Heartwarming video

I wish I could embed this for you but it's from the National Geographic site. It's the story of some folks who are animal keepers of some kind in some far off land, because they have an elephant and an orangutan around... a hungry dog wanders in and becomes best friends with the orang, who shares her food with the dog and hugs him and holds onto him. This is one to share with kids or to watch if you need a heartwarming lift. I'd put this in the category of MUST SEE so please click!

http://5thworld.com/Paradigm/Postings/!Wisdom/OrangutanAndHound.html

PS: I want these people's lives!

First Day at the Zoo

Today was my first day volunteering at the Zoo. I was so excited to get my official polo shirt with the Zoo logo (which I paired with the requisite Kakhi pants and hiking boots). This weekend they were celebrating Earth Day, and I signed up to work the Orangutan booth.

I guess they trade off who, from a large group of O's, is in the habitat at given time. This day there was mother, her 4 year old baby boy and the father. Usually the father has nothing much to do with his offspring, and the baby is pretty clingy for the first few years of life. But this father, imposing as he was with his big face and his long reddish dreadlocks and giant hands, had lot of interaction with his son. The baby clearly adored him and went back to him over and over. After a period of Sunday morning grouchiness, the dad finally accepted the baby's advances.

It was odd how human they were। After a bit of Dad pushing the baby as he tried to do somersaults, they just sat and held hands। Then baby put on a sparkly silver sequin dress part way and paraded around for a moment or two before it was thrown on the ground. Sometimes he picked up one of the turtles that live in their little pond and carried it around like a football. He does this often enough that his mother was trained to turn the turtles right side up, as her little boy tended to put them down any which way and they'd be stuck. She was given a treat for this task. The keepers told me that sometimes she'd go turn the turtles upside down herself just to turn them back over for a treat.

Two things made my day. I hadn't been there for more than 10 minutes before the baby walked up to me standing in front of his habitat. I squatted down to his eye level, as he was just about the size of a human 4 year old, and put my hand up on the glass. He put his hand up right against mine. Regardless of the inch of foreign matter between our palms I felt the connection.

Later, I noticed the Dad had come to the glass and was staring out. The Staff Guy who ran the booth told me that the Orangutan would like it if I showed him something and handed me a conservation pamphlet to use. Again I got face to face and held up the pamphlet. The big guy took his time, first looking me deeply in the eyes. I held his gaze until he shifted his attention to what I was holding. There was a picture of an Orangutan on the front, which I pointed out. Then I ran my fingers along the large lettering and said what it said. On the back there were some bright colors, so I flipped it over and showed him that. He took it all in. I found it amusing to think of myself basically as Primate TV.

We sold raffle tickets for two paintings done by Orangutans. There are many animals that paint but the O's actually pick their colors (very well, I might add) and when they're done, they push the canvas back to you. Amazing creatures!

What a wonderful beginning!