Saturday, November 10, 2012

En Surpris




Perhaps one of my favorite things about research and animal care (and by favorite I mean “things that are fun to think about when you’re no longer doing them”) is the way that your charges can surprise you.

In the case of my marine snails, this was usually achieved by their attempted suicides. Every couple of days they would crawl above the water line in their tanks and sit there, gripping the glass, waiting to desiccate, until I shoved them back into the water, issuing encouraging phrases like, “You have everything to live for!” and “Think of your friends!”

This isn’t really the same thing—it’s even better—for, within this article:

National Zoo welcomes first tentacled snakes born in 11 years

—Is this line: “Eight tentacled snakes were born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo last month, surprising zookeepers who had spent four years trying to breed the reptile.”

And I ask you, all you researchers out there: isn’t that always the way?

{A note: I do write all text and take all pictures. Please do not reproduce either without my permission.}

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