Paw Print

I was invited to visit the Maryland Zoo last week and that was one invitation I wasn’t about to pass up.  I was so excited to get there and see the baby elephant Samson who I’ve been following closely since momma Felix was on birth watch and the baby naming contest.  And I have to admit I hadn’t been to the Maryland (or any) zoo in at least 15 years, a bit hard to imagine since I have such an affection for all four leggeds’.  I was filled with delight and gleeful anticipation as any 5 year old would be-- and the visit far surpassed my anticipation.  Of course the star of the show was Samson, then six weeks old and 420 slight pounds!  Not only was Samson absolutely precious (ever see a baby elephant run, hilarious) he was very curious but amazingly resourceful--he is now teething so he figured out all by himself that if he picked up sand in his mouth and put it back in his gums he could grind it and make his teething feel better.  Not so much, says the elephant keeper as she pokes him and offers him a stick to bit down on to ease the pain instead (the sand can be harmful to his digestive system if swallowed).  He has a red ball to play with, logs to climb on, a big tire to play on—I was fascinated.  In addition to watching the frivolity of Samson and the careful eye momma Felix keeps on him at all times I was absolutely mesmerized by conversation with Mike McClure, general curator and elephant manager, whoa, what an amazing depth of knowledge!  And like any proud father he gushed with pride at how smart and advanced Samson was for his age citing many of Samson’s accomplishments in a very short time. 
If you haven’t visited the zoo and seen Samson I would highly recommend it but go early, Samson is only out from 10-12. 
Check out this link for photo and a recap of Samson;s accomplishments, http://www.marylandzoo.org/blogs/index.aspx?BlogED=3.,