Zoo Friend Birthdays 2015!

Recognizing Zoo Friend Birthdays is something important to me.  When I miss one, I feel awful.  I feel like the Animals are what the Zoo is about and they should be recognized on their special day.  Except for the Keepers at the Family Farm, who keep track and try to celebrate all the Farm Friends Birthday, the Zoo as a whole, usually does not recognize the Animals Birthdays with any special treats or even a mention on their Facebook page.  On the rare occasion they do, its usually for some media attention, not because they care.  I was once told by a Curator, "I have no interest in celebrating Birthdays".

Here is a list of Zoo Friend Birthdays. I may have a few to add in, but hope your Favorite Friends are listed here!

 Zoo Friend Birthdays  2015!

January

1/1971- Elly/Black Rhino

1/1982- Sureshot/ Bald Eagle

1/1987- Olive Oyl/Anaconda

1/- Sassfras/Prehinsile Porcupine

1/2003- Kachina/Grizzly Bear

1/2003- Kiona/Grizzly Bear

3/1998- Monifa/ Western Lowland Gorilla

4/1997- Amanzi/African Lion

February

4/2008 - Nataani/Navajo Churro Sheep

5/1990  - Nikos/Minature Donkey

6/2002- Hercules/Great Hornbill

6/2014- Sara/Reticulated Giraffe

7/2003 - Chipotle/Navajo Churro Sheep

7/2003- Jahari/African Lion

10/2013- Jillian/Sumatran Tiger

14/1999 - Hazel/Jacob Sheep

March

1/2002- Trent/Otter

13/2008 - Mole/Navajo Churro Sheep

13/2008 - Chalula/Navajo Churro Sheep

15/2008 - Salsa/Navajo Churro Sheep

16/1980- Boomer/Emu

April

6/1991 - Edna/ Chinese White Goose

9/ - Poppy/Nigerian Dwarf Goat

16/1994- Rigel/Snow Leopard

18/2013- Brooks and Shania/San Clemente Island Goat Twins

25/1969- Maggie/Chimpanzee

25/1970- Minnie/Chimpanzee

(Chimp info taken from Studbook/differs from Zoo info)

May

5/2013 - Dakoda and Maverick / San Clemente Island Goat Twins

10/2002- Inti/Bobcat

11/2003- Bititi/Giraffe

18/2003- Tucker/Hippo

22/2013- Erin/Reticulated Giraffe

25/1995- Gauhati/Asian Rhino

31/2001- Nutmeg and Paprika (Spice Kidds)/Nigerian Dwarf Goat Triplets

Agouti

June

2/2009 - Bronevik/Amur Tiger

8/2013 - Kodari/Red Panda

10/2001- Paddy Nigerian Dwarf Goat

11/2002- Sam/Giraffe

14/2003- Goldfish/Fishing Cat

23/2002- Sukari/African Lion

July

10/1958- Cobby/Chimpanzee

10/2003- Skylar/Sumatran Tiger

13/1980- Bwang/Gorilla

13/1994- Slash/Cassowary

24/2008- Lulu/Mandrill

31/1989- Jonesy/Gorilla

July/2008- Belozi/Black Rhino

August

1/2000- Shastyuh/Amur Tiger

2/1998- Eric/Duiker

September

8/2003- Lily/Duiker

9/2011 - Amani/ Reticulated Giraffe

13/1981- Zura/Gorilla

14/2005- Razzleberry/Nigerian Dwarf Goat

15/2005- Tiki & Kai/Kune Pigs

19/2007- Jesse/Mandrill

23/1998- Nneka/Gorilla

October

3/2008 - Willow/Reticulated Giraffe

8/2011 - Falcor/Komodo Dragon

26/1998- Angelo/Anteater

30/2001- Snickers/Nigerian Dwarf Goat

30/2003- Wasabi/Rooster

November

24/2006 -  Taymor/Sumatran Tiger

25/1982- Pike/Polar Bear

Agouti

December

19/1980- Ulu/Polar Bear

The listed Zoo Friend Birthday is a Day that is either their actual Birthdate, for those born in Captivity or, for those who were Wild born, a Date that marks their arrival at the Zoo or a day given to them to commemorate their new life at the Zoo.  The year in most cases for wild borns is approximated depending on the estimation of age at the time they arrived at the Zoo.

This blog has a companion Facebook Group.  Please Visit/Join to learn more about the Animals.  I hope to do individual posts with Bio's.

Welcome!

In 2009, I started my first blog,  http://gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com/ The idea came after I started learning more about the Animals, and because of that,  was even more endeared to the Zoo.  I had become closer to the Zoo over the past year when I stared visiting several times a week after the Tiger Cubs were born (2008) and then a few months later I lost my beloved Cat a month before his 2th Birthday.  I had a job that I worked from home  in the afternoon, so the Zoo became a place to dilute my heartbreak and I started visiting almost daily.   

I had already felt protective over the Zoo after the Tatiana Event Christmas Day 2007.   Visiting the Zoo had been my Holiday tradition for years, so I was there that Day.  As I set out, having two stops to make, I decided to go to the Zoo first.  When I got home and saw what happened, I my heart broke as I had just seen Tatiana 2 hrs before and wished I had made my other stop first and maybe I'd have been there at the right time to stop those Criminals from causing her death. 

Because of how close I felt to that Day and my passion for the Animals and the Zoo, I read every article, every awful comment.  I stayed up hours into the morning commenting back, defending the Zoo and trying to basically, fix stupid minds.  Much to my frustration and disappointment, the Zoo had a dark cloud above it.   Through my activity during that time, I met some wonderful People who loved Tatiana and one Lady who spearheaded raising funds for a Memorial Bench.  I was honored to be able to be a part of that, making a donation in my Cats Name.   You can visit Tatiana's Bench at the Zoo, in front of Grotto D, the home she shared with her companion Tony.

By 2009, after spending so much time talking to Keepers, I started the blog, as a way to share all the information I had learned about the wonderful Zoo Friends.    I felt like if others could be endeared to the Zoo the way I had been, then maybe some of the dark cloud would lift.   I felt that the Zoo should be a place that more People came as a place they had a connection to, rather than just some place to go.   I felt knowing about the Animals as individuals would build that connection.  Endearing People to the Animals, I think thats key to success and also to teaching People how to Respect them.

By this time, I had already formed an email correspondence with the Director and expressed how I felt,  about my efforts with my blog, many, many other suggestions for making the Zoo all it could be.  Endearing the Visitors and trying to make the Zoo "more", was not something she valued.  She listened and responded to my ideas, but not awhole lot changed.  A Keeper later told me, "they don't like People with ideas."

I love the Animals and valued them and their History so I continued to Document them until my Friend and I became victims of slander at the words of Director Peterson.   That's when my other blogs, documenting everything that goes on there came about.  My questions and concerns used to stay within the walls, but I started to learn that typical Political actions were running the Zoo and in many cases affecting the care of the Animals.   I felt like I needed to be public about that, be a voice for the Animals.  Maybe it would help, maybe it would just serve as documentation. 

I read my Goober blog now and so many of those Wonderful Precious Zoo Friends are no longer with us.  I am lucky to have known them and known about them.  Each one has touched my Soul and warmed my Heart.  Thru my Anteater blog, in addition to all the other stuff,  I have written about the new Animal additions. I had thought to write another synopsis on all the Animals.  I had also posted months ago that I would do a What's My Real Name post as everyone knows one thorn in my side is how Zoo Officials rename Animals.   Now I have a new idea.  That is this blog and its Facebook Page partner. 

I planned to launch it yesterday, New Years Day, because we have many Zoo Friends Birthdays January 1st, especially honoring our Matriarch Elly! , but with being under the weather and my internet still down at home, that didn't happen. 

We got a few more this week, so lets get started!