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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (April 6, 2015)
April 6, 2015 Community THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 11 Black Pearl Acupuncture Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine are great for: - Acute/Chronic Pain (i.e. neck, back, sciatica & shoulder) - Treating & Preventing the flu and colds - Stress Relief - Headaches/Migraines www.blackpearlacupuncture.com Sita Symonette Licensed Acupuncturist seasymonettea@gmail.com Call to schedule an appointment: (503) 308-9363 505 N.W. Ninth Ave., Portland, OR 97209 SPiLt ink Gallery Acrylic Colour Pencil Graphite Oil Pen & Ink Watercolour RAMA REMEMBERED. Rama, a 31-year-old Asian elephant known for his sweet disposition and bold tempera paintings, was euthanized at the Oregon Zoo due to issues stemming from a 25-year-old leg injury. (AR Photo/Jan Landis, File) Oregon Zoo says goodbye to Asian elephant Rama Rama, a 31-year-old Asian elephant known for his sweet disposition and bold tempera paintings, was euthanized at the Oregon Zoo last month after animal-care staff determined they could no longer control pain and mobility issues resulting from a 25-year-old leg injury. Rama sustained the injury in 1990, when older female elephants began to push the young, sexually maturing bull out of the herd, something that occurs naturally in the wild, according to zoo deputy director Chris Pfefferkorn. During the process, Rama fell into a moat that back then surrounded the elephant area. “It was a serious injury,” Pfefferkorn said. “Many would have said this would be the end for Rama, but he was a survivor and went on to have a great, enriched life.” Pfefferkorn said the zoo elephant enclosure was redesigned following Rama’s accident, and the moat was filled in. Rama compensated for the injury by placing more weight on his right front leg, causing him to walk with an unusual gait that was immediately noticeable to all who knew him well. “Instead of his weight being distributed evenly over four legs, it was distributed over three,” said zoo veterinarian Tim Storms. “That puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the other legs over time.” After his leg healed, Rama did well for many years, Dr. Storms said, thanks to dedicated zoo staff and a combination of exercise, therapy, and medication. During the past several weeks, however, he experienced a sharp decline in mobility. Physical therapy techniques and anti- inflammatory medications that had been successful for many years were no longer easing his discomfort, and new modifications were not able to improve his quality of life. Not wanting Rama to suffer, management and staff made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize him. “We knew Rama’s injury would catch up with him someday, but it still doesn’t make the loss any easier,” said Bob Lee, zoo elephant curator. “This is a sad day for everyone at the zoo. My heart goes out especially to all the keepers and animal- care staff who have been close to Rama through the years. Many keepers had a close bond with Rama because they were committed to providing the special care he required to live comfortably for so long after a severe injury.” Though Rama had been diagnosed with tuberculosis in 2013, the disease was not a factor in his decline, Storms said. Rama did well with his TB treatments right from the start, showing no signs of sickness and consistently testing negative since the initial positive result more than a year and a half ago. Born April 1, 1983, Rama was the son of Oregon’s first elephant, Rosy, and Packy, who turns 53 on April 14. At around 8,000 pounds, Rama was the smallest of the zoo’s three bull elephants, and was said to have an unusually sweet temperament, forming close relationships with zoo staff, some of whom cared for him for more than 10 years. He also had a special bond with Chendra, the orphaned female Bornean elephant who arrived at the zoo in 1999. “They were good friends,” Pfefferkorn said. “They really enjoyed each other’s company.” Former Rama caregiver Jeb Barsh, now a keeper in the zoo’s Africa section, recalled Rama’s “joyful soul” — perhaps expressed most memorably through his painting, an enrichment activity that grew into something bigger when Rama showed a remarkable enthusiasm for it. “He would follow me around, just hoping for the opportunity to paint,” Barsh said. “Once he grabbed a brush, there was no holding him back from the canvas.” Rama’s artistic output was regularly on display at the zoo and was even exhibited at the Mark Woolley Gallery in Portland’s Pearl District. A memorial event for Rama is being planned. Zoo visitors can offer condolences or share favorite memories of him on the zoo’s Facebook page. To learn more, call (503) 226-1561 or visit <www.oregonzoo. org>. The Asian Reporter is published on the first & third Monday each month. News page advertising deadlines for our next two issues are: April 20 to May 3, 2015 edition: Space reservations due: Wednesday, April 15 at 1:00pm Artwork due: Thursday, April 16 at 1:00pm May 4 to 17, 2015 edition: Space reservations due: Wednesday, April 29 at 1:00pm Artwork due: Thursday, April 30 at 1:00pm For more information, call (503) 283-4440 or e-mail <ads@asianreporter.com>. Pets w Holidays w Special Occasions w Just for Fun www.spiltinkgallery.com (503) 442-6427 Tu Phan Call for: Refinances Purchases Offering: FHA/VA/Conventional Mortgages NMLS # 81395 MLO # 7916 12550 S.E. 93rd Avenue Suite 350 Clackamas, OR 97015 (503) 496-0531 <tphan@alpinemc.com> <www. alpinemc.com > Fairview Oaks Apartments Public Housing Waiting List to Open Wednesday, April 29 through Saturday, May 2, 2015 Home Forward is excited to announce that waiting lists for Fairview Oaks 1, 2, and 3 bedroom subsidized apartments will be open from April 29 through May 2, 2015. Applicants must meet income guidelines. Households accepted at Fairview Oaks will be required to participate in the Greater Opportunities to Advance, Learn and Succeed (GOALS) self-sufficiency program. Applications will be accepted online from any internet connected computer at <www.homeforward.org> beginning April 29 at 8:30am. Call (503) 280-3750 [TTY: (503) 802-8554] or visit our website for locations where you can use a computer and complete details on how to apply for this waiting list. Fairview Oaks 22701 NE Halsey St., Fairview, OR 97024 | (503) 492-1459 Summer Run Retirement Apartments • Studio & One-Bedroom Apartments • Affordable Rent with No Costly Buy-Ins or Application Fees • Federal Rent Subsidies Available • Ideal Urban location near shopping, bus lines, restaurants, and more! 7810 SE Foster Road Portland, OR 97206 503 • 774 • 8885 • Enjoy our small community atmosphere that’s relaxed & friendly! We want your feedback! TriMet is considering a 25-cent increase to the Honored Citizen fare Please join us for a discussion: Wednesday, April 8 Urban League Senior Center 5325 NE MLK, Portland 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m. Served by Lines 6 and 72 Alternative formats, sign language interpretation and communication aids are available. Call 503-962-2455 (7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays) or TTY 7-1-1 at least 48 hours before the meeting. To learn more about the proposal and submit your feedback, visit trimet.org/hcfare.