leaving us females with little to do.  So we pulled out our umbrellas, called a friend, and hied us to the Oregon Zoo.

We got there early, so we could hear a zoo keeper talk about Asian Elephants (Girl-Child is considering Zoo Keeper as a career).  This zoo is one of the world leaders in breeding and caring for elephants in captivity, and has overseen the birth of 26 elephants (more than any other zoo). Then we watched Rama the Elephant paint. Yes, paint.

Each of the elephants has learned a long routine, of about 35 commands, which were developed to train the elephants to present different parts of their bodies for vet checks (such as turning from one side to the other, lifting each foot individually, lifting his head high in the air and then low).  As the zoo keeper stated, "When the animal isn't feeling well, it helps to have it trained to move in a certain way. Frankly, Rama is 9,000 pounds -- we can't make him do anything he doesn't want to do." They started having the elephants paint because they need a twice yearly exam for Tuberculosis. This involves having solution syringed into their trunks; they have to raise their trunks high so that the solution slides back into their nasal cavity, and then they spit the solution out (and it is tested for TB).

In an effort to provide intellectual stimulation for the elephants, they started having the animals snort non-toxic paints (which would also get them used to the action necessary for the TB test) and trumpet the paint onto canvas.  The painting has become a daily attraction for zoo-goers, and the results occasionally sell for zoo-charity functions.

Girl-child had the camera during that part of the show, but you can sort of make out the red and yellow painting on the floor, with the trunk snorting black paint at it.  Rama, one of the smaller males of the troupe, likes people and seemed to enjoy showing off for us. (The blond child reflected in the window was not one of ours.)

After the elephants, and a brief disappointing visit to the Ape House (the big male mandrill which Girl-Child's friend S. was looking forward to having a shouting match with was not in the exhibit), we headed off to "Lorikeet Landing". There, for a dollar, you can buy a little cup of "modified" [?] apple juice, and walk into an enclosure containing some 50 lorikeet parrots. They are quite bold (or they really love their sugar juice) and within a minute or two will land on your hand to drink the juice out of the cup. It's rather a wonderful experience -- they flock, and will gather in groups of 5-10 and swoosh across the netted area, in a flurry just over our heads.  There is much singing, clucking, and calling to each other -- the energy in the exhibit is high and friendly.

It was the highlight of Girl-Child's day, and she's now thinking maybe she wants a bird for a pet, rather than a kitten.