Sunday, February 28, 2010

Two roommates are doing their part to help save a species


By Glen Beeby KPIC News Video WINSTON, Ore. -- Wildlife Safari in Winston, has rare animals from across the globe, like rhino's, lions and even an Anatolian Shepherd. The rare thing about this pooch is not her breed, but her roommate who just happens to be the fastest predator on earth.
"It's a very popular question of why we have a dog and a cheetah out there, and it's a common practice that a lot of institutions across the United States are doing right now in an effort to tell this very conservation story," said Dan Brands, Curator at the Safari.

As a single birth cheetah cub, Sanurra was abandoned by her mother, which opened the door for these two, to be brought together.

Cheetah supervisor, Sarah Roy, says, "Rather than let Sanurra grow up alone we were able to bring in a dog as a sibling, basically like her sister, and they have been together ever since."

This odd pairing was no accident, as an Anatolian Shepard is very protective, and that natural instinct could be the key to saving the wild cheetah population.

"Anatolians will be like that no matter what they are raised with whether it's goats or whether it's cattle..so the farmers get these dogs as puppies, and a big barking dog is plenty to keep a cheetah away from their livestock, and in turn farmers are shooting less cheetahs, because right now they are a shoot-on-site animal," said Roy.

While these roommates may be considered the odd couple of the safari, caretakers says it's like nothing they've ever seen.

"When we take the dog for her daily walk, the cheetah sits on her house and waits for the dog to some back, and if we take Sanurra down to the village for the day, Ellie cries and whines for her cheetah to come back, so they do miss each other."

That type of bond could change the road ahead for cheetahs in Africa.

mac@mmccarthy.net
www.trumpnetwork.com/marymccarthy

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Ohno Breaks Blair's Mark


It has been an exciting Olympics so far! I must admit that one of my favorite winter Olympic athletes is Bonnie Blair. Her determination, modesty, and humility endeared her to her many fans. She had been the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian until yesterday.That torch had been passed to Opolo Ohno. Congratulations! Hopefully the U.S. will continue their winning ways!!!!




                                                                    
 

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Cheetahs on Discovery Channel


A cheetah running at full speed in East Africa, as seen on "Life." "Life," narrated by Oprah Winfrey, is an 11-part television event premiering Sunday, 3/1 at 8pm on Discovery Channel.

mac@mmccarthy.net
www.trumpnetwork.com/marymccarthy
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