Elly
MishakiUPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!
It would seem, that maybe alittle noise has helped this situation! If you haven't read the first article, please see the previous post, "Black Rhino So DRY Skin is Now Cracking!!!"
September 22: It was World Rhino Day, I went to the Zoo to celebrate our wonderful Rhinos! Its curious that the Zoo whose Mission includes Educating People, doesn't recognize these "days" and celebrate the Residents. I digress. ... As I approached the Black Rhino enclosure, what did I see but Miss Elly standing front and center smiling! I was so happy to see her up front! AND she seemed happy to be there :)
October 1: Elly still up front and happy to see the people! Being up front really agrees with her. When she was first moved to the new enclosure, her energy was rejuvenated! So much to the point where she really seemed like she gained years. In her old home, she was also stuck in the back and just laid there most of the time. So it is good to see her looking happy!
Unfortunately, now that Mishaki is in back he seems bummed. I wish when they renovated this exhibit they made the separation line down the center, with both yards having a front and back, rather than a front yard and a backyard. Hopefully the Zoo gets it together and rotates these two on a regular basis. They need the environment switch up. If its too much trouble, I say too bad. Its their job to do right by these Animals.
October 8: WOW! Both Elly and Mishaki look like they have been oiled! Could it be? I think it could! Elly was in desperate need and looks so much better! I'm sure she feels more comfortable! ... Photos are from this day.
SO, in my opinion, doing the right thing for these Animals may have taken some extra time and energy, so not doing is just plain laziness. If I am to go by the information that was told to a Docent by a Keeper, that Elly had not been oiled, because it "was not feasible" to do in the back yard, I have to say there appears to be untruths, otherwise Mishaki would not appear to have been oiled as well. AND if there were adjustments made to make it "feasible", why couldn't these adjustments have been made BEFORE Elly's skin got to the condition it had AND before I had to call attention to it?
I was excited to see Elly looking so wonderful and oiled. I agree that the setup was not setup well. Gene has looked depressed lately. I think enrichments might be desparetly in order. I cannot give the zoo credit for this change in Elly because they had to be called out on it. Kudos to you for your tireless efforts to see that the zoo does the right thing for thsze magnificent and very precious amimals.
ReplyDelete@andiecattt- Thank you for your comment. In hindsight to the Visitor (me) the exhibit layout is curious, it should not have been to the planners. Why would it even be an option to have a back yard, unless the idea was to always have one of them "on display"? ... Regardless of how/why this situation with Elly's skin changed, I'm just glad it happened. I will be gladder when I see those sores gone and both of these Animals rotated regularly and one not just slumped down on the ground looking depressed. ... I'm also goign to add while I'm on the grass crusade for Wishbone, that these animals are also on a hard surface most of the time. I say most as there is a tiny patch of green in one area, which is the one area when in the front yard Mishaki/Gene always chooses to lay down in. This exhibit is a big chunk of hard surface. Its curious to me that more grass/sand were not included in the landscaping plans.
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