You WILL be smarter if you read this...............

The San Diego fires have had me really worrying about snugglebutt at the S. D. Zoo and all those poor animals. I have kept a close eye on the zoo and panda blogs, readying myself for a rescue to trip to "Save the Pandas!" if necessary. Thank goodness they evacuated the California condor!!! (gag, cough, more gagging because I dislike birds especially big ugly ones that are apparently more important than pandas). Here is the latest zoo report and there will be a pop quiz after your readings.


As of 11:50 a.m. on Thursday, October 25, the Wild Animal Park is preparing to re-open Friday as soon as road access on Highway 78 is cleared to open by CalTrans.

Of the over 3,500 animals that reside at the Park, two animals (a clapper rail and a kiang) were lost due to complications from the fire. More than 600 acres of Wild Animal Park property were burned. These were open buffer zone areas and not exhibit or public access space.

The California condors and other endangered bird species, as well as other animals that had been relocated to the Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center’s fire-safe area, have been returned to their home habitats.

The animals remain safe, secure, and have weathered the firestorm well. The Wild Animal Park did lose one of the empty condor breeding facilities to the fire as well as a storage facility containing Festival of Lights event materials. Winds have damaged trees throughout the Park, but again the animals and exhibits have weathered the storm. A core group of employees is on hand to care for the wildlife. Other employees and some contractors are currently assisting with clean up and restoration efforts. As an energy conservation measure, the Wild Animal Park has voluntarily removed itself from the SDG&E power grid and is operating on generators.

Quiz:

Question 1: What the heck is a clapper rail?

To be more specific...... the light-footed clapper rail Rallus longirostris levipes is an endangered bird native to San Diego that inhabits coastal wetlands. Yes, well it is another bloody bird! Slightly cuter though.



Question 2: What is a kiang?

The kiang is soooooo awesome! I now think the kiang is my 2nd favorite critter in the world. I have been going around at work saying "you are such a kiang!" It is really great because no one knows what you are talking about!!!!!

From the S.D. Zoo:

The kiang Equus kiang is the largest of the wild asses. It is native to the high, cold habitat of the Tibetan plateau in Asia and is sometimes called the Tibetan wild ass.

LOOK!!!!!! A kiang!!!!!!!!!!!

From Cheezburger....