grouse, otters, and penguins

Calgary Zoo

GREATER SAGE-GROUSE
2014. "Minister Aglukkaq has announced a $2.1 million contribution for the Calgary Zoo’s new captive breeding and rearing program for the Greater Sage-Grouse."
2014. "Of 13 hatched birds, only two survived to the age of seven months."
2016. "Controversial move comes despite calls from American legislators to keep avians on U.S. side of border... The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 3-1 to relocate 40 greater sage grouse hens this year across the border to Alberta, where an estimated 100 to 120 of the birds are left.
2016. A new breeding facility. "Fewer than 400 of the endangered birds estimated to exist in Canada today"

CRITICAL HABITAT: "Sage grouse now occupy only about 7% of their historical range in Canada... A multi-species action plan involving Greater Sage-Grouse in Saskatchewan is currently under way, and an action plan specific to Alberta will be developed in the future." (link)

Some time in the future.

LOGAN THE OTTER DROWNED
Zookeepers gave him pants.

HUMBOLDT PENGUINS DROWNED
Seven penguins found dead.

And Kakinga died at age 37.
The median life expectancy of gorilla in captivity is 31.1 years old.

stand your ground

Guns, beer, romance, beer, family,
farm, whiskey, marriage and babies

George Canyon wants to be a Member of Parliament for the new federal riding of Bow River, southern Alberta. His campaign song: Stand Your Ground. So it's Florida or RCMP gun confiscation all over again. The canyon (b. Fred Lays) is from Nova Scotia.

In other news, the godfather is suing darth vader for $6 million. The federal government last year pledged $2.8 billion for flood relief, suppose some of it will be a transfer to the Defence Dept. for CF disaster relief costs.

'WESTERN HOSPITALITY'

"Supporting provincial and municipal governments during natural disasters in Canada has long been considered one of military’s most important missions." Not any more, suckas!


CBC's Kady O'Malley's funny pics!
Conservative Party policy convention,
November 2013

gorilla town

There is something strange going on with the gorillas at the Calgary Zoo.

gorilla, with a knife

A keeper was fired this year because, after accidentally leaving a knife in the western lowland gorilla enclosure in 2009 (that's how that one got a knife). He also left the kitchen door unlatched and in March the male gorilla beat him up. Now, with a new keeper, it just happened again, twice in less than a year that the western lowland gorillas got in the kitchen.

CTV: Animals moved to higher ground

I'm not sure what's so difficult about using a proper latch for a kitchen. Then, there was the big flood. Almost all of the animals were safely evacuated, including the hippos, even though they nearly went downstream as wild,wild riverhorses in a new river zoo.

Flood-ravaged zoo nearly lost hippos canoe.ca

Mama mia. Dr. Jake Veasey: “There was the potential of hippos swimming out of the building and into the flooded Bow River” and concern about the big cats. Plan: In holding cells at the Calgary Court Centre.

hockey, hockey, hockey, football

1. Canada’s Sochi 2014 Olympic hockey team camp, Calgary Alta. (No on-ice work-outs, insurance.) Starting long journey to Bolshoy Ice Palace or somewhere like that. Hockey Canada HQ, Canada Olympic Park (COP), Cowtown. Sochi Games Feb 7, 2014 – Feb 23, 2014.

2. NHL preseason tickets go on sale today (first game Sept 14). Regular season begins Tues Oct 1, 2013.

3. Setphen J. Hapner's hockey book, sneak preview. Hockey, the Product, Players, The Product, well-compensed MMA gliderators, The Industry: A fan's pissant. Ken King's New Empire vs Daryl Katz. BIFF! ZOW! CONFEDERATION AND WORLD WAR I! ZAP!

4. Football, The Halftime Show, like 41st Parliament, scheduled to return post-July-shuffle (Gerry Ritz, stays) on September 16th, now postponed until October. Sometime. After the Australian federal and Alberta municipal elections. Maybe. The 2013 Grey Cup in Regina, Saskatchewan on Nov 20-24.

Hedley (2010 Olympics, Parks Canada) to perform but, more importantly, 2012 Grey Cup Halftime Show, incl Diamond Jubilee Medal.for UK Head of State.Instead. Yo, nothing says CFL fans better than a 10-17 year-old demographic for 100th Grey Cup.