A Solo Rescue (but Not Really!)
A friend called me about a suffering animal and I had the means and the ability to get there in time, rescue it from danger, and transport it to a safe and healing place, all of my own accord.
2021 “MAKING FRIENDS WITH ANIMALS” Calendar – February Story
The photo was taken as the Zoo was about to close and I was on my way out, exactly one week before the first lockdown hit us, in March of last year.
2020 “HANGING OUT WITH ANIMALS” Calendar – August Story
Vasili remained at Assiniboine with his brother until he and Kira – who had stayed in Calgary her whole life to that point – arrived in Toronto to populate the Amur tiger exhibit once again with the departure of the panda family.
2020 “HANGING OUT WITH ANIMALS” Calendar – July Story
From my very fist visits to the walk-through I was able to view at least a piece of the joey’s anatomy (most often a leg or tail) protruding from the opening of Tori’s pouch, indicating that it wouldn’t be very long before the entire beautiful little creature would emerge and show himself to the world.
2020 “HANGING OUT WITH ANIMALS” Calendar – June Story
Outside, they have a spectacular exhibit just south of the main entrance to the pavilion. There is a sun shelter (the cave you see in this photo), a pond, some interesting nooks and crannies to explore, and lots and lots of very tasty grass! This is an awesome place to view these amazing creatures, as the railing around the exhibit is very comfortable to lean on and quite close to the tortoises.
2020 “HANGING OUT WITH ANIMALS” Calendar – May Story
Of all the times I’ve been to see Stevie, however, far and away the most memorable was the time represented by this month’s photo. That browse she has just taken a bite of is being offered to her by yours truly.
2020 “HANGING OUT WITH ANIMALS” Calendar – April Story
Lenny and his partner Holly are getting up there in years, but still going strong. Lenny was born on December 2, 1975 while Holly’s birthdate is estimated as sometime in 1972 (she was wild-captured).
2020 “HANGING OUT WITH ANIMALS” Calendar – March Story **UPDATED March 26**
Makepeace was born (hatched) on June 13, 1986, which makes him well over 33 years old! This site lists their life expectancy at 12-14 years in the wild and, for some inexplicable reason, shorter in captivity; I don’t imagine that second part to be true, but still: for Makepeace to outlive his normal life expectancy by a factor of nearly 2.5 is absolutely incredible.
2020 “HANGING OUT WITH ANIMALS” Calendar – February Story
At the very end of May, Philip and Tisa were “re-re-re-introduced” to each other and they began to breed the very same day. They bred again the next day, too; and when they went out on exhibit together on Day Three Tisa had had enough of Philip’s advances, but no problem: they just lay down a few feet apart, rooting and nibbling on whatever they dug up.
2020 “HANGING OUT WITH ANIMALS” Calendar – January Story
When I chose my featured subjects for 2020’s calendar, I tried to work in as many animals as I could whom I had never written about before. With a few days left before my self-imposed deadline to compose and print the calendars, Puzzle made her debut on exhibit in the Australasia Pavilion, and immediately began to steal the hearts of everyone who visited her.
The Grumpy Penguin 
You must be logged in to post a comment.