Reptile & Amphibian Forums

While I was out of town at a conference (boring) last week my first clutch of Thayeri decided to hatch (about a week late, 68 to 70 days). 6 out of 8 made it which is better than nothing since I wasn’t there; the two eggs under the others didn’t make it. All of my Hondurans hatched though; they are so huge compared to the Thayeri. When they all shed I will get some pics, they are awesome (if I say so myself); 1st one from the second clutch was out this morning too.

Instead of coming straight home last week I made a slight detour to visit my daughter (yes, I’m old, she’ll be 24 in two months). She moved to Little Rock a couple months ago to be an Elephant Keeper at the Little Rock Zoo. I got to go in with her early in the morning to watch her work, it was pretty amazing and I just had to share a couple of pics I took. And, yes, I heard about the keeper in TN getting squished; as a dad, I would prefer she was a bunny keeper. I hope the photobucket pics work.

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Rick
Never Enough
Reptiles

Congrats on the hatchlings. I can't wait to see some pics.

I know how proud you must be of your daughter. I also share your concern with the danger she faces working with pachyderms. It's a dangerous job but probably no more so than a firefighter or a motorcycle cop. I just read today that the incident in TN was ruled an accident and the elephant will not be put down. She certainly looks happy doing her job. Does she only work with asian elephants or does the Little Rock zoo also have african elephants?

BTW you need to tranfer some of those elephant/daughter picture taking skills to thayeri/honduran picture taking skills. LOL
Thanks for posting the pics. They turned out good.
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Vichris

Vichris Variables

It's a very small zoo, only the two Indian, no African Elephants(thank God). They are going to expand to hold up to five but, I hope they do not get an African Elephant. She does seem to love it, pay is lousy, but job is cool. They are all about safety too.

As you can see in the above post, I still need work on my wiggley little snake photo skills.
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Rick
Never Enough
Reptiles

vast improvement over last year. I think those elephants got you on the right track Decrease your F stops and you will get better depth of field. More of your subject will be in focus.
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Vichris

Vichris Variables

>>vast improvement over last year. I think those elephants got you on the right track Decrease your F stops and you will get better depth of field. More of your subject will be in focus.
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Chris,
The problem with decreasing F stop is that is slows down the sutter speed. I can't get these guys to stop for a second, I need all the speed I can get (lol), I have found that 125 is about the slowest I dare go (and they are still blury). I shot these in macro so I new I was going to loose depth of field.

I'll try emailing you tonight, feel free to email me with anything (well, almost anything...lol).
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Rick
Never Enough
Reptiles