san diego: dialed in: Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: County Gaslights Citizens About Dangers of TJ River | SDUSD Wasted $ On Turf, Not On Classrooms | Congress Agrees To Funding Deal Beyond Election|

Baby Francois Langur Yezi, Born April 14, 2024 (taken 8.31.24)

Not gonna lie, I'm feeling pretty worn down this week. I worked at Music Box on Thursday night and decided to have a super late night at Black Cat which turned into morning, and then I worked on Friday at Panama 66 and then had a family BBQ at my mom's then worked Saturday night at Adams Avenue Street Fair and as much as I would have liked to just sleep all day Sunday, I thought walking the zoo in the afternoon would give me fresh air and I'd be all better on Monday, but the truth is, I still feel pretty run down. I fully intend to sleep normal human hours tonight, but then I'm working at the Casbah on Tuesday night, so I'm sucking it up, drinking my fluids, overconsuming my vitamins, and just trying to keep whatever this thing is at bay. (It's not COVID, I obviously tested for that the second I felt a sniffle.) I spent a lot of my Sunday transferring photos from my camera to my laptop (thus the month old photo above), I finished watching The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (after which I canceled Hulu), and am all caught up on Housewives (which is so bad, I may cancel Peacock, too). When I'm in public, I'm trying to avoid people, signaled by wearing my giant headphones, on which I've been binge-listening to the podcast "Something Was Wrong" and am currently in season 3, which is bonkers.

Anyway, I want to get a jump on listings this week, which is why I'm wrapping up this latest diary post. It's just easier to get my brain straight and stay on top of my work week that way.
Stay safe *and healthy* out there.

SAN DIEGO LOCALS:

Supervisor Vargas: There’s No Toxic Gas Concern in Tijuana River Valley. County air quality and public health experts combat alarm over toxic gas reports from university researchers in South Bay. - Voice of San Diego (9.11.24)

Ed Note: Kim Prather was at the forefront of COVID science about aerosolized particles months, if not years, before it was acknowledged and accepted by the CDC and others. I'm gonna trust her on this one.

Cross-border sewage: Officials call for state of emergency amid toxic gas concerns - City News Service/kpbs (9.9.24)
County Board Adopts 2024 Climate Action Plan - County News Center (9.12.24)
Billions of Dollars Later, Some San Diego Unified Students Still Dealing with Hot Classrooms - Voice of San Diego (9.12.24)

Toby had Open House at Hoover High on 9.19.24, where I asked the principal about hot classrooms and was assured that ALL A/C units in the school are currently working, that there was only one day that any units were down, and the school always has a contingency plan...where classrooms are too hot, students may choose to go to a "cool zone" like the library, or teachers have alternate rooms where they can take their classes. The principal also comically pointed out that one of the students interviewed by the news and was complaining about how hot it was was called out by another student during the interview, "Bruh, you're wearing a hoodie!!"

California Is 2024’s Most Diverse State in America – WalletHub Study (9.17.24)
State Declares Citrus Quarantine in Fallbrook - County News Center (9.17.24)

ZOO GOSS:

Veterinarians successfully perform C-section for a North American porcupine - AP News (9.17.24)
In spring of 2024, rumors swirled that Mandazzi, the now 22 year old silverback, was to be transferred to Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas, where two females have been determined by the SSP to be matches for him to start a family. Weather and other delays occurred and the move never happened. Now the rumors are back...that the crate has returned for him to train with and the plan is back in motion to "marry him off", so to speak. Obviously we're all heartbroken that he could be leaving any day, but also want to see him thrive with his own troop. Ekuba hasn't taken too kindly to the presence of the transport crate and there's been a noticeable change in his behavior, so while Tuesday is International Gorilla Day, we'll all send him all the extra lovey vibes and just hope if and when a transition does happen, everyone knows what they're doing and minimizes the destabilization in the bachelor troop left behind.
In other zoo goss, there's a zoo in Seattle called Woodland Park Zoo. For a long time, they had two female river hippos, Lily and Lupe. Earlier this year, Lily was diagnosed with cancer and the decision was made to humanely euthanize her, leaving Lupe alone. Hippos are very social animals and in the wild can live in "bloats" with up to 30 hippos! Woodland Park made it clear that they had no intention of upgrading their 40+ year old habitat and would seek to rehome Lupe within the AZA.
Enter San Diego Zoo. Otis, the male and longtime partner of Funani, passed away a couple years back, after which time Fu and daughter Amahle were moved so their habitat could be renovated. Because of residual COVID supply chain issues (or whatever), the reno took a super long time, but the girls finally moved back into their habitat in March of this year. With Funani too old to reproduce at 42ish --while the number changes, it is said she has had 13 calves!!--it is a very strong possibility Lupe, in her mid-twenties, may be headed to San Diego to be an "Auntie" to Amahle. Lupe's last day on habitat in Seattle is 9.24.24, after which the receiving zoo will be able to announce the impending arrival. Will it be San Diego??? I can't wait to find out!!

SEA WORLD GOSS:

"Little Miss Walrus" is an orphaned walrus that was taken in by the Alaska Sea Life Center a couple months back (7.22.24). She's been under 24 hour care since she was brought in and has been rehabilitated enough to live her life at another facility. (Because she was orphaned so young, her release into the wild is not possible.)

Our animal care team has been working diligently to create positive associations with her large, secure kennel through feeding and playtime. She’s doing AMAZING! In fact, she has independently chosen to enter the transport unit multiple times to play and rest, showing great confidence.

This is a significant step as we prepare for her upcoming move to the lower 48, where she’ll join other walruses in human care. We know you’re curious about her destination — stay tuned for TWO major announcements tomorrow! @AlaskaSeaLifeCenter (9.23.24)

There are only three facilities in "the lower 48" that still care for walruses: SeaWorld Orlando, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, and SeaWorld San Diego. SWSD sent care specialists to help care for Little Miss Walrus, and presently only has two walruses after the passing of Mitik and Kulu and the move of Chou Chou to Orlando. FINGERS CROSSED this beautiful little baby girl will come join Basa and Dozer at SeaWorld San Diego! All this to say, I haven't heard anything...no speculation or gossip whatsoever...just my hope...though looking at Point Defiance, they have two younger wallys and all the recent wallys at SeaWorld came from Point Defiance at some point...Dozer, Mitik, Basilla, and Kulu. I guess the reveal will come on Tuesday, so fingers crossed!!