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Page 12 n THE ASIAN REPORTER U.S.A. / COMMUNITY May 19, 2014 Philadelphia Zoo lets tigers stretch legs on trail BIG CAT CROSSING. Amur tigers walk across a passageway at the Philadelphia Zoo in Philadelphia. The protected, open-air pathway called Big Cat Cross- ing is part of a national trend called animal rotation that zoos use to enrich the experience of both crea- tures and guests. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) By Kathy Matheson The Associated Press HILADELPHIA — Visitors to the Philadelphia Zoo might want to beware of stray cats: A new enclosed passageway allows lions and tigers to roam outside their exhibits. Humans, though, can safely gawk at the predators travelling along Big Cat Crossing. The protected, open-air path snakes above the felines’ habitat to an archway over the zoo’s main promenade and ends at a viewing spot along a lake. The concept for the catwalk stems from the increasingly common practice of animal rotation, which lets animals take in new stimuli while visitors encounter them in unexpected places. “It becomes much more of a safari-like experience,” said Philadelphia Zoo CEO Andrew Baker. The $2.3-million project, paid for with state and private funds, is the latest addition to the zoo’s comprehensive travel system. Within the past three years, it has opened a similar trail for small primates and another for orangutans. The trails system was primarily designed to improve animal wellbeing, but “we realized that there were huge opportunities from the guest experience side as well,” Baker said. By that, Baker means that visitors P might be challenged to track down animals that aren’t lolling around in their usual habitats. That could be fun for older kids, said Alexis Brookens, who visited the zoo with a group including her two-year-old daughter. But parents with younger children might prefer animals to stay in their assigned spaces, she said. California museum to return statue to Cambodia PASADENA, California (AP) — The Norton Simon Museum has agreed to return a 10th-century statue that may have been looted from a Cambodian temple during that country’s genocidal civil war in the 1970s. “Temple Wrestler,” a sandstone figure missing its hands and feet, has been displayed at the museum for nearly four decades. The five-foot-high work depicts Bhima, a heroic figure in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, in a fighting pose. The sculpture is one of three being returned to Cambodia from the U.S. Museum officials met with Cambodian officials earlier this year and are returning the statue “as a gesture of friendship, and in response to a unique and compelling request by top officials in Cambodia, to help rebuild its ‘soul’ as a nation,” the Pasadena museum said in a statement that was given to The Associated Press. “The Norton Simon properly acquired the Bhima from a reputable art dealer in New York in 1976,” the museum said. “However, the facts about the Bhima’s provenance prior to the dealer’s ownership are unclear because of the chaotic wartime conditions in Cambodia during the 1970s.” Cambodian officials believe it was looted from the 1,000-year-old Prasat Chen temple. Arrangements for the return will be announced at a later date. As part of the return agreement, Cambodia will periodically loan other ancient statues to the museum, the Norton Simon said. The decision marks the latest progress in efforts to bring back together nine figures that once formed a tableau in a tower of the temple. The scene captured a famous duel in Hindu mythology in which the warrior Duryodhana is struck down by his cousin Bhima at the end of a bloody war of succession while seven attendants look on. Experts say looters hacked the figures off their bases during the civil war. Some were apparently smuggled out of the country and eventually wound up in the hands of private collectors or in museums abroad, as did many statues from other temples that the Cambodian government “I think it would be neat to see them walking around instead of just lounging,” said Brookens, of Bear, Delaware. Animal rotation has become more popular in the U.S. as “the public challenges zoos to improve,” said Ed Hansen, CEO of the American Association of Zoo Keepers. Among the earliest efforts was the O Line at the National Zoo in Washington, which allows orangutans to travel between enclosures by swinging from cables high above the property. At the Denver Zoo, keepers rotate lions, African wild dogs, and hyenas through a habitat. As the species alternate, the scents they leave behind stimulate the next occupants. “It’s to replicate the natural environment as best as we can,” Hansen said. “It’s enriching to their environment and their mental capacity.” In Philadelphia, the zoo has meshed those two concepts — travel and timeshare. Lions, tigers, pumas, jaguars, and leopards already rotate among five exhibits. Now, they’ll take turns using Big Cat Crossing. Brother Amur tigers Wiz and Dimitri wowed a crowd as they scampered along the trail, occasionally peering down at visitors. The zoo plans eventually to extend and connect all three trails. So in the winter, when it’s too cold for orangutans to be outside, cats can use their trail, said Baker. Hooved animals like rhinos and giraffes also will get to travel. Anecdotal evidence indicates animals are enjoying the trails and finding new stimuli, he said. One species of monkey has been making territorial sounds that keepers typically don’t hear. Another small primate was once found on the trail watching a construction project that had captured his attention, Baker said. Five-year-old zoo visitor Noah Dzielak, of Wilmington, Delaware, said he likes the idea of a tiger being able to walk around. “Because then he can see the zoo,” said Noah. COMMUNITY CALENDAR Next Goal Wins RIGHTFUL RETURN. A Cambodian statue of a temple wrestler, titled Bhima, is seen at the Norton Si- mon Museum in Pasadena, California in December 2013. The 10th-century sandstone statue will return to its place of origin in Cambodia following discus- sions and agreements with Cambodian state officials, according to the museum. The statue represents Bhima, a popular heroic figure from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The museum says it has carefully pre- served it for nearly four decades. The Bhima is con- sidered a work of art and cultural relic for the Cam- bodian community. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) now hopes to reclaim. The figures of three onlookers to the duel are now in Cambodia, including two that were returned in June by New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Sotheby’s auction house has agreed to return the footless figure of Duryodhana, valued at $2 million to $3 million, which was placed in Sotheby’s catalog in 2011 after the widow of its former private Belgian owner gave it up for sale. Sotheby’s later pulled it from its catalog. Last year, the auction house agreed to surrender the statue, settling a lawsuit filed by the U.S. government on Cam- bodia’s behalf. Also, Christie’s auction house will return a statue of the mythological figure Pandava. The auction house sold it to an anonymous collector in 2009 but bought it back earlier this year after officials determined that the sculpture had been looted, according to a New York Times report. Now showing, Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St, Vancouver, Wash.). Watch Next Goal Wins, a film about the American Samoa soccer team, officially dubbed the worst team on earth after suffering a 31-0 defeat at the hands of Australia in 2001. Looking to score a goal — the team has not scored in four years — and still in search of the team’s first ever competitive win, Dutch coach Thomas Rongen arrives on the island to help the team, where he finds a ramshackle squad that includes an emotionally scarred goalkeeper and the first transgender player ever to play international soccer. (U.K., 2014, Mike Brett & Steve Jamison, 97 mins.) For info, or to buy tickets, call (360) 816-0352 or visit <www.kigginstheatre.net>. Fed Up Now showing, Regal Fox Tower Stadium 10 (846 SW Park Ave, Portland). Watch Fed Up, a film produced by Katie Couric and Laurie David that explores why, despite media attention and government policies to combat obesity, genera- tions of kids are now projected to live shorter lives than their parents. The film reveals the 30-year campaign by the food industry to mislead and confuse the American public. (USA, 2014, Stephanie Soechtig, 92 mins.) For info and showtimes, call 1-800-326-3264 or visit <www. fandango.com>. Free adult ESL classes Through May 29 (Tue & Thu), 6-8pm, Frank- lin High School, Room 140 (5405 SE Woodward St, Portland). Attend free English-as-a-Second- Language (ESL) courses offered as part of Franklin High School’s SUN Community School. The classes, which are open to adults, in- clude grammar, reading, writing, conversation, and vocabulary. For info, call (503) 916-5140, ext. 73675 or visit <www.pps.k12.or.us/schools/ franklin/960.htm>. Habitat for Humanity application meetings May 19, 24, 28 & 31; May 19, 6-8pm, Concordia University, Hagen Campus Center (2811 NE Holman, Portland); May 24, 9:30-11:30am, Portland Community College, Southeast Center, Room 139/140 (2305 SE 82nd Ave, Portland); May 28, 5:30-7:30pm, Midland Library (805 SE 122nd Ave, Portland); May 31, 1:30-3:30pm, Portland Lutheran School, Cafeteria (740 SE 182nd Ave, Portland). Learn about the process of becoming a Habitat for Humanity homeowner. Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East provides homeownership opportunities to families that currently live in inadequate, unsafe, or substandard housing; are able to contribute to construction of the home; are legal U.S. residents; and meet certain financial criteria. See related story by Maileen Hamto, “Habitat helps newcomer families build their American Dream” (AR, May 6, 2013), at <www.asianreporter.com>. For info, or to register, call (503) 287-9529 or visit <www. habitatportlandmetro.org>. “Stories from Tohuku” May 20, 7-8pm; repeats May 22, 4-5am; Oregon Public Broadcasting Plus (OPB Plus). Watch “Stories from Tohuku,” an episode of the “Japanese American Lives” series that chronicles stories of courage and resilience by survivors of the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis. The documentary, which features Olympic gold medallist Kristi Yamaguchi as host, explores both the endurance and frustration of survivors and the hope inspired by visitors. To verify showtimes, call (503) 293-1982 or visit <www. opb.org>. Kam Wah Chung May 21, 2-2:30am, Oregon Public Broad- casting (OPB). Watch Kam Wah Chung, an episode of Oregon Experience telling the story of herbal doctor Ing Hay and businessman Lung On, who practiced medicine and operated a general store at Kam Wah Chung & Co. in John Day, Oregon. To verify showtimes, call (503) 293-1982 or visit <www.opb.org>. Free compression-only CPR instruction May 21; 9am-4pm, Oregon Zoo (4001 SW Canyon Rd, Portland); 9:30am-5:30pm, Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (1945 SE Water Ave, Portland); 10am-3pm, Clackamas Commu- nity College (19600 S Molalla Ave, Oregon City, Ore.); 10am-6pm, Clackamas Town Center (12000 SE 82nd Ave, Happy Valley, Ore.); 11am-3pm, Oregon State Office Building in Portland (800 NE Oregon St, Portland); 4-11pm, Big Al’s Bowling - Beaverton (14950 SW Bar- rows Rd, Beaverton, Ore.); 4-11pm, Big Al’s Bowling - Vancouver (16615 SE 18th St, Van- couver, Wash.). Learn compression-only CPR during National Emergency Medical Services Week (May 18-24). Compression-only CPR allows bystanders to keep life-saving blood Continued on page 15