Elephant Art the Tombi Way!

So, for birthday gift part deux, Howard and I returned to the Indianapolis Zoo on our anniversary (September 21) for a behind the scenes experience with the elephants that also included having a custom painting made for us.

We started off by making our own art with "handimals", the latest zoo concession craze.  The artist takes your handprints (or those of your children) and turns them into the animals of your choice.  Kind of like "Wild Kingdom" meets hand-turkeys.  Howard and I made hand elephants (how surprising) in honor of our anniversary.  We had our hands painted gray and then carefully set them down on paper as directed (I wanted our ellies facing each other, not one following the other).  Off we went to explore the zoo and wait for time for our tour.  We arrived just in time to watch the keepers do the elephant bath demo with Tombi again.  After Labor Day there are no guest bathers, so the process is probably a bit more thorough.

We watched the ellies outside in their yard for a good while, watching the babies and mommies and aunties playing together.  We hit the dolphin show again and this time the show was back in full force with lights and music (last time it was more of a demo due to a recent birth).  The show was different but not as entertaining as the demo.

Back to pick up our handimal art -- wow!  Exceeded my expectations.  Of course, it isn't the handimals that are so expensive.... it is the matting and the framing, etc.  I absolutely love the result.

Finally, time for the elephant backstage tour.  An education staff member came and got us and walked us to the elephant barn.  Since it was so windy out, we were getting to visit the barn, an off-limits area.  There are no indoor viewing exhibits at Indy in the African section.... they just close it in the winter.  We came in the door the the keeper kitchen and I was initially really disappointed.  The "OMG I have to slug through this demo again" attitude was clearly present on our keeper.  After we started, and she realized I wasn't a total elephant newbie, the temperature warmed up considerably.  We talked about the artificial insemination program, the species survival plan, elephant exhibits throughout the midwest, etc.  It was really nice.  We were asked to pick the colors for our elephant work of art.  I picked gray, blue and yellow, to be applied in that order.

Moving into the barn, the keepers brought Tombi
out and put her through her commands for us. 

The lighting was horrible for pictures (bright sun coming in through the barn door) which in a way was great so I could focus on watching our girl go through her paces and interact with her keeper.  They set up the easel and put paint on a brush and let her make a few strokes in gray.  After wiping her trunk off (to avoid elephant snot on the canvas), they switched colors.  Tombi seemed to have a "J" motion down pat, with a special little flourish at the end of the stroke.  For the final color, the keeper switched the canvas 180 degrees to get paint on the other part of the canvas.  Consequently, Howard and I can't decide which way it really goes.  I think it is a self-portrait. 

After we were finished we had a chance to touch Tombi and thank her and take pictures next to her.  We followed up with a few minutes seeing the rest of the barn, including precious baby Nyah who had come inside with her Momma.  It was so cool to see how protective Mom was when Nyah showed an interest in the strangers in her barn.



We had a few last questions for discussion in the keeper kitchen and then we were finished, left holding our damp canvas and laughing about what an absolutely expectation-exceeding experience this all had been.  I had a hard time identifying which aspect of the experience was the best... the private demo by Tombi, the painting, or the chance to seriously sit down and talk ellie with the keepers.  I was able to ask about Indy letting the public touch their elephants.  The answer was pretty much "we know most people wouldn't do it but we do and our elephants are carefully chosen and groomed for this contact."

Until next time Tombi and friends..... until next time.

Washing behind some VERY BIG ears! Elephant Bath!

So, for my impending 50th birthday, my husband surprised me with an "experience" gift -- bathing an elephant at the Indianapolis Zoo!  Of course, the only flaw in this logic is that we live more than 3 hours from said zoo.  I say more than 3 hours in case the cop who gave me the speeding ticket near Springfield happens to be listening.  Even the speeding ticket can't overshadow what a great time we had.

Background:  My friend Jessica P. mentioned months ago that she had found that the Indianapolis Zoo had an experience package that included bathing an elephant.  I came home and told Howard, who not only remembered but surprised me with it as an early birthday present!  I'm torn between sharing the experience and keeping it as a quiet gem to share with ellie-loving friends.  I haven't seen a similar experience offered at any other zoo.

We drove over on Saturday morning, the day before our scheduled bath.  We arrived just in time to see the Saturday bath.  The zoo offers an "Elephant Bathing Demonstration" daily during the summer months at 1:30pm, in the outdoor arena.  The keepers man the hoses and conduct the bath, assisted by four "guest bathers".  I'm so glad we saw the demo before participating so I knew what to expect.  The elephant comes out in free contact, escorted by keepers.  The guest bathers are specifically not allowed near the elephant when she is entering the area or executing commands.  The ellie comes in, greets the crowd, and proceeds to get a drink and then be hosed down by the keepers. 

Then, they ask her to lie down so she can have her head and the top of her back scrubbed.  Enter the bathers!  Armed with soft rubber elephant scrubbers, they actually stand there and scrub a dub dub the elephant, who seems to really enjoy it!  After several minutes, the bather step aside into the safe zone and the ellie is asked to stand up.


More hosing takes place, then the bathers are asked to come back in and scrub the sides and legs of the elephant.  After the final rinse, the elephant shows her molars to the crowd as the keepers give some elephant facts about teeth and tusks.  Then, the elephant goes to the side of the area so that everyone in attendance can come by and touch an elephant! 

Wow!  I'm not sure how I feel about this.  I know here at home even all the keepers don't touch all the elephants... it is a very tight circle of trust and an honor to work with and engage with our animals.  Here in Indy any snot-nosed kid with sticky fingers can touch an ellie?  As the line forms, I find the guest bathers and ask them about their experience.  They all had a great time and are still in shock and awe, even the surly teenager who appeared to have been dragged along.  Moral dilemna be damned, Howard and I get in line to TOUCH AN ELEPHANT!  I feel better that the keepers are right there, with eyes in the back of their head, being very specific about how and where to touch our elephant, a 35-year-old female named Tombi.  Ewwwww!  Tombi feels tough, like a wet, deflated basketball (thank you Tiffany A. for the best description!)  She is also very hairy, and smells kind of like the elephant equivalent of wet dog.

I can't believe we are going to get to do this!  We spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the zoo (details to come in a separate entry).

Fast forward to Sunday.  We have just spent a couple hours watching the elephants in their exhibit, playing in the rain.  The babies have been conceived by artificial insemination.  There are small children walking by, saying "where's the daddy?"  Well honey, daddy was an eye dropper/test tube!  There is NOTHING cuter than a baby elephant.  Nyah is only two months old (daughter of Ivory) and Kalina is 1 year old (daughter of Kubwa).  These are very happy elephants... running, playing, splashing, interacting with each other in the family grouping...

Howard and I report to the designated location for elephant orientation at least 45 minutes early, to enjoy the comfy couches and rain-free environment.  Howard promptly falls asleep!  An education department employee has us sign waiver forms and introduces us to the other participants, a couple of kids from Carmel, IN who are are doing this in honor of her 18th birthday.  With my knowledge of yesterday's bath, I immediately suggest that the birthday girls should get to wash the front of the elephant and the boys should take the rear.

We are walked out to the arena through a behind-the-scenes road.  For exercise, they actually walk their elephants on this road daily to emulate the travel that they would get in the wild.  We come up to the arena and wait anxiously for the arrival of our dirty elephant.  She finally arrives ... Tombi, the same elephant as yesterday.  Turns out Tombi and one other ellie do most of the contact work with guests as they have the personality/temperament for it.  We are asked to step over into the safe zone so Tombi can enter the bathing area.  The demo has the exact script and pacing as the previous day, but the keepers don't treat it as routine.  They are all actively engaged, ad-libbing, interacting with the elephant, the guest bathers and the audience members.

I can't wait to scrub my elephant!  Tombi assumes the position, and as agreed upon, the girls get the head and the boys get the other end. 

The keepers are very attentive and are totally controlling the experience without appearing to do so.  My keeper is telling me exactly where and how hard to scrub.  I'm amazed at how massive Tombi is, and how dirt and dead skin come off when she is scrubbed.  All to soon, we are asked to step out while Tombi is rinsed and asked to stand.  Howard points out how dirty the water is that runs off of her.

Tombi stands facing the crowd and each couple gets a side to wash.  I'm laughing to myself as my father-in-law said "don't forget to wash behind her ears."  I had the chance to do just that!  The keeper asked me to stop for a second and gave the command "Tombi, ear" and she extended her massive ear out at a 90 degree angle so I could wash the back of it and behind it!  Let's see any other mammal do that! 

Once again, Howard has the back end.  He is washing her hips, side, and back leg and I am focused on behind the ear, shoulder and front leg.

 

I really enjoy washing her knees for some reason, enjoying the wrinkly appearance (like the old pantihose commercial -- look, the elephant has wrinkly knees and ankles, just like mom!).  Again, time goes way too quickly.

As we step out for the rinse and final remarks, we are reminded that we get to stay behind and see Tombi again after the audience has been given a chance to touch her.  This is a final opp for photos, questions and the chance to thank our big, wrinkly girl for the experience.  We take pictures of each other in front of the elephant and touch our big clean girl and get our own chance to look in her mouth at her giant marching molars.  I ask if I can touch her trunk or if she can be asked to touch me... the answer is a polite NO, which actually makes me feel better, that this is not an elephant free-for-all.

As we are finishing and most of the crowd has disappeared, a mom and kids appear, having just MISSED the one daily opp to see the elephant bathing.  The keepers take the time to let the kids touch Tombi and also have Tombi show them how she can lift not only one foot but two feet at the same time!  This was so nice of the keepers, to take the extra few minutes to make the day for these children.  It helps too that the mom didn't ask.... she was very appreciative and the kids were polite and charming.

We stand and watch and then watch Tombi and her keepers head back up the road to the elephant yard.  I have a feeling we will see Tombi again soon.... we are coming back later in the month for an elephant behind the scenes painting experience, another area in which Tombi excels!

Off to celebrate with a cold drink and then finish out our day with the dolphin show!

Lovely non-working day at the Columbus Zoo!  A couple hours to myself before a docent training session.

First stop:  elephants (go figure!).  Beco is by himself in the front yard, meaning Mom Phoebe and Connie have access to big Hank in the other yard.  Beco is enjoying being cute for a large crowd of Amish.

Around to the other yard, past Ralph the Sun Bear who is ironically choosing to sit in the shade.

Yup, three ellies in the big yard.  Big 15,300 lb Hank is flirting with Phoebe and Connie.  No one wants to get in the water and no one wants to play with Hank today, even though he is being incredibly cute and starting to follow Phoebe around.

Around the path towards the tigers and OMG, the Pallas cat is out!  Here kitty, kitty!

Foli is in the yard making noise about something.  Some little girls point out field mice running past him so he may be trying to be intimidate them.  Foli retreats into the pool for a soak.  He is the father of the new cubs.

 

On to the lions... all three are in the yard close to the fence.  The girls (Asali and Kazi) are licking each others' faces, which is upsetting a little guest greatly.  Why are they doing that mommy?  Why?

Time to treck to the West Side of the Zoo.  Only two visible manatees, Wheezy and Woodstock though it appears that Pixie may be hiding back by the gate to the back pool.

Onto Expedition Congo.  Oliver is asleep in the yard and his two group-mates are napping by the chute.  Inside, only Mac, asleep in Colo's area.  The gorilla guru docents explain that the rest of his group has free choice to go in the back so Mac is on his own for the moment.

Out to the bonobos.  Unga is holding her baby with her back to the visitors but I can see little hands holding onto her.

All three adult Okapi are out, plus the baby Matoke.  Tell several guests that they are Okapi, not a breeding accident.  One girl refuses to believe me.  Whatever.

I hit Australia fast to see the Orangs.  Sally and Tara are both alert and near the visitors, who keep saying they are boys.  Now if they could see Willie they would know what an adult boy orang looks like!

The kangaroo walkabout is busy.  I inadvertently shoot some roo-porn of our only male kangaroo, Matari. 

Miss Charlotte is sleeping on the walk, per usual, with a docent standing over her guiding people around her.

 

 

 

So this is what I do and think when I visit animals at the zoo.  I check on my "friends" and see what is up and enjoy the craziness and comments and other guests.  Time for training session so goodbye for now animals!

 

49 year old orphan

I lost my mom yesterday, July 29, 2012.

HISER (Bullencamp).  Juanita B. Hiser, age 90, Columbus, July 29, 2012 at Kobacker House.  Preceded in death by beloved husband John Edward Hiser and precious kitty Snuggles.  Survived by children Ann (Mike) Weber, Jim Hiser and Mary Hiser (Howard Brody);  grandchildren Amanda (Jay) Jerger and Emily (Shane) Hay and great-grandchildren Jayden and Josslyn Jerger.  Graduate of Columbus North High School, Class of 1939.  Member of St. Michael Catholic Church and resident of Oakleaf Village of Columbus.   Memorial Service to be held at 3pm Saturday, August 4, 2012 at Rutherford-Corbin Funeral Home, 515 High Street, Worthington, OH 43085.  Family will receive friends beginning at 1pm up to the time of the service.  Burial at St Joseph Cemetery at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to LifeCare Alliance (www.lifecarealliance.org) or HomeReach Hospice/Ohio Health Foundation, 180 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215-3707 in her memory.  Arrangements by Rutherford-Corbin Funeral Home.

There is so much more to say when you aren't paying by the word.  Thank you to so many people, like Dr. Joseph Hofmeister, her oncologist who guided her through breast cancer and then lung cancer and recurrent lung cancer.  Thanks to his practice and a lot of good fortune, Juanita died of congestive heart failure and basic old age.

Thank you to Ora Smoot, her bestest nurse and advocate at Oakleaf Village.  Ora never hesitated to give "Miss Juanita" her opinion or to summon medical help when she thought something just wasn't right.

Thank you to Ginnie Trapp, mom's close friend and compadre who helped her get to a million medical appointments and never hesitated to volunteer to help.

Thank you to Mary Jo Sobieski, who started out as a person bringing communion from St. Michael Church once a week and ended up being so very much more.

Thank you to Cindy Uslick, mom's LifeCare Alliance volunteer grocery shopper who helped her for ten years, hauling cat litter and cat food and dealing with Juanita "I can't buy it if it isn't on sale" and being a great friend and surrogate daughter.

Thank you to Dr. Dale Michalak, her family physician who ended up being the unifying team captain for a group of medical caregivers that included every possible specialty.  Thank you for always making her feel that you had time to listen to her every question and for always being in her corner and never losing patience with her.

Thank you to the incredible staff at Kobacker House who made dying not such a creepy scary thing.  I'm so grateful that Mom died in a beautiful setting with no tubes, wires or machines and totally at peace.  She would have loved the gardens if she would have been able to see them.  We told her how lovely her room was, and how everything was in order and it was time to go.  The dishes are done, the laundry is put away, everything is in order and Daddy and Snuggles are waiting for you.  I did this over and over and over her last night, along with telling her how much her children and extended family loved her.

Thanks to my brother and sister who were there for her and did everything they could to help send her on her way in peace.

Thank you to my incredible husband Howard who was there with her at the very last minute and held her hand and rubbed her head and kept comforting her over and over during the final days.  She loved you very much and told me how much she appreciated you being with her on that last trip to the emergency room and staying with her until I could get there from Detroit.