Jenn
07-07-2005, 09:15 AM
Last fall I went to Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando. Found it rather disappointing, BTW - wait a few more years before you drop the bucks to go there...
One of the first displays I saw was of 2 Hyacinth macaws. When I was there their keepers were cleaning up and feeding them, so I asked some questions, as I'm usually inclined to do.
I asked what their names are (just out of curiosity). The keepers said they have no names. Hmmm... I thought, perhaps they don't tell their names in case people try to call them out to steal them... so I asked if they really do have names but just don't tell. They said no, they are encouraged NOT to humanize the display animals or attach names to them. Puzzled, I left it at that. I thought it odd because I know many people who work with animals of all descriptions from fish, to reptiles, to primates, to marsupials, and EVERY keeper has names for all their animals, can identify each individual by name...
What do you think? Were they fibbing, or do they really keep their display animals nameless? Hopefully they were just protecting their birds, I'd hate to think that nobody would be allowed to bond with them.
FWIW they had an awesome bird demonstration, everything from ducks to crowned cranes to owls and vultures - all fully flighted and trained to perform and the "show" was very educational and conservation-minded. Those birds all had names, and I had a nice chat with the trainer afterward, asking how they got all those different species to perform on cue!
Busch Gardens has some gorgeous birds too - and a great bird show too!
Jenn
One of the first displays I saw was of 2 Hyacinth macaws. When I was there their keepers were cleaning up and feeding them, so I asked some questions, as I'm usually inclined to do.
I asked what their names are (just out of curiosity). The keepers said they have no names. Hmmm... I thought, perhaps they don't tell their names in case people try to call them out to steal them... so I asked if they really do have names but just don't tell. They said no, they are encouraged NOT to humanize the display animals or attach names to them. Puzzled, I left it at that. I thought it odd because I know many people who work with animals of all descriptions from fish, to reptiles, to primates, to marsupials, and EVERY keeper has names for all their animals, can identify each individual by name...
What do you think? Were they fibbing, or do they really keep their display animals nameless? Hopefully they were just protecting their birds, I'd hate to think that nobody would be allowed to bond with them.
FWIW they had an awesome bird demonstration, everything from ducks to crowned cranes to owls and vultures - all fully flighted and trained to perform and the "show" was very educational and conservation-minded. Those birds all had names, and I had a nice chat with the trainer afterward, asking how they got all those different species to perform on cue!
Busch Gardens has some gorgeous birds too - and a great bird show too!
Jenn