animal-lover-koto

My honors classes are literally drowning me in homework (all three of them act as though I don't have any other classes, ugh).  However, my biology and organic chemistry classes are pretty fun and interesting.  I haven't had too much time to spend at the zoo yet, but I finally got to go yesterday and I need to sort through the few pictures I took (I have lots of Amari, the baby gorilla who's turning one on Oct. 8th).

Anyways, I'm making my first trip to the Toronto Zoo tomorrow with some friends (and my new boyfriend!) so I'm very excited to see the animals they have and get some pictures!

Besides that, not too much to report.

Hope everyone else is well.

ALK

First of all, I am Buffalo bound tomorrow!! So excited to be moving in, even if it's with the freshies.  Anywho, won't be there long - only to move in, but I'm looking forward to hanging out with friends and doing lots of college-y stuff.

Now for the zoo update - Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, NY.  My last full day at my internship has ended and I'm sad that it's done (I have a half-day tomorrow, but it's not the same...).  However, my last day came with a truly unexpected surprise - a new arrival.   One of the visitors had informed a volunteer that one the patas monkeys in the outdoor exhibit had given birth so the small animal manager was informed to confirm the report and it was indeed true!  The mother, named Addie, was being a good mother and hanging onto her infant and eating the afterbirth (ick, I know). Anyways, they were brought inside and later put on their indoor exhibit where they attracted a large crowd of visitors interested in the new arrival.  

Addie is also the mother of the young patas monkey named DJ, who was born on January 7, 2011 (if you happen to be visiting, DJ is the smallest monkey walking around - the baby, like all other primates is pretty much incapacitated at birth, so she hangs onto the mothers belly and nurses for the first two months or so).  For those of you wondering, the gestation period for a patas monkey is approximately 5 1/2 - 6 months.  Anyways, the sex of the baby will not be determined until keepers can get a closer look at him or her.  

Here is a link to the picture of mother and baby: www.deviantart.com/deviation/2…

Currently, there are seven patas monkeys on exhibit:
Addie - adult female, currently has a white face and can be seen with infant, mother of the newest arrival, DJ and Sara
Becka - adult female, slightly larger than Sara and Julie, mother of Julie
Sara - adult female (born 2008/2009)
Julie - adult female (born 2008/2009)
DJ - adolescent female, born January 7, 2011
MJ - adult male, largest monkey on exhibit.  Father of DJ and newest arrival.
Baby - sex unknown, born Aug 23, 2011

Interesting Facts about Patas Monkeys:
- Their faces lose their blackness during pregnancy and turn white.  They regain color when the infants stop nursing.
- They are the fastest monkeys on Earth and can run up to 35 mph.  The Rosamond Gifford Zoo Patas can often be seen chasing each other through their exhibits.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask them!

ALK

I have a little less than eight weeks of summer left and have been enjoying every moment of it.  As my last journal previously stated, I have an internship at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park in Syracuse, NY.  I've been enjoying every minute of it and get to work with some awesome people and unique animals.  My favorites to work with are probably the siamangs, patas monkeys, lemurs, and fossa. I will hopefully get around to uploading more pictures sooner rather than later.  I've also been working at my other jobs caring for cats and dogs, and now horses! Very excited, but it's been a difficult summer...we've lost some very special animals and the losses keep coming.  

With working seven day weeks, I don't get too many breaks, but I have had four days off already and look forward to my week off at the end of this month.  My family and I are going camping in the Adirondacks.

Also, looking forward to returning to college in Buffalo for my sophomore year.  I've already ordered books for a majority of my classes (13 books for my one class...ewww).  Organic chemistry looks scarier, but I'm hoping it's easier than it looks Hopefully it'll all be well worth it.  

And might I say, I'm looking forward to this new Harry Potter movie that will be coming out on July 15.  I already have my midnight tickets and am currently rereading the last book!

If anyone ever has any questions about what I've done while working with animals or otherwise, you are always welcome to leave a comment or note me.

ALK

Well, this year in college ended well I think (still haven't gotten the grades to prove it, but...I feel good about it).  After a rather hectic move home, I have a couple of days off before I officially start with my summer plans.  

I will be working four days a week at my job caring for cats and dogs and then I will spend the remaining three days a week in Syracuse, interning at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo!! So very excited to start that tomorrow!

So Semester Two of the college experience is about a month underway.  Can't tell whether it's gonna be the awesome semester I hoped for yet or not.  Biology and chemistry (along with my honors class) are probably going to kick my butt sooner or later.  Chemistry and animal behavior test last week and bio and stats test this week.  My butt's getting kicked already.  Busy enough as that is, I'm doing research at the zoo with one of my professors.  Basically, I get to stand around and watch gorillas.  How much better does that get?

I went to the Buffalo Zoo yesterday and Sidney, one of the female gorillas, had her baby, Amari, out in front of the window.  I was so mad I didn't bring my camera because it was the perfect photo opportunity and I missed it!! So mad.  Lot's of cool other animals were out like the ocelots and the tamandua in the rainforest exhibit and how can you pass up that baby giraffe?  Had to go see them all.

I've made so many awesome friends here, most of whom are as animal nerdy as I am.  We spent last night watching The Wild Thornberry's.  My best friend here is a guy, which I haven't had since I was in second grade, but I like him more than that...unsure of how to proceed with this, but we'll see.  Unfortunately, he's like my only close friend so if it falls through, I don't really have anyone else to talk to.  Which brings me to Valentine's Day.  Which I will be spending alone.  Again.  Getting kind of sick about that.

But, now onto happier thoughts:  this summer I will be interning at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo!!  So very, very excited for this.  Can't wait to be there for half of the week and the animal experience will be AMAZING.  Besides that, I will be working the remainder of the week at my current job taking care of the cats and dogs.  Looking forward to this summer a lot.

Anyways, there are sure to be more pictures later, once I remember to bring my camera to the zoo.

-Koto