RIP MARILYN, MY FAVORITE GIRAFFE AT THE MEMPHIS ZOO

RIP MARILYN:

On Oct. 30th, 2019 Memphis Zoo officials have announced the sad news that its oldest giraffe has died at the age of 26. Marilyn was a favorite of zoo visitors; she gave birth to six calves.

Zoo officials said in the post that the giraffe's "strong maternal instincts and experience made her a regular 'auntie' and 'midwife'" for other new mothers and young giraffes in the herd.

I’d like to celebrate her life! So, I built a photo gallery here of some of my pictures of Marilyn, her babies and some of the other giraffes. As a photojournalist in Memphis, I photographed Marilyn often and also many of her babies at one time or another over the years. Watching and photographing giraffes is one of my favorite pastimes.

Reticulated giraffes are endangered, but Marilyn did her share to reproduce this beautiful creature. The Memphis Zoo’s breeding program has been very successful. For several years here in Memphis, we’ve enjoyed baby giraffes each spring. The gestational period of a giraffe is over a year and their babies are usually born at about six feet in height.

Reticulated giraffes are native to Somalia but they are also found in Northern Kenya. It is estimated that there are less than 9,000 Reticulated Giraffes left in the wild.

The first video below is of Marilyn and her baby. I made other short videos of the giraffe’s at the Memphis zoo and I will share them here too because giraffes, especially baby giraffes, are such a joy to watch.

VIDEOS BELOW:

Thanks for the memories.

Uncommon Friends

A pig, Miss Betty, and a goat have become inseparable friends at a farm in Mississippi. It is unusual as pigs can be aggressive when it comes to their food, they have also been known to eat anything, including goats.

MEMPHIS UKULELE FLASH MOB HOSTS MEMPHIS UKE-N-ROLL FESTIVAL

UPDATE: UKE FESTIVAL POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS-THE FESTIVAL WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR A LATER DATE. STAY TUNED….RETURNING IN 2021

Pete McCarty invites everyone to the Memphis Uke N Roll Festival in April of 2020. Come join the Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob as we have a four day party in Memphis that celebrates everything wonderful about the ukulele. For tickets go to www.memphisukenroll.com

What started out as a small group of friends getting together to jam has grown into a wonderful ukulele community in Memphis. The Memphis Ukulele Flash mob meets each week at Central BBQ on Summer Avenue in Memphis on Tuesday evenings from 6-8pm for a standing room only sing-a-long led Pete McCarty.

Memphis Magazine recently did a story on Pete and the Flash Mob calling them the Pied Piers of Happiness who “bring joy to the world.”

https://memphismagazine.com/culture/the-pied-pipers-of-happiness/

The all volunteer group also spend their time and talent spreading love around the community, playing for nursing homes, children’s hospitals, farmers markets and even holiday parades.

The festival will showcase talent from around the country, there will be workshops, open mic opportunities, sing-a-longs, fun and fellowship in the south main neighborhood in downtown Memphis.

Enjoy this photo gallery which will get you a sense of our city, Memphis, the city we love so much. You can also see some of the Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob members spreading some love. (Photos by Karen Pulfer Focht ©)

To see other videos and photos of the Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob look under “Ukulele Fun” Category on my blog.

Now, ya’ll come!