Comments on: At the Wild Animal Park http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/30/hello-world/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:09:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Chari Mercier http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/30/hello-world/#comment-286 Chari Mercier Sat, 03 Nov 2007 04:09:39 +0000 http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/25/hello-world/#comment-286 Hi, Moderator! Got back on this comment page to see who else wrote in about the wildfires and WAP. Read your note on my statement about the clapper rails that were released and where you released them at. That is very good news that the wildfires didn't get to those salt water marshes. I'm also very happy to know that salt water marshes are very hard to catch fire and burn. That's super good news for the rails that are out there now! Did you all do an autopsy on the kiang and clapper rail to determine cause of death yet? I hope you did because I would like to know what caused them to pass away during that week. I'm sure that a huge amount of stress maybe a part of it, but I would like to know some more about what happened to them. Hope you all are handling this latest Santa Ana winds that are coming in this weekend. Hopefully, these winds will not kick up any existing fires or start new ones. You all have had enough to deal with in the first round of fires a couple of weeks ago. You and all the animals don't need to go thru anymore of that kind of stress again. I read that these winds will be strong but not as strong as the first round. The Poomacha fire is the only one that is not totally contained yet; it's only 85% contained right now. Firefighters expect to have that one totally contained by this weekend provided that the Santa Anas don't kick it back up again. (YUK!!!) Praying for a fire free weekend for you all and the animals. Hope the air quality is soooooo much better now, too! Gonna go and check in on Bai and baby girl! Oh yeah, I voted for a name for the panda cub! Also, still praying for all of those employees that have lost their homes. Hope that they will get the assistance that they need to start rebuilding again. Stay safe, Chari Mercier :) St. Pete, FL PS: No one has written about how the baby elephants did during that week of the fires. I did see all 3 of them on the elephant cam yesterday, and they look pretty good from what they and the adult elephants went thru. Khosi, Kamile, and Punga were all together in their little group, then they all followed one of the moms to another area. Maybe one of the elephant keepers can write us something about how the elephants tolerated that whole week. That will be an interesting blog to read! Luv yas! :) Hi, Moderator! Got back on this comment page to see who else wrote in about the wildfires and WAP. Read your note on my statement about the clapper rails that were released and where you released them at. That is very good news that the wildfires didn’t get to those salt water marshes. I’m also very happy to know that salt water marshes are very hard to catch fire and burn. That’s super good news for the rails that are out there now! Did you all do an autopsy on the kiang and clapper rail to determine cause of death yet? I hope you did because I would like to know what caused them to pass away during that week. I’m sure that a huge amount of stress maybe a part of it, but I would like to know some more about what happened to them. Hope you all are handling this latest Santa Ana winds that are coming in this weekend. Hopefully, these winds will not kick up any existing fires or start new ones. You all have had enough to deal with in the first round of fires a couple of weeks ago. You and all the animals don’t need to go thru anymore of that kind of stress again. I read that these winds will be strong but not as strong as the first round. The Poomacha fire is the only one that is not totally contained yet; it’s only 85% contained right now. Firefighters expect to have that one totally contained by this weekend provided that the Santa Anas don’t kick it back up again. (YUK!!!) Praying for a fire free weekend for you all and the animals. Hope the air quality is soooooo much better now, too!
Gonna go and check in on Bai and baby girl! Oh yeah, I voted for a name for the panda cub!
Also, still praying for all of those employees that have lost their homes. Hope that they will get the assistance that they need to start rebuilding again.
Stay safe,
Chari Mercier :)
St. Pete, FL
PS: No one has written about how the baby elephants did during that week of the fires. I did see all 3 of them on the elephant cam yesterday, and they look pretty good from what they and the adult elephants went thru. Khosi, Kamile, and Punga were all together in their little group, then they all followed one of the moms to another area. Maybe one of the elephant keepers can write us something about how the elephants tolerated that whole week. That will be an interesting blog to read! Luv yas! :)

]]> By: Rachel S. http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/30/hello-world/#comment-285 Rachel S. Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:04:10 +0000 http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/25/hello-world/#comment-285 I am so relieved to see that almost all the animals are okay. I worked at the park from 2003 for 2 years and at the Back Gate and we held up pretty well during the 2003 fire. However, this one came much closer. I am saddened to hear of the kiang and rail being lost. My heart goes out to the employees (many of whom I knew) that have lost their home. I am so relieved to see that almost all the animals are okay. I worked at the park from 2003 for 2 years and at the Back Gate and we held up pretty well during the 2003 fire. However, this one came much closer. I am saddened to hear of the kiang and rail being lost. My heart goes out to the employees (many of whom I knew) that have lost their home.

]]> By: Tania, chino Ca http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/30/hello-world/#comment-280 Tania, chino Ca Mon, 29 Oct 2007 08:03:13 +0000 http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/25/hello-world/#comment-280 My condolences for the loss of the two animals, and my deepest thanks and gratitude for a phenominal job in protecting the animals in the park. I was also saddened to here that employees have lost there homes. In addition to being able to help the park, is there somewhere that help can be sent for those employees that will go directly to them to re-build there homes? They are true heros and I am sure many people would be willing to help. Thanks Tania My condolences for the loss of the two animals, and my deepest thanks and gratitude for a phenominal job in protecting the animals in the park. I was also saddened to here that employees have lost there homes. In addition to being able to help the park, is there somewhere that help can be sent for those employees that will go directly to them to re-build there homes? They are true heros and I am sure many people would be willing to help.

Thanks Tania

]]> By: Katherine http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/30/hello-world/#comment-278 Katherine Sat, 27 Oct 2007 22:34:40 +0000 http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/25/hello-world/#comment-278 Thanks so much for posting this. I visit the park every year and was worried when I saw that the park was under the evacuation zone and was closed. I hope the employees and animals continue to stay safe, and I'm so sorry about the lost animals and all the lost homes... Thanks so much for posting this. I visit the park every year and was worried when I saw that the park was under the evacuation zone and was closed. I hope the employees and animals continue to stay safe, and I’m so sorry about the lost animals and all the lost homes…

]]> By: Bruce, Denver, CO http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/30/hello-world/#comment-277 Bruce, Denver, CO Sat, 27 Oct 2007 21:15:51 +0000 http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/25/hello-world/#comment-277 My 10 yr old daughter Zoe and I enjoyed an incredible Photo Safari Caravan tour (with Kat as tour guide) at the WAP in August and fed Ivan the 18-foot giraffe. We hope he's ok too, in addition to all the other animals at the park. Keep up the great work! My 10 yr old daughter Zoe and I enjoyed an incredible Photo Safari Caravan tour (with Kat as tour guide) at the WAP in August and fed Ivan the 18-foot giraffe. We hope he’s ok too, in addition to all the other animals at the park. Keep up the great work!

]]> By: Chari Mercier http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/30/hello-world/#comment-273 Chari Mercier Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:13:09 +0000 http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/25/hello-world/#comment-273 Hi! Thanks for the info on the clapper rail video. Just watched it, and now I know what they look like! Beautiful birds! I just hope that those rails that were released over the last year were able to survive this fire! Losing one rail at the park is one too many when these birds are still on the endangered list. It looks like that you have a very successful breeding and releasing program going on, and I hope that more rails will be released in the future. Good luck in this effort, and please stay safe and well. Hope the smokey air don't bother you all and the animals too much! Chari Mercier :) St. Pete, FL <em>Moderator's note: Fortunately, clapper rails live in saltwater marshes that don't burn very easily. The areas where the rails were released were not touched by the fires. Good news!</em> Hi! Thanks for the info on the clapper rail video. Just watched it, and now I know what they look like! Beautiful birds! I just hope that those rails that were released over the last year were able to survive this fire! Losing one rail at the park is one too many when these birds are still on the endangered list. It looks like that you have a very successful breeding and releasing program going on, and I hope that more rails will be released in the future. Good luck in this effort, and please stay safe and well. Hope the smokey air don’t bother you all and the animals too much!
Chari Mercier :)
St. Pete, FL

Moderator’s note: Fortunately, clapper rails live in saltwater marshes that don’t burn very easily. The areas where the rails were released were not touched by the fires. Good news!

]]> By: Ruth Renz http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/30/hello-world/#comment-271 Ruth Renz Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:54:55 +0000 http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/25/hello-world/#comment-271 I was so sorry to read about both your employees who lost their homes and of the clapper rail and the kiang that did not make it through the fire, my condolences. Thank you to all of you who, despite this trying time, made an effort to keep us informed. I am relieved that you and the animals seems to be safe again. Sitting in a very wet Austria I wish I could send some of the current rain to you! Please take care, you are all in my thoughts! I was so sorry to read about both your employees who lost their homes and of the clapper rail and the kiang that did not make it through the fire, my condolences. Thank you to all of you who, despite this trying time, made an effort to keep us informed. I am relieved that you and the animals seems to be safe again. Sitting in a very wet Austria I wish I could send some of the current rain to you! Please take care, you are all in my thoughts!

]]> By: Dr. Eustaquio Escondido http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/30/hello-world/#comment-270 Dr. Eustaquio Escondido Fri, 26 Oct 2007 06:19:26 +0000 http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/25/hello-world/#comment-270 Sorry to hear about the Kiang and the Clapper Rail Bird, my condolences. I know that the zoological society did an excellent job of evacuating and seeing to the welfare of all of the animals at the Wild Animal Park. It's a great place to bring family and friends as well as out-of-town guests, and some who've never even been there before. I encourage everyone to support the San Diego Wild Animal Park AND The San Diego Zoo. There's nowhere on Earth like them! Sorry to hear about the Kiang and the Clapper Rail Bird, my condolences. I know that the zoological society did an excellent job of evacuating and seeing to the welfare of all of the animals at the Wild Animal Park. It’s a great place to bring family and friends as well as out-of-town guests, and some who’ve never even been there before. I encourage everyone to support the San Diego Wild Animal Park AND The San Diego Zoo. There’s nowhere on Earth like them!

]]> By: Barb in Manchester CT http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/30/hello-world/#comment-269 Barb in Manchester CT Fri, 26 Oct 2007 01:07:38 +0000 http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/25/hello-world/#comment-269 I was just watching the news earlier here in CT, and saw pictures of the San Diego Zoo and WildLife Park. There were pictures of the baby elephants and giraffes and several other animals, and some of the buildings which burned. They also mentioned the loss of the Clapper Rail and the Kiang. But on the other side, it was mentioned that there had been some births, I think it was 5 animals! It was good to finally see pictures of the animals I have been worrying about. It's always been my dream to see the zoo and park, and horrible to think that everyone, both human and animal can be in such peril. Lets pray that things can finally be coming to an end, and be rebuilt. I was just watching the news earlier here in CT, and saw pictures of the San Diego Zoo and WildLife Park. There were pictures of the baby elephants and giraffes and several other animals, and some of the buildings which burned. They also mentioned the loss of the Clapper Rail and the Kiang. But on the other side, it was mentioned that there had been some births, I think it was 5 animals! It was good to finally see pictures of the animals I have been worrying about. It’s always been my dream to see the zoo and park, and horrible to think that everyone, both human and animal can be in such peril. Lets pray that things can finally be coming to an end, and be rebuilt.

]]> By: Maureen in Michigan http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/30/hello-world/#comment-268 Maureen in Michigan Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:52:18 +0000 http://sandiegozoo.org/wpmu/fire/2007/10/25/hello-world/#comment-268 I read that 9 employees have lost their homes - my heart goes out to them. I can't imagine losing everything to a disaster. And now I hear that some of these fires were caused by arson. Jail is not good enough for anyone that does that. I spent about 15 minutes in the vicinity of a house fire & when I left the area I had a terrible headache & had trouble breathing. I wonder what the after effects of all that smoke will have on humans & the animals. Thanks again for your heroes that worked so hard. I read that 9 employees have lost their homes - my heart goes out to them. I can’t imagine losing everything to a disaster. And now I hear that some of these fires were caused by arson. Jail is not good enough for anyone that does that.
I spent about 15 minutes in the vicinity of a house fire & when I left the area I had a terrible headache & had trouble breathing. I wonder what the after effects of all that smoke will have on humans & the animals. Thanks again for your heroes that worked so hard.

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