Showing posts with label zoo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label zoo. Show all posts

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Crocodile Chomps Off Zoo Worker's Arm

When I was little I had always wanted to be a veterinarian. To this day I would still love to take care of exotic animals if given the chance so I can one day own a mountain lion...and I will. However, one species I would be afraid of handling would be crocs. I love reptiles, but not ones who see me as food.

A zoo worker had his forearm reattached Thursday, April 12th after his colleagues recovered the severed limb from the mouth of a 440-pound Nile crocodile, an official said. The croc had severed Chang Po-yu's forearm when he tried to remove a tranquilizer dart from the reptile's hide. Apparently Chang did not notice that the croc was no longer feeling the effects of the tranquilizer when he reached in to remove the dart.

Zoo officials shot a few bullets (which didn't hit the croc) to stun the reptile in order to drop Chang's forearm. Before I would reach into a cage with anything that is huge with nice sharp teeth, I would make sure that this thing was dopped up enough to not even notice me. Being a vet at a zoo has its ups and downs, and I think from now on this vet is going to be a lot more careful arounc crocodiles. Crikey...

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Tiger, orangutan babies become playmates at Indonesian zoo

When it comes to any baby animals, mostly felines, I melt down like a little girly girl. I'm one of those people who, if allowed, would own a baby tiger. Everyone says, "They're wild animals and will still have their wild instincts." Yes they will, but listen to this story.

"A pair of month-old Sumatran tiger twins have become inseparable playmates with a set of young orangutans, an unthinkable match in their natural jungle habitat in Indonesia's tropical rainforests." Sadly both we abandoned after birth by their mothers, but not to worry, they found each other for comfort. "This is unusual and would never happen in the wild," said zoo keeper Sri Suwarni, bottle-feeding a baby chimp on Wednesday. "Like human babies, they only want to play."

The four have lived side-by-side for a month without a single act of hostility, she said. Ok well, the hostility thing will definitely be short-lived, so rule out my, Gina have a tiger and hug it until it eats your head theory. I guess I will stick to petting one, even if that means losing my hand.

Go here for the story and video! - http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=bizarre&id=5077709