COLD DARK ROOM

[CarolM]

Hmm, a good idea but how we can teach her when we don`t see her or even know if she exists ??????

Leave a tablet in one of the corners with a video of how to spin silk.

 

[Bee62]

Keep fighting the good fight you will eventually win.

I do. Thank you Carol.

 

[CarolM]

Nice! I could where it at work instead of my usual gear. Here's a picture, now y'all will know what I look like.View attachment 245359

Ha Ha Ha. Lovely eyes.

 

[Bee62]

Leave a tablet in one of the corners with a video of how to spin silk.

That is worth to try but I have no tablet. Maybe Yvonne can help us ? I think she has one.

 

[Bee62]

Finally caught up with every post. It is time to eat some boiled eggs. I am off to coffee for more than 2 weeks. Still missing nothing.

 

[CarolM]

Actually, that appears not to be the case. The Audubon Zoo is a member of the American Zoo Association which sets out rules and guidelines for all aspects of the animals' care as well as crisis response. The AZA says our zoo notified them promptly, appropriately and is doing everything by the letter.
Our local newspaper is full of this story because the zoo is so popular; and especially because of the jaguar breeding program and other breeding programs aimed at saving species that are slowly going extinct in the wild.

It now appears that Valerio may have engineered his own escape! One of the steel cables that holds the roof elements in place was apparently BITTEN through (but not all in one go). It appears that, pound for pound, jaguars have the most powerful bite force of ANY of the big cats. Jaguars cannot be kept in enclosures using standard chain link fence, for example, because they use their powerful canines to break the links, one at a time, until the space is big enough to get out. So steel cables of specified thickness must be used (and WERE used) in their enclosures!!!!

I was a little unnerved about his apparent killing spree: murdering other animals but not for food, since they are all well fed. [Others have died of their injuries, so the total death count from Valerio's misadventure is now 9. ] The article describes an INSTINCT in apex predators that stimulates them to attack and kill ANYTHING that MOVES. It is sometimes referred to as "surplus killing." I can see how, in the wild, for a predator to attack anything that moves during a hunt increases their chance of success and, therefore, species survival. In a situation where the prey animals are confined and cannot flee, well....that same instinct is at work, but with a tragic outcome. So Valerio is NOT some sort of mad animal serial killer: he's a young apex predator in his prime, full of instinct, power and testosterone!

I recently read a book by an Australian who worked as a safari guide in Africa. As soon as he got off the plane to learn his new job, one of the very first things he was told was, when faced with a predator- even one that is charging- "Whatever you do, DON'T RUN!!" He was told anything that runs registers as prey for the apex predator and will be a target. This was valid advice and he describes times where he shocked clients on safari when a lioness charged him- and he stood his ground. The lioness veered off. The only time this DIDN"T work was when another safari guide had unknowingly stopped his jeep of sight-seers right next to where a young lioness had hidden her first litter of cubs. Happily, he survived the mauling, and married the guide who applied first aid! The book is titled "Whatever You Do, Don't Run."

My response to hearing that Valerio may have continuously gnawed a steel cable (for who knows how many nights) until he broke it, was "why does he want out so badly?" FIND OUT WHAT HE WANTS AND GIVE IT TO HIM, FER GAWDSAKE!!!!!!
Does he want more space? Evict the zoo neighbors, bulldoze their homes and plant whatever trees he wants!!!!!!!!
Does he want more than one "girlfriend?" Send personals ads to the other zoos "Lonely hunky jaguar seeks willing harem of cute jaguar babes!!!"
Does he want different food? Place a to-go order with Commander's Palace for prime rib (done rare)!!!!!!

Wow. Just Wow. I would love to follow the story, if you are willing to give us updates please?

 

[CarolM]

Hmm, and I am Robin Hood. Be aware of me.
I`ll take all your money, gold, pearls and whatever you own and give it to the poor ones.

That is okay. Because I don't have any. I had to sell them all to look after my kids and torts.

 

[CarolM]

Finally caught up with every post. It is time to eat some boiled eggs. I am off to coffee for more than 2 weeks. Still missing nothing.

I am off coffee as for about three weeks officially. Unless you count decaf coffee which I have had 3 cups in total in that time. I was tempted today as I walked into the office kitchen and there was a pot perculating. It smelled SOOOOOOO NICE!! but didn't have nay. I had a cup of Rooibos tea (black and no sugar) instead. (Pats herself on the back!!!)

 

[CarolM]

Okay, I have caught up as well and now it is home time. Not until later.

 

[Bee62]

I am off coffee as for about three weeks officially. Unless you count decaf coffee which I have had 3 cups in total in that time. I was tempted today as I walked into the office kitchen and there was a pot perculating. It smelled SOOOOOOO NICE!! but didn't have nay. I had a cup of Rooibos tea (black and no sugar) instead. (Pats herself on the back!!!)

I pat you on your back too !

 

[Bee62]

Okay, I have caught up as well and now it is home time. Not until later.

 

[Momof4]

Forgot to post the pic.View attachment 245358

In my defense, I started when we had 16 teams left. I wish I started earlier!!
It was so fun!!!

 

[Momof4]

Over the weekend some soccer moms some how got on the subject of pets and I told them I had 5 tortoises and I got all the silly questions!
Why?
What do you do with them? What do they do?
How long have you liked “turtles?” They are not turtles[emoji51]
Etc!!
Glad someone changed the subject !

 

[Moozillion]

Wow. Just Wow. I would love to follow the story, if you are willing to give us updates please?

Absolutely! [emoji2]

 

[Maro2Bear]

Hot and humid , yes again, like a broken record. Like Germany and the UK, grasses and flowers and fields are browning out.. no water, baked by the daily sun and high temps.

But...thanks to my five gallon bucket, our banana trees are loving the heat. Note the relatively small container i keep them in.
Each Fall, i lug this pot back into our garage to keep from freezing.




And here is a longer distance pix of our now blooming Lord Baltimore hibiscus

 

[rjamesbeasley]

Hot and humid , yes again, like a broken record. Like Germany and the UK, grasses and flowers and fields are browning out.. no water, baked by the daily sun and high temps.

But...thanks to my five gallon bucket, our banana trees are loving the heat. Note the relatively small container i keep them in.
Each Fall, i lug this pot back into our garage to keep from freezing.

View attachment 245366


And here is a longer distance pix of our now blooming Lord Baltimore hibiscus

View attachment 245367

Banana plant, that is so cool, have you ever eaten any Bananas from it?
Fun fact, Bananas are actually berries, and they grow on herbs

 

[Maro2Bear]

Banana plant, that is so cool, have you ever eaten any Bananas from it?
Fun fact, Bananas are actually berries, and they grow on herbs

Two years ago, one of the large mature stalks put out a nice large flower filled with itzy bitsy bananas. They grew nicely, but i don’t think i provided enough daily water, and they kind of dried out. :-(. If they do it again, I’ll be sure to overdose on the water.

I do know that our Sully loves those leaves,,, every bit. So one large leaf is a nice treat every few days.

 

[rjamesbeasley]

Two years ago, one of the large mature stalks put out a nice large flower filled with itzy bitsy bananas. They grew nicely, but i don’t think i provided enough daily water, and they kind of dried out. :-(. If they do it again, I’ll be sure to overdose on the water.

I do know that our Sully loves those leaves,,, every bit. So one large leaf is a nice treat every few days.

I think that you can feed some species banana as a treat too, but be sure to check dietary requirements first [emoji1]

 

[JoesMum]

My response to hearing that Valerio may have continuously gnawed a steel cable (for who knows how many nights) until he broke it, was "why does he want out so badly?" FIND OUT WHAT HE WANTS AND GIVE IT TO HIM, FER GAWDSAKE!!!!!!
Does he want more space? Evict the zoo neighbors, bulldoze their homes and plant whatever trees he wants!!!!!!!!
Does he want more than one "girlfriend?" Send personals ads to the other zoos "Lonely hunky jaguar seeks willing harem of cute jaguar babes!!!"
Does he want different food? Place a to-go order with Commander's Palace for prime rib (done rare)!!!!!!

My guess is a mixture of testosterone, the time of year and other cats on heat combined with a natural desire to hunt all the gorgeous dinner he could hear, smell and possibly see in the vicinity.

I believe jaguars are one of the cats that like to cache their kills they kill more than they need immediately if they get the opportunity

 

[JoesMum]

Nice! I could where it at work instead of my usual gear. Here's a picture, now y'all will know what I look like.View attachment 245359

I’ll raise you my current look. I’m at hairdressers