Pet Lovers

[surfk]

They're focusing on the plight of the Reticulated Giraffe here at the ABQ BioPark (Zoo) in New Mexico. There is a regular music series at the zoo during the summer and its the reticulated giraffe's turn to get the spotlight.

While there is only one species of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), there are nine sub-species of them, including the highly endangered reticulated giraffe.

They're my favorite wild animal so they can't be wiped off the planet. They just can't.

Well, they can be. But let's just not do it.

Okay??

Thanks.

Due to massive poaching and also all of the wars in the region of Africa from where the reticulate giraffe hails (No. Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia), in just the past 15 years, its world population count has dropped by 80%!!

There remain only about 5000 or fewer in the whole world, down from 28,000 in 1998.

The reticulated giraffe is the smaller variety of giraffe but has, proportionately, the longest neck.

Its the giraffe one thinks of when one thinks of a classic giraffe pattern: clean, articulated, regular spots or markings. That's the "reticulated" part.

And they're adorable.

[surfk]

Ohmygawdhowcutecancuteget?

Who could possibly EAT a baby elephant after seeing this???

Well, I certainly know that I for one am cancelling my order with my waiter (one Walter "They Used to Call Me Doc" Palmer...now that he's surely no longer going to be a practicing dentist in America).

But how sweet and innocent this clip demonstrates wildlife to be.

And how adorable can one baby elephant get?!!!

He is out-cute-ing "Dumbo", in fact.

And you know that something is seriously cute when it out-cutes DISNEY cute!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIy5aiRdtrc

[surfk]

"We" just named our new baby giraffe at the Albuquerque BioPark.

They held a contest (as such places often do) and the people chose the name "Kumi" for the little guy, who was born less than one month ago.

The name means "Ten" in Swahili.

He was the tenth baby giraffe born to his mother June (also a giraffe oddly enough).

Oh, I love baby giraffes.

And for those keeping track, Kumi is a Reticulated giraffe (again, its reference to that sub-species' pattern of markings).

Kumi and mom. Aren't they the cutest little - 14-foot, long-necked - things ever??