Endangered

 

He’s three months old,  so cute, he’s almost edible, and extremely valuable. The Pittsburgh Zoo’s tiger cub, being hand-raised after his mother’s rejection, is number three  on the gene importance list for the Species Survival Plan.  Amur tigers are critically endangered. About 500 are left  in the wilds of the Amur River region, in northeast Asia, and about 197 in captivity. Our guy is pretty feisty now, loves to play AND bite. Just learning to be an uber-predator. Is he habituated to humans? Yes. But the alternative was not surviving, and he is adored by all the zoo staff who care for him.

 The comfort is, that when he moves back into the exhibit, being alone should not be too big a problem. Tigers are solitary in the wild, except when they mate. But right now, he loves playing with Bella, the lab that belongs to Lead Carnivore Keeper, Kathy Suthard. Kathy says that he will jump on Bella, but when he hurts her with his teeth or claws, she goes after him, and he runs away. Just like he would have done with his brothers or sisters–so this is good for him. 

It is interesting how many women ask me why his mother, Toma, rejected him. It is probably the first question they ask. The staff have different theories, and no one really knows for sure, but “singletons” as they call them, are not as common. Tigers usually have two or three cubs. With only one cub, she might not have produced much milk, which cuts down on the hormones that make mammals want to nurture their young. Whatever the reason, the  little guy is thriving, adored by his caretakers, and the public.

And there is more good news about another critically endangered species. The discovery of an estimated 125,000 Western Lowland gorillas in central Africa is amazing. The gorillas at the Pittsburgh Zoo are Western Lowland apes, and one of the largest troops in a zoo in the U.S.  This is a photo of one of the females (looking like most of us do after a rough day at the office!), and hyou have got to see the two silverbacks. Lead Primate Keeper Karen Vacco says Mrithi, which means “prince” in Swahili, has the grassy territory, and Harry, the other silverback, has the moat. Karen says that happens sometimes in the wild. The newest gorillas found in the Republic of the Congo are in the north of that country, and, as of yet, the Ebola virus has not made its way there. Scientists warn, though, that this area is right in the path that the disease has taken, and it is as lethal to gorillas as it is to humans. The other threat is hunting for bush meat. But, somehow, these huge numbers have escaped the snares and rifles so far. They are still considered critically endangered. 

By the way, look for Karen on Animal Planet on Sunday, 8/17, at 9 pm, talking about orangutans. Also, Elephant Manager Willie Theison is on Animal Planet this Sunday, 8/10, at 9 pm.

One BIG Happy Elephant Family

So I am finally updating this blog, almost  a week after the second baby was born. That Friday morning, my cell rang at 5:40, I looked at the number, and was afraid to answer it. With the long gestation, some of us were a little nervous. But I listened to the message, and the news was fabulous. Moja had given birth. Labor only lasted 20 minutes–half the time it took her to push out Victoria. 

By the way, this photo, and the preceding one, are by the Zoo’s photographer, Paul Selvaggio. He, like the rest of the staff, have put in unimaginable hours to be ready for this. Dr. Barbara Baker and Willie Theison declared Moja to be a perfect mom. Exceedingly attentive from the first moments after the baby hit the floor.

And now the dynamic gets really interesting. I took this photo Saturday  morning, thru the window of the Family Room and the line of Zoo visitors stretched down to the Ungulate exhibit. This little baby was not so adventurous right off the bat, and Moja is a more protective mother than Nan. And Victoria was initially none to happy about her little sister. Willie anticipated this, saying that Vic is “The Princess,” which I have mentioned here before. As of today, she seems to be more accepting of her changing role. 

Sunday morning, the introductions all took place, and everything went smoothly, then on Monday, they all went out on exhibit in the morning for a couple of hours for the public to see. Zoo board member, Courtney Borntraeger took these photos ( I was at work) and said she stood there for an hour. Tash, the matriarch, has been horribly jealous of all the attention Willie has been paying the babies and their moms, but tonight( members night at the zoo-7/30), she kept coming over to him, reaching her trunk towards him for attention. He said she had ignored him for several days, letting him know that she was in a bit of a snit. Angelina, a little spitfire who is rushing around everywhere to investigate her world, finally got pushed around a little today by her half-sister. Willie calls the new baby “the pink one” because she is still that pinkish, newborn color. Anyway, when Angelina got pushy, Willie said the new baby started to try to grab Angelina’s ears and trunk, but hasn’t quite gotten the hang of using her trunk, so she finally just pushed Angelina with her head. Toooo cute!!!!! . 

And this is the closest I have been to one of the adorable creatures. That is Willie’s hand, by the way, extended to Angelina. She then went over to another window, where about ten children were pressed up against it, and she looked at them all, right at her eye level, and touched the glass, much to the delight of the kids. There must have been over 9 thousand people there tonight, despite the threatening skies. And the lines to see the babies, both elephants, and the tiger, were long. 

If you are interested in seeing video, the link is http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=PittsburghZoo2008.

Waiting For Baby # 2

No, this is not the second African elephant baby. This is Angelina, the Friday morning after her July 9th birth. Uncle Willie, aka Elephant Manager Willie Theison, showing me how she would come to him when he called her over. Willie tells me she is taller than Victoria was at birth–37 inches, to Vic’s 33. It makes sense, because Nan, Angelina’s mother, is bigger than Moja, Vic’s mom. But Angelina certainly has her daddy’s long legs. Jackson is a VERY tall bull. 

Willie says Angelina is provocative, mischievous, and just full of energy. In her first week, she was running after anything that moved, especially the other young elephants, Victoria and Callee. 

 

This is a photo of Callee, Nan’s bull calf, touching his sister, for what may have been one of the first times. It is that same Friday morning. Up until then, he had run from her, and was so confused about why his mother wasn’t really interested in him anymore. Callee, although he is not yet 8 years old,  appears as large as some adolescent bulls I have seen in the wild. Willie agreed. Obviously, superior nutrition in captivity contributes to that. 

With two calves around, Angelina is anxious to follow them everywhere, which is such a different dynamic than the one that existed for Victoria, the first baby born.  Of course, Victoria, the Princess, as Willie calls her, is trying to ignore her—but she is a force with which to be reckoned.

This is Angelina her first morning on exhibit, playing in the mud for the very first time, 

And Tash, Ms. Matriarch, telling Angelina, with her hind leg, that there are boundaries for little ones. “I am the boss, Baby.”  Watchful Willie standing by. That is how they learn their lessons. 

And above, Angelina discovering the pool with her trunk for the first time. Willie had to keep her from jumping in. Now, 10 days later, she has been immensely entertaining for thousands of visitors, who keep asking, “Where is the next baby?” 

Willie tells me that he thinks it will be in the next couple of days. Blood work is indicating changes, and Moja is just huge. What is more amazing, is that keeper Lisa Fox, the “Bull Babe” who takes care of Jackson, is due to have a baby in August. She sent me this picture, showing her with a tuckered out baby elephant.  I can’t believe she is still working! I am sure she wants to be around for this second birth.

Large Happenings-Elephants and Steelers

 

FINALLY!!!!!!! A picture of the new baby. She is just minutes old here, and I am told her mother, Nan, is just being wonderful with her new offspring. Willie Theison, Barbara Baker, Amos Morris, Connie George and Tracy Gray all have been putting in over 32 hours without sleep, waiting for this beautiful pachyderm package to arrive. And there is another one on the way! Willie tells me he doesn’t think Moja will deliver in the next couple of days, so there is time for a bit of a breather, and for the herd to be introduced to the new member. But I hear matriarch, Tash is already expectantly touching the new baby with her trunk, thru the bars separating their sleeping quarters.

 

You can see Mammal Curator Amos Morris on the left, and Elephant Manager Willie Theison on the right, just making sure the still-unsteady calf doesn’t topple over. Not sure when the public will be able to see her, but, if the inquiries I have received about the impending birth are any indication, the elephant exhibit will be packed when she has her debut. By the way, these are great photos by the Zoo’s photographer, Paul Selvaggio, who is such a gifted artist.

 

 

This is a stretch putting these two “happenings” into the same blog, but I am woefully behind, and events here in Pittsburgh and at work have prevented me from posting photos from the Arctic trip that I had promised before I left. 

That said, Mr. Rooney was kind enough to grant one-on-one’s to a couple of us from the television media today. I had heard a number of people declare on Tuesday, that these rumblings of ownership change were much ado about nothing. After talking to Mr. Rooney today, and hearing and reading recent reports, that is just not true. The tension is palpable as you talk to people within the organization, and the dynamics and events are taking on the look of a Shakespearean drama. 

I told Mr. Rooney today that I came here, in part, because of the Steelers, and how his father had promoted this city on national television during the pre-game show before the Super Bowl against Los Angeles. Change is inevitable in every aspect of existence. And there has been talk for years about how the changing of the guard might happen with this franchise. But that is the funny thing about change. You know it is going to happen. But you are so often surprised when it finally does.  From what we have been reporting, I think most people in the region are hoping that this change leaves the city with the essence of the Rooney family still inextricably connected to this storied franchise.

TWO VERY PREGNANT ELEPHANTS!

Saturday, July 5, 2008 

That is Nan. From this vantage point, you can see just how pregnant she is! One of the keepers told me that her blood levels the last several nights indicate she should give birth soon. But as I said yesterday, she and Moja are still not “over”-due.  

Moja is at about 668 days gestation, and the record for an African elephant in captivity is in the 670’s, but I can’t remember the exact number. The public would be delighted if the babies arrived just days apart. It would be a somewhat unwieldy situation for Willie Theison and his staff. A joy of elephantine proportions, but a logistical nightmare.

 

And let’s not forget this lovely lady in the photo below. Tash, the matriarch, is my favorite. She has not had any babies, and will probably not be able to have them. But she has grown into her role as “Auntie”, almost magically, when you consider she had not older elephants on which to model her behavior. She will be trumpeting wildly when the births finally happen. I have always loved her, but when we shot the training story, she was so cooperative for me, and the bond became stronger. The people of Pittsburgh are quite fortunate to see the dynamics of an African elephant herd here. And that dynamic can only be good for the elephants. 

Growing up Tiger And Baby Elephant Wait

 

Ahhhh. A dog’s life. But this lab, Bella, has had a furry, sharp-clawed wrinkle thrown into her life of late. Bella belongs to the lead carnivore keeper at the Pittsburgh Zoo, Kathy Suthard. And Kathy has been taking the new Amur tiger cub home every night. The cub, now two months old and weighing 13 pounds, still needs round the clock care, since it was rejected by it’s mother after it was born on Mother’s Day. The introduction to Bella is to help him bond to other animals–and not humans. Apparently, he is quite a handful, and he loves to play with Bella, climbing on her back. Bella lunges at the cub to wrestle, but he has sharp claws now, and she doesn’t like the back climbing, so she shakes him off.

He has now moved out of  his crying stage, now  vocalizing with small roars.  It won’t be long before the young tiger can take care of himself, and then the Zoo will consider introducing him to his father, Globus. Globus, coincidentally, was also hand-raised. Consequently, he is quite gentle for a large, male tiger. I am sure that time will be conflicting for Kathy, who is, now, essentially, the cub’s mother.

Speaking of mothers, a lot of people are asking about the prospective mother elephants, Nan and Moja. The word is, they are fine, and right in line with what is normal gestation for African elephants–20 to 24 months. Right now, they are both at 21 months.  

About those Arctic blogs. I am still waiting for some more pictures, and I should start some posts tonight or tomorrow. All I can say is that walruses are AMAZING!!!!!!

Waiting For The Elephant Babies

I got back from vacation, fully expecting to find two brand new elephant babies—and nothing?! The Sunday and Monday night before I left, I joined the diligent docents to do the baby watch.  That entails staying up for hours, watching a flat screened TV monitor of the elephant, waiting to see if she shows any signs of labor. The first night, Sunday, June 15, from 8 to midnight, Willie Theison was just certain Nan was going to go. So I stayed past my four hours, until 6 am, and then went to work. I slept for about two hours that evening, in the buddha chair (is that what they call it? It looks like a big basket and smelled like elephants–ok with me) in the elephant barn lounge. Yes, they have a lounge, above the stalls, for times like these.  

The docents are lovely–dedicated, knowledgeable, expectant. They go thru 60 hours of training to attain the title, and it was fun talking to them. On the first night, I began my shift with Joanne McEntire. That was the first four hours. Next, Sue Berlinger, and Sue Erikson were on duty.  One was a nurse practioner, the other, a nurse. We just sat and watched Nan eat, sleep, poop, eat, sleep, wander around. 

Well, obviously Nan didn’t go, but I came back the next night to watch from midnight until 4 am on Tuesday morning. Still nothing, but I got to meet more wonderful people. This is keeper, Joe Galvanek, and docents Loretta Horner and Gail Moder. 

I only had a smattering of Internet access on my trip to the Arctic, so I checked for any sign of births, and there was none. Now, I hear Willie thinks Moja is about to pop, and everyone at the zoo is impatient as heck. And the docents are still doing the watched every night. 

This final picture is of the last baby and Willie– Elephant Manager Extraordinaire, at the Zoo Gala last month. Little bull,Callee, is not so little anymore, and is almost eight years old.   Here’s hoping the new little ones arrive healthy, and SOON. 

 

Steelers and Jim Parsons Hit it out of the Park

Forgive the delay on this posting. There was almost no internet service in the Arctic where I was the last week and a half. Hence, no Arctic postings either. Hope to have those starting tomorrow. 

Recognize the guys above? Team Four Investigative Dynamo Jim Parsons, and Stephen Colbert of the “Colbert Report,” showing off their Peabody awards at the Waldorf in New York  Monday, 6/17. It just happens to be one of the most prestigious awards you can receive in journalism–both electronic and print. We are all so happy for Jim, who won for his investigation of spending abuses by the board members of PHEAA–the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. Jim and WTAE waged an 18 month long battle for PHEAA to open its records.  Board members had gone on expensive spa trips, rented limos, and engaged in other abuses of taxpayers dollars.

 

 Our news director, Bob Longo, shown here at the table,  and Asst. news director Roberta Petterson were on hand, having played an important role in supporting and guiding the legal battle , as well as editing the final product. Of course, our vice-president and general manager, Rick Henry had to sign off on all of this, so he was was also there, along with  David Barrett ,the president and CEO  of our parent company, Hearst-Argyle, and the company’s senior vice-president of news, Fred Young. Pretty heady stuff for JIm, and richly deserved , since his probe and the station’s stance in court have helped change the state’s Freedom of Information laws. That legal battle was a primary reason Jim, his team, and the station received this prestigious honor. 

So the sports metaphor, “hitting it out of the park,” could not be more appropriate. 

And switching gears here, it was more than a metaphor on Saturday, June 7, when Hines Ward hosted his first charity softball tournament out at North Allegheny High School. Hines’ Helping Hands Fund, which is part of The Pittsburgh  Foundation, aids urban youth, and biracial kids, which has been a theme in his work in South Korea–where he was born. Hines’ biracial heritage has been a motivating theme running through his entire life. 

A strong Steeler contingent showed up in the 90-something heat. This is Max Starks, and the three of us our Co-Captains of the Caring Team for the Caring Foundation. But we weren’t on the same team this day. Max was in the dugout with Big Ben.

The Steelers were  amazing.  I think Ben hit a homer every time, and Santonio Holmes, on our team was powerful. Larry Foote and I both went to Michigan, so we would yell, “Go Wolverines, “ when we went up to bat, but Santonio asked us to say “Go Big Ten, “ since he went to Ohio State. 

 Brett Kiesel, Nate Washington, and Charlie Batch also played,  and there were a lot of TV and radio celebrities who came out. Frankly, I was shaking like a leaf out there. Before I was married, I played softball with a woman’s team in Birmingham, which is how I met my ex-husband. He had played pro baseball when he was younger. Then I played for  the WTAE No-Stars, and my former spouse even played for us the first several years I lived here.  He was a good coach, I have to admit. Anyway, in the first inning, I at least hit the cut-off from the outfield, for an out to retire the side. But I was hitless at the plate. At least I didn’t have a strike. 

But the true star of the game was DVE’s Jim Krenn. He was one of the reasons we were leading for the first six innings. He was snagging  fly balls like a frog with a bug, and he grabbed what would have been a homerun. 

The other star was our own Jon Burton–BUT HE WAS ON THE OTHER TEAM!!!!!!!  That ball just shot off his bat, and he hit a homer that drove in the runs that put them ahead for good. Talk about clutch. I was just clutching my hamstrings, which were screaming for me to stop. 

One week later, Pens Fever Still high

 

A week ago tonight, this was the scene. Heartbreaking for the fans, the players, management and ownership–yet stirring, encouraging, and touching. 

 

 

Just before I took this, the Pens had saluted the crowd, and they roared back their appreciation and affection. Then the celebration began. I turned to Guy Junker, and commented on my surprise that the crowd remained. And he correctly pointed out that these Pittsburgh fans had never seen a Stanley Cup celebration in person. Both the Cups in the early 90’s had been won away from home. I had seen the first one, standing next to the Cup as it was ready to be wheeled out onto the ice for Mario and company. It was amazing, historic, full of tradition. And last week, most of the fans were respectful, some even applauding. But when Henrik Zetterberg hoisted the Conn Smythe, there were boos,

and the same as some of the Redwings skated around with the Cup aloft. What was interesting, is that my phone immediately registered a text from a friend–a rabid Pens fan–who complained how classless the boos were. Everyone else echoed those sentiments as we exited. I can only conclude that the booers were definitely in the minority, but just yelled more loudly.  

A week later, folks just can’t let go of this team. The sports talk shows are dominated with free agency and trade talk–rumors that Columbus wants Malone and Orpik?! Some fans suggesting trading Malkin? But without exception, every pundit I have heard has underscored the importance of keeping Fleury.  Unbelievable that this man is only 23,  and played a game for the ages in Game 5! 

It is the kind of play that inspires devotion thousands of miles away, where thoughts of home are precious. This is a picture sent me by a Pittsburgh Police officer. I have done two stories about Tim Crane (the man just to the right of the t-shirt)–one when he was a K-9 officer, and one just before he left for Afghanistan as a reservist. Tim is serving as a chaplain with the 911th Airlift Wing. His beloved partner, Madchen,  died several months ago, but he believes that she is still keeping him safe, just like she did on the streets of Pittsburgh. I am sure those games were a welcome distraction for Tim, and the men and women who sacrifice so much for all of us. 

A Week-End Of Loss

 

He had a laugh that shook the room. Just the way he must have shaken opposing quarterbacks. That 70″s Super Bowl Front Four was a fearsome force . Yet Dwight White was the nicest, friendliest guy you would ever want to meet.  

I had served on a board with his wife, Karen, who is smart, and beautiful, and deeply involved in community, as was her husband. The last time I was with them both was after just such a community event. A cocktail party for an upcoming Mentoring Partnership fundraiser. We went to dinner afterwards with another couple, and we prodded Dwight into regaling us with stories of those legendary teammates, and he even entertained us, in that booming voice,  with his somewhat irreverent observations of current NFL players. We were all in stitches, including Karen. What a caring and courageous guy. Amazing stories like the one in which he came out of the hospital, 18 pounds thinner from pneumonia, to play in the Steelers’ first Super Bowl. Not only to play, but to score the first points, sacking Fran Tarkenton in the end zone. Our hearts go out to those lucky enough to have loved him, played with him, celebrated with him. A life cut short so suddenly. That is what makes it doubly hard for his family and friends. 

 

The very next day, another loss. Someone whom I never met, but who changed my life. Jim McKay was the person who made this Asian Studies grad student, back in the mid 70’s decide she would rather report on sports, then teach pre-modern Chinese history. Watching the tributes to him all week-end, I heard him called a poet by those who knew him and worked with him. It is such an appropriate accolade. I just loved his writing. He was one of the reasons I became obsessed with the Olympics, and my mother and I were huge fans of ABC’s Wide World of Sports. His storytelling pulled you in, took you there, and made you  want to learn– because his empathy and enthusiasm were genuine, not manufactured.  And it was that empathy, and gift of language, that made him the perfect person to tell the world what was happening to 11 Israeli athletes in Munich in 1972. I remember sitting in my dorm room, glued to the TV, praying that the rescue attempt at the airport ended in their successful release, and sobbing when he uttered the words, “They’re all gone.”

Now he is gone. On the day that the sport he loved the most–horse racing–was front and center. Full of controversy and questions. Can you imagine how brilliantly he would have summed up the jaw-dropping performance of Big Brown?  Jim  McKay elevated sports to another level.  I doubt there will be another like him in my lifetime.