November 28. 2012
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Page 15
Arts
V f N r T iiiitr
fD l m si
Boss Hogg
Christmas Tree Lot
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Oregon Zoo veterinary technician Margot Monti (left) and veterinarian Mitch Finnegan use a portable
ultrasound machine to examine Asian elephant Rose-Tu.
B aby Elephant Watch
Birth of Rose-Tu’s second calf due
Rose-Tu is about to go into labor.
On Monday, the Oregon Zoo
said there were indications the Asian
elephant was preparing to give birth
and they expect the baby to arrive in
around three days or so.
Being the doc on call when an
elephant goes into labor is not a job
fo r the fa in t-h e a rte d . M itch
Finnegan, the zoo’s senior veteri
narian, knows: He was present 18
years ago at the birth of Rose-Tu,
and four years ago at the birth of
Samudra, her first calf.
“That last birth easily took a year
off my life,” Dr. Finnegan said. “I
hope this one goes easier.”
Samudra, bom Aug. 23,2008, had
a rough start to life. Topping 280
pounds at birth, he was a large baby,
which contributed to a long and
difficult labor for Rose-Tu. Rose-
Tu, who had never experienced a
birth before, became confused and
agitated after delivering her baby,
which can happen with first-time
mothers.
Keepers quickly intervened to
prevent any harm to the baby. They
then worked around the clock dur
ing the c a lf s first week oflife to help
ensure the critical mother-calf bond
became a strong one.
“This time, we think things will
go much better,” Finnegan said.
For months, the zoo’s elephant-
care staff has been working with
Rose-Tu to ensure she is calm, com
fortable and confident on the big
day. All that training and prepara
tion — along with Rose-Tu’s own
experience as a mother, the pres
ence of other elephants and the
staff who has cared for her for years
— give Rose-Tu the best possible
chances for the outcome everyone
is hoping for: a healthy, strong calf.
The Oregon Zoo is recognized
worldwide for its successful breed
ing program for Asian elephants,
which has now spanned 50 years.
Rose-Tu’s mother, Me-Tu, was the
second elephant bom at the zoo
(just months after Packy in 1962),
and her grandmother, Rosy, was the
first elephant ever to live in Oregon.
Cheers for Holiday Ales
While eggnog and hot toddies are commonly associated
with the holidays, it’s no surprise that in the beer Mecca of
the Pacific Northwest, craft ales are the drink of choice:
specifically, big, bold ales designed to fend off the cold chill
of a long winter night.
The 17th annual Holiday Ale Festival gathers together
more than four dozen of these winter warmers for a joyous
five-day celebration, Wednesday, Nov. 28 through Sunday,
Dec. 2 at Pioneer Courthouse Square, downtown.
heaters create a cozy ambiance beneath the boughs of the
region's largest decorated Christmas tree. In addition to beer
tasting, the festival also features on-site food, event mer
chandise, a coat check for charity, and seasonal background
music.
To enter and consume beer, the purchase of an entry
package is required. The general admission package at the
door costs $30 and includes the 2012 tasting mug and 10 The Holiday Ale Festival takes place at
taster tickets
Pioneer Courthouse Square.
XMAS TREES
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