{"id":6071,"date":"2012-04-22T20:35:52","date_gmt":"2012-04-23T03:35:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/princessleia.com\/journal\/?p=6071"},"modified":"2012-04-22T23:31:37","modified_gmt":"2012-04-23T06:31:37","slug":"orkney-the-grey-seal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/princessleia.com\/journal\/2012\/04\/orkney-the-grey-seal\/","title":{"rendered":"Orkney the Grey Seal"},"content":{"rendered":"

This morning I dropped MJ off at the airport. To cheer myself up and enjoy the beautiful weather I decided to take a detour on my way home to visit the San Francisco Zoo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you read my blog you know that as a member I visit frequently. Took lots of pictures (set here<\/a>) and was generally enjoying the visit. Slash the cassowary was out! One of the polar bears was posing for pictures! The grizzly bears were running around in anticipation for their breakfast!<\/p>\n

Then I got to Orkney’s pool.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n

Orkney’s pool was empty. All his signs were gone. A zoo staff member was nearby so I quickly asked her about it and she conveyed the bad news, Orkney had passed away the previous month. There were some tears and she admitted that she had cried too when she learned.<\/p>\n

From the San\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 Francisco\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 Zoo\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 Mourns\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 the\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 Death\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 of\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 “Orkney” the \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Beloved\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 Grey \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Seal press release<\/a> on March 2nd:<\/p>\n

SAN\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 FRANCISCO \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9\u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Today, \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9San \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Francisco \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Zoo \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9is \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9sad \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9to \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9announce \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9the \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9loss \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9of \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Orkney, \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9an\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 Atlantic\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 grey \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9seal \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9that \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9arrived \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9at \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9the \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Zoo \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9in\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 1970.\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 He\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 was \u00e2\u20ac\u00a942\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 years\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 old \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9and \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9considered\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 the \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9oldest \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9grey\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 seal \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9living\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 in \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9any \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9North \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9American \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Association \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9of \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Zoos \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9and \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Aquariums\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 (AZA) \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9captive\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 populations. \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9He\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 was\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 born\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 in\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 the\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 wild\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 at \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Prince\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 Edward\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 Island\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 in \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Eastern\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 Canada\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 and\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 was \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9a\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 favorite\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 among\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 staff\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 and \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9visitors. He\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 shared \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9his \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9exhibit \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9with other\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 grey\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 seals \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9over the\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 years\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 and\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 sired\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 multiple \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9offspring\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 between\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 1979\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 and \u00e2\u20ac\u00a91983.\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9
\nFor\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 the\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 past \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9several \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9months,\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 Orkney\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 had \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9been\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 undergoing \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9medical \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9treatments\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 as \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9well \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9as\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 regular\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 training\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 sessions\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 that \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9allowed \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9staff \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9to \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9monitor \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9his \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9weight \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9and \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9conduct \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9visual\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 exams. \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Yesterday, \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9his \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9keepers \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9noticed\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 that \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9he \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9was \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9extremely \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9lethargic \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9and \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9weak. \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9They\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 kept \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9a \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9close \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9eye \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9on \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9him \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9in \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9hopes \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9his condition \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9would\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 improve. \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9On Friday\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 morning,\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 his\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 breathing\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 was \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9deep\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 and \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9labored,\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 and \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9he \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9showed \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9no \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9signs \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9of \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9engagement \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9or \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9interaction.\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 After \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9careful \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9consultation \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9with \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9the \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Zoo\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Animal \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Care \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9staff \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9and \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9the \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Chief \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9of \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Veterinary\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 Services, \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9the \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9decision \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9to \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9euthanize \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9him \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9was \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9made.\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Unfortunately, \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9we \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9had \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9to \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9make \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9the \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9decision \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9to \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9say \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9goodbye \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9to \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Orkney,” \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Tanya \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9M.\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 Peterson, \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9San \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Francisco\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 Zoological\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 Society\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 Executive \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Director \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9and \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9President \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9said. “He\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 had\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 been \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9our \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9own \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9Lance\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 Armstrong\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 by \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9beating\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 the \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9odds \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9for \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9so \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9long. \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9He’ll \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9be \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9greatly\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 missed\u00e2\u20ac\u00a9 by \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9staff \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9and \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9visitors \u00e2\u20ac\u00a9alike.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/a>
\nOrkney swimming in his pool, September 29, 2010<\/small><\/div>\n

I love animals and it would be impossible for me to say what is my favorite, or even what general type is my favorite, but I do adore pinnipeds. I go up to Pier 39 to visit the sea lions<\/a> regularly, I was delighted by the seal-covered beaches in Monterey<\/a> and I’m a member of the Marine Mammal Center<\/a> and have said “if I ever give up this open source stuff, I’ll go volunteer there.” When I joined the zoo in 2010 Orkney was the only pinniped (they now also have two sea lions, the blind rescues Silent Knight and Henry) and so I made a point to visit him every time to say hello. On my birthday I joked that I went to see him “to see someone older than me.”<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n

The last time I saw Orkney was when I was last at the zoo on February 4th, soaking up the sun near his pool.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nOrkney resting by his pool, February 4, 2012<\/small><\/div>\n

I am glad he was able to live such a long life with the care he had, but I will miss him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This morning I dropped MJ off at the airport. To cheer myself up and enjoy the beautiful weather I decided to take a detour on my way home to visit the San Francisco Zoo. If you read my blog you know that as a member I visit frequently. Took lots of pictures (set here) and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6071","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-animals","category-san-francisco"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/princessleia.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6071","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/princessleia.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/princessleia.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/princessleia.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/princessleia.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6071"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/princessleia.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6071\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6099,"href":"https:\/\/princessleia.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6071\/revisions\/6099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/princessleia.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/princessleia.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/princessleia.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}