Jig and Jog

I saw this little bit of news this morning while going through my google reader feed:

Japanese zookeepers have discovered why their attempts to mate the two polar bears at the Kushiro city zoo have failed: Both are female. When Tsuyoshi, a supposedly male 4-year-old polar bear was introduced to Kurumi, the zoo’s 11-year-old female, “he” failed to make any advances. “One day we realized that the two bears urinate in the same way, and we thought, is that how males do it?” said zookeeper Masako Inoue. The sex of polar bears is often difficult to determine because of their long hair. Despite the zoo’s breeding plan, it will keep Tsuyoshi, who has become immensely popular with zoo visitors. [source]

I just have to wonder, doesn’t knowing or finding out the sex of an animal that you’re trying to breed fall under the basic job description of a zookeeper?  How do you go on for any period of time attempting to mate animals and NOT know they are both female?  Really? You have to watch them both urinate?! I always thought there were basic procedures that occur when zoos get new animals.  You know, like they animal arrives, probably sedated, the zookeepers and veterinarians on staff do a thorough examination of the animal to make sure he or she is healthy.  Maybe, while doing this exam they could, I don’t know, take a little peek down there, figure out the sex of the animal?  

I think maybe those zookeepers ride the shortbus to work. 

 

 

Even gangstas love their mom

In other animal related news, Auntie Kate gifted Peanut with a lovely hoodie last night that proudly proclaims her love for her mommy.  Peanut is totally gangsta in her new hoodie. Look out world, she’ll probably be releasing her hard core gangsta rap album in the coming year.