Hoy dia.

Captain's Log, Day 57: The pace of everything in this country continues to astound me. This is especially applicable to the zoo's work. We build roofs, construct wolf exhibits, start planning for clinics and aviaries and temporary expansions for the relentless influx of rescued native animals...daily. Morning meetings with my boss, Ernesto, often start out with the phrase "hoy dia" (Cuencan emphasis), "this day." My notions of what can be accomplished in a day, after living and working down here, have shifted. Hoy dia is more full of opportunities to build and learn and laugh than you could have imagined.

Andean Bear training. Visiting reporters from national papers: the first press coverage of the new lion cub. New owls and eagles. New enrichment. Four new volunteers.

We have ten days left to fund our clinic for Bioparque Amaru. (Check out our Razoo site--click here!) We're almost halfway to our $10,000 goal! Thanks for the support, and here are some captioned photo updates, as always.

Blue-headed parrots enjoying some carrot leaf enrichment.

And cardboard to tear up! Parrot toys are important.

This is the zoo's new map for November! We're showcasing the new Paramo Wolf exhibit, and newly released Cuchuchos (like Coatis, or Raccoons).

Ernesto had a tractor come and clear the construction site for the planned Vet Clinic about a week ago! Exciting.

Reporters from local Cuencan papers and one national paper (Hoy) visited to write about Amaru for the holiday papers.

They mostly wanted to know about our new lion cub. This little girl is the daughter of Amaru (our male alpha lion).

Ernesto explaining that in order to move our Lion family out of quarantine and into a more secure management area in the future, we'd need some serious additional funds. The zoo management grade cages that are common in the States cost a lot more down here--to the tune of $12k.

The Tayra in quarantine wanted to be interviewed, too.

Since all our lions are circus rescues and have been raised around humans, they are incredibly docile.

The docility is a terrible and wonderful thing. This little lioness is quite the cutie.

Again---Ernesto. What a man. And Amaru. What a place.

Welcome to the family, little girl. Ernesto is talking about letting the city hold a naming contest for her.

More amazing things about Amaru! These Harlequin frogs, pictured on Ernesto's laptop, are underdescribed and their status is not well known. The herpetology lab here has a successful breeding program for these little guys...and a way to test if rescued frogs are plagued by the Chytchrid fungus that is currently causing large scale amphibian extinctions worldwide. The Harlequin tadpoles are currently on display in the lab window for visitors to watch. Impressive.

Lunch and breakfast meetings are often taken at odd hours due to all the work at the zoo--but we're working now with the National Aviary to set up a Condor Conservation Program! Exciting stuff. More on that in the future.

The Environmental Ministry brought us three more raptors a few days back. They're all doing well.

Juvenile Black-chested buzzard eagle.

This is the same species of owl as another which arrived a week ago.

Arrival examinations with the biologists from the ministry.

We had another visit from the generous, Ohio-State-trained Dr.Mora yesterday, for help with our ailing Galapagos Tortoise. 

Many of our animals suffer from chronic problems acquired due to malnutrition in their previous living situations. This tortoise may have something called metabolic bone disease, because of the malformation of the shell---indicating longstanding calcium deficiencies. We read all this in a Fowler and Miller Zoo and Wild Animal medicine PDF; we need an expert's opinion.

We're doing what we can with what we have in the meantime. We really want to help this big guy.

It is a 'guy,' too...check out the depression on the underside of the shell. Because of how strong these tortoises are, we had to temporarily immobilize him for the blood draw this way.

Trying. Our resources are limited here! They could do so much with more support.

Finally...the Paramo Wolves! We had to catch them up in their temporary housing and bring them downhill to their new exhibit.

A cart of wolves for Marco on his last day.

And some swimming tapirs (and capybara).

...or should I say Happybara? (Sorry, I don't have the capacity to use puns in Spanish yet. Gotta get it out of my system).

The national paper put Amaru on the front page for the holidays!! Que chevere.

It's been a beautiful holiday weekend.

The wolves, right before release.

Ernesto let me do the honors...

...the male, exploring the new space...

...and the view.

Congratulations on the new exhibit, Amaru! It's incredible...all of this was accomplished in less than two weeks with financial support from local companies.

Happy holidays for everyone.

So there you have it! Another update on progress at Amaru. Amazing what can be accomplished from day to day down here.

Remember to check out the Razoo site and support our fundraiser for the Clinic and Aviary before it's over on November 12th! We do a lot with what we can get down here. The animals appreciate it!

Buenos feriados de Cuenca!
-Nikki