Miss Mya the Coati.... Only one year old. She reminds me of a little bear so i love working with her!
So what a week i have had. I have only been back in California for a few days but it seems like so much has gone on! Work is always an adventure but this week has been particularly crazy trying to get ready for our show. We open in just a week and two days and it seems like there is always SO MUCH to do! We spent hours working on getting the stage ready, speaking shows and running animals through routines. I have the lovely task of helping to get a routine ready for our one year old Coatimundi Mya. Luckily my coworker Kimberly is also working on the project with me so i dont have to go it alone! It was been a challenge but I love her to death so i am thankful for the experience.
This is Isa, I have been working on becoming a "back Up" for her. what that means for you non animal people is basically the back up is in charge of the life of the trainer walking the animal. As a back up you walk in front of or behind the animal to make sure there is nothing in the way or coming up behind you. For the smaller animals its not quite as impotant but for larger animals like the cougar its good to have an extra pair of eyes and ears to help warn you of situations and we also carry a chain and a cain with us to step in if needed. I havbeen working a lot with the cubs over the past year and they actually outweigh Isa by a good 30 pounds of so, the difference is the mentality of an adult animal compared with one that you personally have helped to raise. Its an expirience for sure...
AHHHH kong... one of the stinkiest animals on earth. Kong is a Tamandua or a lesser ant eater. He weighs about 15 pounds and has a tongue 15 inches long! Tamanduas eat about 9 thousand ants in the wild every day, their diet is a little modified in the zoo world. Kong and I were out exploring the hill by our compound and doing some sun bathing:)
So what a week i have had. I have only been back in California for a few days but it seems like so much has gone on! Work is always an adventure but this week has been particularly crazy trying to get ready for our show. We open in just a week and two days and it seems like there is always SO MUCH to do! We spent hours working on getting the stage ready, speaking shows and running animals through routines. I have the lovely task of helping to get a routine ready for our one year old Coatimundi Mya. Luckily my coworker Kimberly is also working on the project with me so i dont have to go it alone! It was been a challenge but I love her to death so i am thankful for the experience.
This is Isa, I have been working on becoming a "back Up" for her. what that means for you non animal people is basically the back up is in charge of the life of the trainer walking the animal. As a back up you walk in front of or behind the animal to make sure there is nothing in the way or coming up behind you. For the smaller animals its not quite as impotant but for larger animals like the cougar its good to have an extra pair of eyes and ears to help warn you of situations and we also carry a chain and a cain with us to step in if needed. I havbeen working a lot with the cubs over the past year and they actually outweigh Isa by a good 30 pounds of so, the difference is the mentality of an adult animal compared with one that you personally have helped to raise. Its an expirience for sure...
AHHHH kong... one of the stinkiest animals on earth. Kong is a Tamandua or a lesser ant eater. He weighs about 15 pounds and has a tongue 15 inches long! Tamanduas eat about 9 thousand ants in the wild every day, their diet is a little modified in the zoo world. Kong and I were out exploring the hill by our compound and doing some sun bathing:)
This is me, behind the rhino working on getting our stage ready for our shows this summer. Ahhh... good times, except not really because i had to move that stupid thing about 18 times!
On another note... My heart goes out for the Salmon family right now in Iguigig. I am so sorry for their tragedy. Dan Salmon was a great man, and he built so much character in all of his kids, i feel so blessed to have his girls as some of my most precious friends. You are all in my heart and in my prayers.
