Zoo Story (32 page)

148
    
complaints were almost always whispered:
Author interviews with multiple members of Lowry Park staff, past and present.

149
    
“a benevolent dictatorship”:
Author interview with Salisbury.

149
    
Diamonds sparkled inside augmented cleavage:
The author attended Karamu and witnessed these scenes firsthand, including the late-night visit to the elephant building.

150
    
“just kick me in the balls”:
Overheard at the table where the author was seated.

153
    
surveyed his creation:
The author followed Brian Morrow through the construction site that day, interviewing him as they walked.

155
    
a deep crimson form stirring:
This section is based on the author’s firsthand reporting and on interviews with Kelly Ryder and other members of the aviary staff.

156
    
the magazine saluted:
Maureen P. Sangiorio, “The 10 Best Zoos for Kids,”
Child
, June–July 2004, pp. 112–122.

156
    
The lucky guest:
Author witnessed this scene.

156
    
“Because God made us”:
Andrea Schuch recounted this moment to the author.

157
    
final days before the debut:
Author witnessed these scenes, as well as the unveiling ceremony with the mayor and then the grand opening of Safari Africa.

11  CITY AND FOREST

159
    
news of Ellie’s pregnancy:
Author interviews with Brian French and Steve Lefave.

160
    
a hybrid of
The Odyssey
and
Wild Kingdom: Author interviews with Jeff Ewelt, Melinda Mendolusky, and Heather Mackin.

161
    
an unexpected obstacle:
The author reported firsthand on these experiences inside the basement at Rockefeller Center and outside and inside the studio of
Late Night With Conan O’Brien.

164
    
a lethal fungus known as chytrid:
Author interviews with Kevin Zippel and Dustin Smith, also information from Project Golden Frog’s Web site, http://www.ranadorada.org/.

164
    
they had to decide:
Author interview with Kevin Zippel.

164
    
their first two weeks in the forest:
Author interviews with Kevin Zippel, Dustin Smith, and other members of the research team.

165
    
the Thousand-Frog Stream:
The author joined the research team in Panama and accompanied them on this journey into the gorge by the water’s edge.

166
    
Jeff and Melinda saw it:
Author interviews with Jeff Ewelt and Melinda Mendolusky.

166
    
Dustin had to devote almost three weeks:
Author interviews with Dustin Smith and Lee Ann Rottman.

166
    
Lowry Park’s conservation fund had donated:
Figure supplied by the zoo.

167
    
He and Brian French were disagreeing:
Author interviews with Lex Salisbury and Brian French.

168
    
Lex’s big push:
Interviews with multiple members of Lowry Park’s staff, past and present.

168
    
One of the doubters was Carie Peterson:
Author interviews and e-mail exchanges with Peterson.

168
    
Lamaze class was under way:
Author interviews with Brian French, Steve Lefave, and Heather Mackin.

169
    
a newborn calf ran forward:
The scene describing the discovery of the baby elephant’s birth is reconstructed from the author’s interviews with Brian French, Steve Lefave, and Lee Ann Rottman.

12  UNDERTOW

172
    
In those first days after the virgin birth:
Based on the zoo’s media releases and on press conference statements made by David Murphy and Lex Salisbury.

172
    
the marketing team knew how to capitalize:
“Ellie’s Big Bundle of Joy,” by Alexandra Zayas,
St. Petersburg Times
, November 11, 2005.

173
    
the clear winner, suggested by a second-grade class:
“Elephant Calf Christened at Lowry Park,” by Alexandra Zayas,
St. Petersburg Times
, December 22, 2005.

173
    
Ellie, now reigning as the unquestioned matriarch:
Author interviews with Brian French and Steve Lefave.

173
    
unmistakable signs of an undertow:
Based on the author’s interviews with multiple members of the staff, past and present, as well as the author’s observations while reporting at the zoo in that period.

174
    
Brian, always camera shy:
Author interviews with Brian French.

174
    
the zoo was letting him go:
Author interviews with Brian French and Lee Ann Rottman.

174
    
“It’s a personnel matter”:
Author interview with Rachel Nelson.

174
    
Brian and Lex confirmed:
Author interviews with Brian French and Lex Salisbury.

175
    
“You could get fired at any time for any reason”:
Author email exchange with a former keeper.

175
    
Carie Peterson debated:
Author interviews with Carie Peterson.

175
    
The two Sumatran tigers:
Author interviews with Carie Peterson and Pam Noel.

175
    
Dr. Murphy was preparing:
Based on statements Dr. Murphy made at a press conference on August 23, 2006.

176
    
“That’s my son”:
Author witnessed this scene.

176
    
he had never forgotten Herman:
Author observations and interviews with Ed Schultz.

177
    
The young female’s name was Sasha:
Details on the baby chimp’s gradual introductions are based on author interviews with Lee Ann Rottman and Angela Belcher.

177
    
she would immediately raise her arms:
Sasha did this for the author, who held her.

178
    
Herman and Bamboo had tangled:
Author interviews with Lee Ann Rottman.

178
    
Lee Ann noticed something odd:
Ibid.

178
    
The chimps were fighting:
This section is based on author interviews with Lee Ann Rottman, David Murphy, and Jeff Kremer.

180
    
He looked at peace:
Scene based on author interviews with Ed Schultz and Lee Ann Rottman.

13  FREEDOM

181
    
Noting Herman’s prominence:
Rebecca Catalanello, “Fight Kills Lowry Park Chimp,”
St. Petersburg Times
, June 9, 2006.

181
    
primate males are often viewed as inherently violent:
The author was present at a meeting of
St. Petersburg Times
editors the day after Herman’s death and watched as one editor made this assumption explicit, theorizing that Rukiya had “tried to help” and stop the fight because females are more nurturing.

182
    
“Everybody considered them buddies”:
Author interview with David Murphy.

182
    
rumors circulated, both inside and outside the zoo:
Based on author interviews at Lowry Park and on theories raised in Rebecca Catalanello’s article “Bringing Up Babies, Bringing in Dollars,”
St. Petersburg Times
, July 9, 2006.

183
    
some wondered out loud if Bamboo should be punished:
The author heard this issue debated several times, including during a conversation at a meeting of
St. Petersburg Times
editors the day after Herman’s death.

183
    
He refused to look at them:
Author interviews with Ed Schultz.

184
    
Bamboo was suffering as well:
Author interviews with Lee Ann Rottman.

184
    
a quest to identify the caller:
Author interviews with Carie Peterson, Brian Czarnik, and Jeff Kremer. The campaign to track down the tipster was confirmed and defended in author interviews with Lex Salisbury and Rachel Nelson.

184
    
Carie finally quit:
Author interviews with Carie Peterson.

185
    
fired only a few days:
Author interviews with Brain Czarnik and Carie Peterson. The firing was confirmed by author interviews with Lex Salisbury, Lee Ann Rottman, and Rachel Nelson. Salisbury also discussed the firing in a press conference on August 24, 2006.

185
    
the zoo hired a new keeper:
Statements made by Lex Salisbury and Lee Ann Rottman at the press conference in August 2006.

185
    
the new keeper found himself alone with the tigers:
The description of Enshalla’s escape and shooting is based on author interviews with Lex Salisbury, Lee Ann Rottman, Virginia Edmonds, and Pam Noel, as well as a written statement Chris Lennon made for investigators, as well as statements made by Salisbury, Rottman, and David Murphy at the press conference the next day.

14  CONSPIRACY THEORY

189
    
“What’s wrong?” Carie asked:
Author interviews with Carie Peterson.

189
    
a good draw at the front gate:
Author witnessed the ticket line the day after Enshalla’s shooting.

190
    
Chris was so devastated:
Author interviews with Lex Salisbury and Lee Ann Rottman, as well as statements made at the 8/24/06 press conference by Lt. Steve De Lacure, a Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission inspector.

190
    
Lex had no choice:
Author interviews with multiple staff members, past and present.

191
    
the zoo had been stretched:
Author interviews with Brian Czarnik.

191
    
Lex was asked about Czarnik’s firing:
Salisbury statements made at the 8/24/06 press conference.

191
    
“We don’t call them unless we need them”:
Ibid.

192
    
Lee Ann was stunned:
Author interviews with Lee Ann Rottman.

192
    
Lex guided two reporters to the boardwalk:
The author was one of those reporters.

193
    
talk of a statue:
Author interviews with Lee Ann Rottman and Rachel Nelson.

193
    
The surviving chimps . . . had not fully recovered:
This section, including the theory on what could have motivated Rukiya to instigate a coup, is based on the author’s interviews with Lee Ann Rottman.

195
    
former staff members stepped forward:
Author interviews with Jeff and Coleen Kremer; also, their Web site, TampasZooAdvocates.com.

196
    
The zoo fired back:
These rebuttals are based on the author’s interviews with Lex Salisbury, Lee Ann Rottman, and Greg Stoppelmoor.

197
    
he gave a triumphant speech:
The author reported the speech firsthand.

15  WINNING

198
    
The critics pounded away:
Author interviews with Jeff and Coleen Kremer; also, their Web site.

199
    
something had gone deeply wrong:
Author interviews and e-mails with Carie Peterson.

199
    
Lex had learned not to worry:
Author interviews with Lex Salisbury.

199
    
filling Lowry Park with more species:
Author interview with Larry Killmar.

200
    
Detroit officials questioned the practice:
The quote was excerpted from a discussion on the Detroit Zoo’s Web site, http://www.detroitzoo.org/News%10Events/In_the_News/Elephants_Questions_and_Answers/, but it has since apparently been removed from the site.

200
    
warmer temperatures of Florida were well suited:
This update on the elephants’ progress and on Sdudla’s transfer to the Montgomery Zoo is based on the author’s interviews with Steve Lefave, Lee Ann Rottman, Brian French, Lex Salisbury, and Rachel Nelson.

200
    
“among the best in the country”:
Author interview with Steve Feldman.

200
    
stemming the tide of extinction:
Author interviews with Dan Costell.

201
    
situation with the tigers:
The update on Eric and the white tigers is based on author interviews with Lee Ann Rottman and Rachel Nelson.

201
    
no conservation value to them:
The case against exhibiting white tigers has been made in many interviews and articles. The most damning criticisms have come from Ronald Tilson, director of conservation at the Minnesota Zoo and one of the world’s acknowledged experts on various tiger subspecies.

201
    
Lex did not agree:
Author interview with Lex Salisbury.