The Brevard Zoo is hosting a series of talks called Conservation Evenings to benefit their wildlife conservatin program.  The 3 program series will feature ,Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo; Ian Nichols, wildlife photographer and conservationist; and Dr. Paul Andreadis of Denison and Stetson Universities.

 

Jack Hanna
Date: Friday, November 20
Lecture Time: 7 to 8 p.m.
Where: Nyami Nyami River Lodge
Cost: $25 per person
Meet and Greet with Jack from 6 to 7 p.m. at a cost of $50 per person.
Total Package: $75

Jack Hanna, best known for his television show (Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures) and appearances on programs such as Good Morning America and the David Letterman Show, has been director and then Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo for more than 30 years. What most people don’t know is that Jack Hanna has been a pioneer in the zoo world through his commitment to promoting the Columbus Zoo’s support of field conservation and research for the last 20 years. Jack’s conservation commitment created a conservation ethic that has resulted in over $3.8 million dollars being allocated in just the last five years alone through the Columbus Zoo Conservation Fund (CZCF).

Ian Nichols

Date: Thursday December 10
Lecture Time: 7 to 8 p.m.
Where: Nyami Nyami River Lodge
Cost: $8 for Talk
$7 for Meet and Greet with Mr. Nichols, 6 to 7 p.m.
Total Package: $15

Upon graduation from the University of Virginia in 2005, Nichols applied for a grant to photograph “naive chimps” at the Goualougo research site in Congo where he spent two years photographing undocumented “tool use.” These two years produced a story on Lowland Gorillas for NGM in January 2008 and an upcoming article on tool use and chimpanzees to be published in NGM in February 2010. He was also part of the Bioko Expedition in the August 2008 issue of NGM. Patient and sensitive to the nuances of primate behavior, Nichols has captured rare glimpses into man’s closest relative. His intention is to capture authentic moments that inspire awareness in others and foster positive change in our world.

To reserve a seat for Brevard Zoo’s Conservation Evenings, please call 321.254.9453 x 234 or email lpalardy@brevardzoo.org. Ticket prices vary per evening and can be sold individually. However, the Zoo is offering a discounted ticket on the entire Conservation Evenings series, all three for $95, a savings of $10. All proceeds will benefit Brevard Zoo’s wildlife conservation programs.

Photos courtesy of Ian Nichols (gorilla) and Sheldrick Trust (Jack Hanna)

 

Obama Latte

The longest part of my day is waiting for the espresso to extract through the portafilter, milk steamed and ready to complete the drink.

Our little café uses about eleven bags of coffee a day. This high volume commands a quick result as there can sometimes be lines out the door. When I make coffee all of the art that appears once I’ve finished pouring, is purely accidental.

Coffee art has never been a huge factor in the quality of my coffee. When I venture to cafes on the weekend, I admire the creaminess of the froth and the rich earthy colours of the crema. The art has a tendency to make me feel guilty when I stick a spoon in to mix my sugar.

Nevertheless, people always thank me for the odd leaf and slanted heart, as if I have individualized the coffee instead of handing over something taken off the production line.

Over the years coffee art has become a culture in itself. 2007 World Latte Art champion Jack Hanna explained that “it used to affect [him] a lot to see [his] hard work just ‘destroyed’.” How easily the spoon can swirl away Hanna’s perfect rosettas and a quick sip can erase the coffee formerly known as art. Any hard work going to waste would be challenging to see.

Yet he has adopted a new attitude, “taken more of a big picture approach now.” Hanna would rather see his customers “enjoy their experience” than dance around the art, impeding the enjoyment of the actual coffee.

World Barista Judge, Justin Metcalf commented in The Age that the creativity on top of lattes does not “constitute whether it’s a good coffee or not.” Metcalf went on to slam Melbourne’s coffee adding that “people [in Melbourne] are still far more interested in the texture of the milk and whether it’s got a pattern on top.”

The art is in place as a reminder to customers that effort is mandatory in order to make an enjoyable beverage. In order to produce the art, the crema needs to be the right colour and the milk needs to be frothed in a way that houses the creativity. If a barista has taken the time to learn to draw on a beverage then they have also taken the time to see how the crema will react. Bad tasting crema and poorly steamed milk does not react well and the art will not look tasty.

My customers love a random heart, even Jackson Pollock style designs, I always get a compliment. As a barista, it is nice to be appreciated not only for the art, but for the effort as a whole. As a customer it is nice to know that a white heart on top of my latte has been made especially for me, even if I do turn it into a blob once I add the sugars.

Yes my ‘art’ is completely coincidental, but it does make customers aware of the long hours baristas spend on their feet producing something that helps you get through the day.

A Baby Elephant Is Born At The Columbus Zoo

I don’t usually review books like this on my blog, but I thought would be a fun departure just for kicks. You can also receive free books from Thomas Nelson through their Book Review Blogger Program.

I received The Wackiest, Wildest, Weirdest Animals in the World by Jack Hanna through Thomas Nelson’s “Book Review Blogger” program. I thought it would be fun to enjoy it with my son, who is 5 years old. It’s a quick read (33 pages) and features nearly 30 different animals, from the Giant Anteater, Hissing Cockroach, Tasmanian Devil, and my personal favorite, the Naked Mole Rat. (You can guess my 5-year old had some fun with that one.) The book is full-color and truth be told, I enjoyed it as much as my son did. The writing is geared toward the junior-high level, but anyone will enjoy the pictures and the fun facts about the variety of animals featured in the book.

Although it’s not intended to be a “spiritual” book, it spurred an interesting conversation about why God would create some of the animals featured in the book. You never know what will spur those kinds of conversations!

My only critique is the DVD included with the book. My impression (and a logical one, I think) is that it would feature various animals bloopers from Hanna’s TV show. While it did feature a few of these, it mostly consisted of outtakes of Hanna and his crew. I’m curious why the producers took this direction because some of the clips present Hanna in a slightly irritable, condescending light. The book would have been much better served if the DVD focused on clips of animals (i.e. all the animals in the book) rather than Hanna’s outtakes.

This criticism aside, the book itself is a lot of fun, and despite my impression that it was a book for kids, I did enjoy it quite a bit. My son certainly enjoyed the pictures…especially of the naked mole rat.

An Ohio zoo is celebrating a No. 1 ranking with a new commercial all about getting rid of “number 2″ — the other kind.

A cast including Columbus Zoo celebrity zookeeper Jack Hanna shovels and sweeps animal waste to lyrics such as “Lots of scoopin’ all their poopin’” and “No more number 2.” It’s the zoo’s way of promoting its designation as the country’s top zoo by USA Travel Guide.

The Columbus Zoo is more accustomed to being rated the No. 2 zoo after Dan Diego’s.

The spot closes with the line: “No. 2 is gone. Now we’re No. 1.”

The ad agency says the commercial was inspired by a comment from Hanna, that his life as a zookeeper has been about picking up poop.

USA Travel Guide is maintained by Dallas-based marketing firm Worldwide Revenue Solutions.

     Learn all about the worlds wackiest, wildest, and weirdest animals by none other than the world famous Jack Hanna! He makes learning about animals entertaining and fun! This will keep your kids occupied for hours, and they will walk away knowing a lot more than they did before hand! It comes with a DVD filled with bloopers from the Emmy-winning Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild. This fun filled DVD will keep your kids laughing and having fun!
     Jack Hanna makes learning all about the weird animals of the world fun! Since he cares about animals, he teaches about them in a fun, interesting way! This book is worth checking out, especially if you have kids! This book is the perfect way to keep kids quite while your shopping, taking a trip in the car, whatever!

On May 15th, our local Natural Science Center hosted Jack Hanna, well-known wildlife correspondent at a gala event to help raise funds for the future growth of the center.   Appropriately enough this was also National Endangered Species Day and in addition to an African porcupine, cheetah, python, owl, baby kangaroo and alligator that he brought in, he also stressed the importance of animal preservation and impact on the environment.

I have been going to this museum since I was a little girl and really all we had was a dusty ole buffalo and turtle or two. By the time I was a high school intern, a dinosaur gallery had been added as well as a monkey exhibit, a new petting zoo area and gift shop. I then learned that dusty buffalo still out in the field was named “Bo”.

Now I serve on the Board of Trustees and today we are an AZA accredited facility with a state-of-the-art OmniSphere and our zoo has transformed into Animal Discovery with a pair of tigers, maned wolves, gibbons and howler monkeys to name a few.

Earlier this past week, our Executive Director and board went before City Council to ask that a $20 million bond referendum be put on the ballot for public consideration.  This will allow for a total renovation of the center, complete Animal Discovery and build an exclusive SciQuarium which will truly make us a one-of-a-kind science destination in our state having an even more positive impact on our community.  Our city council voted unanimously to move forward with our request and we are hopeful our community will agree as well.

My fellow blogger - Mom Goes Green – has also written a post about her zoo in Columbus (ironically the zoo Jack helped grow and now is the Director Emeritus) and I share her sentiments.  To keep nature, science and the environment at the forefront of our communities, we need to promote the growth and importance of supporting these entities on a  local level.  The impact they have on a local economy and the minds of little people is truly vital to a more sustainable community and collectively our world.

These days, my two boys love going to the Natural Science Center and I love getting to experience it again through their eyes – only better this time around.   And as for buffalo “Bo”…well if he were still around, I’m sure he would feel the same way too.

© Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.  The Green Samaritan.

Both the Columbus Zoo and COSI have had the distinction recently of being named #1 in pertinent national rankings. Jeff Swanagan, the impressive new Zoo Director, and I have talked about the fact that we need to jointly leverage our shared #1 designations more.

So the Columbus Zoo, COSI, and Experience Columbus had Jack Hanna here at COSI for some joint photo shoots. I was startled to find out on Jack’s blog that he was “scared” to be suspended on our high wire unicycle that I get a great kick out of. This is the guy that’s holding all sorts of wild animals and critters that would send shivers up my spine to even be near!

So, I’m glad Jack hasn’t called on me to reciprocate with a photo op at the Zoo —and I know why he’s doing what he’s doing. I’m enjoying my job with high wire rides comfortable in my solid trust in the law of physics!

Jack Hanna on COSI Unicycle

Don’t bother asking how, but I ended up reading the Wikipedia entry about PETA, the animal rights group.  PETA stands for ‘People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,’ which is certainly a noble concept.  I don’t think that animals should be treated cruelly, unnecessarily restrained or otherwise inhibited as they go about living their lives.  However, I’m confused by some of the group’s policies and positions as they are laid out in the aforementioned entry.  Their official website is similarly complex but it has less to do with their specific positions on certain issues and more to do with finding out exactly what they are, especially when the damn page won’t load properly for me.

Let’s start with the name, which acknowledges that a distinction between humans and all other animals exists in that people are the only creatures known to exist that are capable of intentionally treating other creatures in an ethical manner.  We have conquered virtually our entire planet and, by extension, every other species with which we co-exist.  While this allows us practically limitless power over our world, it is not without a large degree of responsibility.  The vast majority of us agree that human life is more valuable than that of any other persuasion, plant or animal.  This exists in stark contrast to what I perceive to be the organization’s overall message that animals are just as valuable, if not more so, than humans are.

The president and co-founder of PETA, Ingrid Newkirk, was quoted in September of 1989 by Vogue as having said “Even if animal research resulted in a cure for AIDS, we’d be against it.”  Allow me to reiterate my position that I am indeed against the commission of cruel acts against animals, but isn’t sacrifice in the interest of the greater good a noble act?  Perhaps she would argue that the difference lies in the absence of choice for the animal: the rat wasn’t given the opportunity to choose a life outside of a lab.  While this is true, it is so for the same reason that we travel in space shuttles to the moon while all other animals achieve locomotion only to the extent that their own biological faculties allow.  In other words, humans are intelligent, self-aware creatures while all other animals are, comparatively speaking, dumb.  If a human gets sick, we can usually make ourselves better.  If an animal or plant falls ill, it is almost always a death sentence unless we selfish humans intervene on their behalf.  Isn’t taking an animal to a veterinarian against its will the same deprivation of liberty of which this organization rallies against, despite this being – unbeknownst to the animal – in the animal’s best interest?  Perhaps the issue here is what species benefits from human intervention into the lives of animals, rather than the well-being of the animals themselves.  If PETA intends to argue on behalf of the animal, that the animal should ultimately choose its own path in the world, then that argument applies in all situations regardless of how obvious the ridiculous nature of any hypothetical situation may be.

While promoting a vegetarian or vegan diet as the best course for all to take, PETA seems to overlook one important fact: meat is delicious.  Who cares if it’s unhealthy?  This is a society that chain smokes, drives intoxicated, engages in recreational drug use, trades exercise for hours in front of the television and refuses to teach its children anything of real value regarding sex.  Personal health is of superficial importance to us, especially when the alternative is pleasurable, fun or tasty.

Perhaps most famously, PETA works to end the use of animal parts in clothing and fashion.  I had always assumed that this was because they are against the slaughter of animals, but I was intrigued to find out that PETA is far from being against killing.  During 2007, PETA euthanized nearly 2,000 animals, in Virginia alone.  If that is an average number per state, then it can be extrapolated that the nationwide number is around 100,000 animals, dead at the hands of an organization that claims to exist solely for their protection.  The organization admits that euthanizing is a necessary evil (especially pit bulls), and they claim to work toward reducing the number killed by spaying and neutering domesticated animals.

Continuing the theme of protecting animals from unscrupulous acts by humans, PETA has set circuses, zoos and the affiliated acts such as Jack Hanna and the late Steve Irwin in their sights.  While I somewhat agree with their position on this (filming is fine, touching is not), I’m interested to know what they think of the new show “The Exterminators” on A&E in which a camera crew follows around a team of exterminators in Louisiana.  The name of the show is a bit misleading, though, as the ‘exterminators’ have said multiple times on the show that they only kill animals as a last resort, instead preferring to trap the pests in a manner as humane as possible then release them as far away from humans as they can.  I’m sure they would support this as another ‘necessary evil,’ but doesn’t it also go against interfering with the animals’ free will?

I think that PETA’s sweet and peaceful bunny image on their website is meant to be ironic given their unwavering support of militant activism in achieving their goals.  The organization has supported:

• Those who throw paint on fur coats
• Those who throw pies at their opposition
• Giving animal carcasses and boxes filled with their entrails to those they oppose
• Damaging or defacing private property
• Funding the legal defense of those who have set fires, attempted murder and committed other illegal acts on behalf of animals
• The comparison between the treatment of animals in America to the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany, slaves and Native Americans in early America, child laborers in third-world countries and other oppressed groups

These tactics combined with their anti-meat and anti-animal testing positions are the things that keep me from supporting PETA in any way.  Perhaps there exists some middle ground in which animals are processed in painless slaughterhouses that utilize methods that cause an instantaneous death following a clean, pain-free (although relatively short) life.  We could ban the use of fur in fashion, close all circuses and zoos except for situations in which containment is the only chance for the animal’s survival.  Unfortunately, though, I suppose that these advances wouldn’t be enough for PETA because animals would still be dying prematurely.

We do have an enormous responsibility to interact in an ethical manner with the world around us but the thing I think PETA seems to be forgetting is that above all else, we have a duty to ourselves to ensure that the well-being and continuation of humanity comes first.

Something has been bothering me since I couldn’t remember what H.L. swore I would never forget, and for a change it’s not You-Know-Who.  The guys at the bar were my last resort, since Steve was clueless about my inquiry. 

His reponse: What are you talking about?  We never went back outside the first day I showed up at your bar.  It was snowy as hell.

Snowy as hell.  Snowy as H.L.  He rides his bike up to Marlin’s Inn, no matter the weather.  What he wanted to show us might have had something to do with that.

When I arrived, I removed my winter garments and hung them on the coat rack, like we were apt to do.  I used to keep my jacket by my side in the early days because I didn’t know them from Jack Hanna.

Kilgore referenced the frequent guest of talk shows and host of Animal Adventures when I first met him.  Do you think Jack Hanna ever made love to a sheep?  You know, just to know what it was like?

I plopped down next to H.L. who was sitting at a table working on a jigsaw puzzle.  He was working on it upside-down because he considers using the picture to be cheating.

“H.L., remember that day awhile back that you lead us outside to show us something we’d never forget?”

Sounds like something I might do.  He scraped through the pieces to find the remaining edges.  The frame was mostly complete.

“I think you were showing us something to do with your bike.”

Sounds like something that would be outside worth showing you.

“Could you refresh my memory about what it was that you showed us?”

He looked up from his gray cardboard shapes.  I’d have to build an entirely different machine to do that.

Defeated, I took my seat at the bar.  Santiago had my drink waiting.  Hank laughed.  I remember that day.  It was the first time you brought Snodgrass up here.

Snodgrass wasn’t an epithet Hank created for Steve.  It was his actual last name: Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass.  His mother remarried when she moved here.  That’s how I met T.J… Steve.  For the record, Ryan Antolini is his older step-brother, and my mortal enemy.  I never thought I would have one.

Steve Snodgrass asked about Fat’s name that day.  He asked what the H and the L stood for.  You told him, Fat…

Horselover!  His frame was complete.  Onto the middle.

…and the prick didn’t believe you.

I can’t say I believe for certain in the validity of H.L.’s claim, but who am I to argue?

“Hank, do you remember what he showed us?”

Hank paused.  He tilted his head at me and spoke.  It sure weren’t no pussy because if you ever seen one in person, you’d drop dead.  Your poor ticker would loose all the blood to your little hard-on-that-couldn’t.  And–

“Ha ha.  You’re so effin’ funny.”

Did you just curse?  Did he just fucking say effin’?

Santiago was getting a good chuckle out of Hank’s rant, so he prepared a stiff drink, on the house.  You can guess where the next jokes went.

Aiden, Kilgore called to me.  He was the only one that referred to me by my first name.  I think I may have doodled in the stall.

His response kept Hank and Santiago roaring.  They definitely had caught each other’s contagious laughs, and they were soon finding it hard to catch their breaths.

“Be careful, old men.  Your lungs aren’t up to snuff anymore.”

In between gasps: Don’t say another word pipsqueak.  You’re gonna kill us both.

Kilgore stood up.  Let’s go to the john.  I’ve got something to show you.  The barkeep and the drunk lost all composure they regained when Kilgore dropped that bomb.

In the bathroom, Kilgore recounted that night.  I do recall meeting Steve, and I thought H.L. might have passed on into the next world.  It does seem some memory fragment is missing.

We opened the stall door and checked the wall to find this:

We could have scraped away Santiago’s paint, but by then it seemed like too much work.  Besides, we had drinking to do.  We rejoined the others and imbibed the remainder of the night away.  At one point, H.L. removed a small can from his coat pocket and headed to the restroom.  Upon one of my relieving sessions, the stall looked like this:

Weird.

The LA Times announced that celebrity animal handler Jack Hanna endorses the completion of the proposed elephant exhibit at the Los Angeles zoo, despite inadequate space, stimulation and socializing for their remaining elephant, Billy and any other elephants obtained for the exhibit. Hanna holds that the new exhibit would set a better standard for elephants in zoos. This of course, completely overlooks the fundamental question: should elephants, who naturally roam about 30 miles a day and who are highly social and intelligent, be confined in unnatural captivity for the sole benefit of curious humans? We think not.

Check out the LA Times article to vote NO for the Pachyderm Forest.

Then sign this petition to bring Billy to a sanctuary, where he may live the rest of his life in peace and the company of friends.

We recently had the privilege of working with a great non-profit organization from Pennsylvania called Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary. Forgotten Friend is run by herpetologist Jesse Rothacker (pictured above with Jack Hanna). They came to us looking for a promotional booklet that they could use to send to local schools to generate interest in their excellent educational programs. We came up with a solution that combined their pictures and information in an easy and fun to read 8 page booklet (view booklet here). Here is what Jesse (the owner) had to say about our work:

Chris, thanks for the excellent work on our reptile program booklet. It is getting rave reviews! It is so hard to find a designer that is equally gifted with artistic talent, technological know-how, customer service, and business management. I appreciated your well-organized customer account site that showed job progress, and your quick and timely responses to all of our job questions and requests. File-sharing and collaborating with you on this project was smooth and easy. Thanks for working with us on this print project and we look forward to working with you on our next web project! –Jesse Rothacker, Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary

Get your own – Open publication