CONNECTIONS PROGRAM #5 UNDERSTANDING THE ANIMALS

Tease

Host Voice/Over
What connects this sea turtle fighting for its life, with this sea lion.

(Natural sound zoo worker with sea lion)

Is that people are working behind the scenes to keep them healthy and alive. For these
salamanders in the northeastern U.S., and these butterflies in Mexico, survival is dependent on a
healthy environment. Today on Connections, animals, and the people who work to protect them
and educate the public about them.

CONNECTIONS OPEN ANIMATION AND MUSIC

Host intro to Marine Animal Rescue Story

Hello and welcome to Connections, Im Betty Van Etten. Were here at the National Aquarium
on the east coast of the United States in Baltimore, Maryland. Over a million visitors come here
every year to see the fantastic exhibits. But there is one part of the aquarium that the public
doesnt see. Its an animal hospital, where injured marine animals are brought in and nursed back
to health. For this rescue team, life is never dull.

MARINE ANIMAL RESCUE STORY

Voice Over Dudley Demarest

We got a call yesterday that there was a seal stranded on the lower Assateague island.

Narrator:
Dudley Demarest is on a mission of mercy.

Voice Over Dudley Demarest

We usually wait 24 hours. If the animal is still on the beach, it usually means there is probably
some kind of distress.

Narrator:
And now only human intervention may save it.

Dudley Demarest
Weve waited 24 hours and the animal is still on the beach so we sent our people in to pick the
animal up.

Narrator:
Our people as Dudley calls them, are volunteers with the Marine Animal Rescue Program
from the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland. For this harp seal, rescued from the beach
and waiting transport to the aquariums facility, the volunteers are its only hope for survival.

Volunteer
When we got there, it was just laying on the beach raising its head and its tail every now and
then.

Dudley Demarest
Hes alive but hes not moving around much.

Narrator:
The seal will undergo tests at the aquariums quarantine facility.

Nat sound transferring seal:

one...two...three...

Narrator

Susan Christenbury records the seals breathing rate during the transport.

Susan Christenbury
We really know very little about marine animals -- a lot less than most people think we do and
this is really our way of gathering information to help actually take care of the entire population,
not really just a specific animal.

Narrator:
But for this one animal, the attention will now intensify. Normally, this harp, also known as an
ice seal, would be swimming off the coast of Newfoundland. But some, like this one have been
migrating south into warmer waters.

Nat Sound:
59 pounds

Narrator
Scientists theorize as the fish population declines in their native habitat, the seals move south,
hungry for food. As they move farther south, they cant drink the salt water. Anything white in
the warmer water such as sand and small pebbles may be mistaken for ice, which is part of their
normal diet. Dr. Ian Walker.

Dr. Ian Walker

"At the moment we dont know much except that it has lost some hair and it seems unwilling to
move away from us -- which is generally a bad sign. Thats why we take it into our care.

Narrator:
The seal is given antibiotics and fluids. Blood samples are taken.

Dr. Ian Walker

Id like to see him a little more feisty than he is right now, so were just going to take it minute
by minute.

Narrator:
Its that kind of medical attention that has helped this loggerhead turtle. When it was found
stranded, its body temperature was 29 degrees below normal.

Brent Whitaker, Director of Animal Health (addresses team):

Lets try to start getting the tubing down. We may have to lift him up. Remember how we did
it?

Narrator
Dr. Brent Whitaker and the rescue team try to restore the animals health so it can be returned to
the sea.

Brent Whitaker, Director of Animal Health

So when theyre cold, very cold as this animal was, they tend to shut down their digestive
abilities. We want to make sure that their is no rotten food or sand or any other foreign bodies,
objects that shouldnt be in there. So we want to get a sample from the stomach to examine it.

Natural sound: pumping stomach

Brent Whitaker, Director of Animal Health

So we where in the stomach and we got a bunch of junk there and well examine it and see
whats in that stuff -- see what hes got going on in his stomach.

Narrator
Since 1990, the rescue program has tried to rehabilitate more than 100 animals. One in four
survives. David Schofield is the program coordinator.

David Schofield
Some these animals, by the time they strand, are so severely sick and debilitated that there is
little hope for their survival. So you are often fighting very much an uphill battle.

Narrator
The staff can treat the symptoms but only guess at the cause. Perhaps this turtle was caught in a
current and was spun away from its warm migratory path into colder waters. Warm water baths
have helped raise its body temperature an average of four degrees a day.

Natural sound: seal swimming

Narrator
Meanwhile, in the nearby pool, a recovering gray seal awaits its food.

David Schofield
When the animal first came in, it was severely emaciated, abandoned. It was about 6 weeks
old. It was just at that point where little baby grey seals go off on their own. Theyve just been
weaned. And probably just got lost and didnt know how to forage for food.

Narrator:
Trained volunteers like Ginny Manley are an important part of the rescue programs work.

Ginny Manley, volunteer

The best way to get medication into the animal is to put them in its food. And we stick it inside
the gills so that it doesnt fall out. We try to throw them fast so he doesnt know where they are
coming from so he doesnt get use to the fact that people are feeding him.

Narrator
11 days before its scheduled release back into the wild, blood is drawn from the grey seal. As
with most procedures here, it is a team effort. The seal has gained 50 pounds since its rescue.

Natural sound: doctor

You guys ready? A little deeper on that.

Doctor :
Still?

Narrator:
It is now 9 days since the loggerhead arrived. Its white blood cell count- a sign of infection- is
coming down.

Brent Whitaker

He is doing great, a lot more active. Just got to get him to eat now. That is our next
challenge.

Narrator
Meanwhile, the grey seals blood has been taken to lab manager Jill Arnold.

Jill Arnold, lab manager:

We are going to do a complete blood cell count and a chemistry screen. It is the same
type of test that your doctor would order for you if you went for a routine check up.

Natural sound: counting device

Jill Arnold
461...it looks normal.

Narrator:
Release is only days away. But not all rescues have a fairy tale ending. Further
examination of the harp seal reveals an alarming amount of sand in its digestive tract and
eight wounds from buckshot. It is later put to sleep.

The gray seal however, makes a full recovery and eight months after its rescue, it makes
it way back to the ocean off the coast of Massachusetts. But this time, it carries a
transmitter, the price it pays for its recovery. The information from the satellite tag will
provide scientists around the world more information about marine animal life.

END OF STORY

CONNECTIONS GRAPHIC AND MUSIC

Host Intro to Petting Sharks Story

Here at the wings in the water exhibit at the National Aquarium, sting rays along with a
few sharks, hold court. And throughout the week, divers come here to feed the sting rays
and the sharks, though the sharks get their food at poles length. But imagine not only
swimming with the sharks but actually feeding them by hand and petting them. Thats
our next story. Heres Zulima Palacio in the waters off Grand Bahama Island.

Petting Sharks Story

Narrator
Every day, for the last 5 years, Christina Renatto has been taking divers into the waters
off the Grand Bahama Island north of the Caribbean. Aboard the Explorer, Christina
makes preparations for the dive. But this will be no ordinary dip in the water

Christina Renatto
If you do not wish to participate in this dive this is the moment to get off this boat , go to
the front desk and get a full refund. And the reason why is, we are dealing with wild
animals. One last recommendation, nothing has happened on this dive so far. But should
something go wrong today, either Chicaco, Franco or myself are trained to make sure that
everybody will get back on board this boat.

Natural Sound
Boat Bell

Narrator
These divers have paid to watch Christina Renatto feed and pet sharks. The 11 kilos of
metal mesh over her suit will offer some protection from a shark attack.

Christina Renatto
They definitely are gonna ignore you, they are going to come in swim above you, come
in turn around, touch you with their tails and fins and everything else, but they usually
dont go after divers, they go after the fish.

Natural Sound
SPLASH/ Underwater sound

Narrator
The spectator divers watch as Christina puts herself in the middle of the sharks mealtime
by feeding them frozen fish.

Christina Renatto
Its very hard to love a shark, especially after the name that these animals have. Its a
fish, is cold blooded, it bites and has sharp teeth. So by kissing it I show how them how
close a person can get, how comfortable they can be and how much they allow you to do.
Thats why I cuddle them and I kiss them. I wouldnt say they really like it, but it
definitely doesnt disturb them.

Narrator
Why someone would want to do this may be a mystery to most of us. Why the sharks
allow it, is not fully understood either. Ollie Ferguson started diving with sharks over 12
years ago. Today he is Vice-President of the Underwater Explorers Society.

Ollie Ferguson
There is a lot of speculation. Some people feel that it is the tactile, the interactions just
of having your back rubbed sort of thing. Others feel there is a an electrolysis that takes
place between the chain mail on the glove and the sensory receptors on the sharks that
they somehow enjoy.

Narrator
Others theorize that the sharks know and trust the feeders. And as the sharks are touched
and held motionless in the water, their blood flow is reduced along with the flow of
oxygen putting them in a trance known as hypoxic shock. This, with the rubbing may be
a pleasant experience for the shark. So just who is this woman that risks it all to feed and
pet one of the most feared creatures of the sea?

Christina Renatto
I think a girl, a woman has a passion for the water, for the ocean, for the underwater
world.

Narrator
And just how much longer will she put her life in harms way?

Christina Renatto
As long as I will wake up in the morning and look forward to do itthe day Im gonna
come to work and realize I dont want to be out their with them because I am too tired,
Im too bored or Im too scared, the day my mindset will go like that, I will stop, because
thats gonna be the day Im going to get hurt.

Narrator
At the end of each dive, Christina motions goodbye to the divers and moves away from
them attracting the sharks to her. Back on board, the divers realize Christina Renatto has
given them a once in a lifetime underwater experience.

NAT- Cheers and Christina saying, Thank you very much.

END OF STORY

CONNECTIONS GRAPHIC AND MUSIC

HOST Intro to the Mexican Butterfly Sanctuary Story

I dont think you could get me swimming with the sharks but you could perhaps get me
in the water with these fish. Theyre part of the Pacific reef exhibit and they remind me
of underwater butterflies with their vivid colors and quick movements. But without a
healthy habitat this beauty could fade. That is the challenge in Mexico where butterflies
as colorful as these fish gather by the millions each year. Their survival is dependent on
how well humans protect and respect their winter home. Greg Flakus has the story.

Mexican butterfly sanctuary story

Narrator
One sign of spring in the United States and Canada is the appearance of colorful Monarch
butterflies. These delicate creatures migrate thousands of kilometers northward each year
from their winter nesting grounds here, in the mountains of Mexicos Michoacan state.
Butterfly expert Lincoln Brower, of Sweetbriar college in the U-S state of Virginia, has
been studying this natural wonder since shortly after the nesting site was first discovered
in 1975.

Lincoln Brower, Butterfly Expert

The butterflies that are here are approximately 30 percent of
all the butterflies that breed east of the Rocky Mountains in the U-S and southern Canada.
They are a tropical butterfly and, although they invaded North America to take advantage
of milkweed food plants that their caterpillars eat, they have to come back to the tropics
during the wintertime. It is truly almost a miracle that the butterflies are able to find their
way to this mountain range and three or four others in this area where these millions and
millions of butterflies spend the winter.

Narrator
In order to protect the monarch nesting zones, the Mexican government has established

sanctuaries which have now become popular tourist destinations. But the well-meaning
visitors might be doing more harm than good here, according to professor Brower.

Lincoln Brower, Butterfly Expert

The whole system is disorganized and primitive. This could be a very, very
sophisticated eco-tourism site, which brought in millions of dollars a year. And the way it
is run now, its going to destroy the butterfliesbecause there is so much dust being
kicked up by the thousands and thousands of people that visit here that the dust is
flying into the air it gets in the butterflies breathing apparatus and kills them.

Narrator
But the Monarchs are threatened by more than dust. Professor Brower says illegal
Logging and other incursions by humans have reduced the butterflies habitat. He says
this could partly explain a drop in numbers from 200 million two years ago to about 60
million this year.

Lincoln Brower, Butterfly Expert

All animals are subject to natural fluctuation and last summer was a bad breeding year
in the U-S. We cant blame that diminishment in the past year on what is happening here.
but the problem is that cumulativeyherbicides are destroying the breeding habitat of
Monarchs in North America the forests around these colonies are very rapidly
deteriorating. There is a lot of illegal wood removal from the colonies themselves and
chip, chip, chip, cutting it away little by little the habitat of these butterflies is being
diminished.

Narrator
Environmental groups are working with the Mexican government to improve the
sanctuaries, which are also an important source of income for local people who sell
souvenirs to tourists. The world wildlife funds Monica Missrie says the current ecotourism is not providing sufficient support for the conservation effort.

Monica Missrie, World Wildlife Fund

It is eco-tourism, but it is not really eco. It is just tourism, so what we are going to try to
do isimprove the pathways and not have so much dust and just have the overall
operation being run better, because it is a good alternative. It can provide income for
them, if it is done right.

Narrator
While the Monarchs would probably not go extinct if they were to lose this sanctuary in
the Mexican mountains, their long migration would probably end and, with that, Lincoln
Brower says, the world would lose some of its beauty.

END OF STORY

CONNECTIONS GRAPHIC AND MUSIC

HOST INTRO Aging animal story

Protecting habitat is crucial to the health of wild animals. In an aquarium or zoo, the
challenge is even greater. And when those animals begin to age, it takes a special touch
as Tim Wardner found out.

Aging animal story

Narrator
The U-S population is aging and its not just the baby boomers. Here at the National Zoo
in Washington, D.C., much of the wild kingdom are getting on in years as well. Linda
Moore and Kris Sommers are zookeepers and part of their job is the special care that
older animals need.

Linda Moore, Zookeeper

Its breakfast and pill time this morning, this is our little pharmacy department here.

Narrator
Its eight am and the first order of business is an assortment of pills.

Linda Moore
And we also have animals on medication, so weve got Maureen on several different
types of antibiotics. Ester has an immune disorder so this is Esters pile here, shes got a
little pregnazone which is what is maintaining her right now

Narrator
Her special patients find them easier to get down in the gills of a fish head.

Linda Moore
And now we can go give them their breakfast.

Narrator
Maureen and Ester, a couple of California sea lions, await helper Linda Moores morning
rounds with their own special kind of sea lion enthusiasm.

Linda Moore
This is Maureen and this is Ester, they are both 21 years of age. First I want to make
sure everyone is eating this morning
Reporter
Now is that old for a California Sea Lion?

Linda Moore
Thats getting pretty old for a California, theyre actuallys sea lions. Both of these
animals have been ill this year and we are currently trying to obtain a blood sample on
this one, just got a blood sample off her two days ago so we know shes doing really well
on her prednison. But we want to check Maureens blood levels to see how shes doing.

Narrator

Sea lion elder care means some eyedrops and taking a blood sample. The trust these
animals have for their caregiver would probably surprise the average doctor

Linda Moore
Great job, good, stay. I need that down though, doesnt work like that right in here
today you were good. That was better that time, that was better that time, much better,
good girl

Narrator
Trust, patience and a real sensitivity to the animals condition and behavior seem to be
the key element.

Linda Moore
Once you work with the animals for a period of time you develop a rapport with
them. Anybody can come in here and take a bucket of fish and walk in there and feed
them, and they will eat from them and theyll do a few things for them but if you are
trying to, for example, obtain a blood sample your really need to have a good relationship
with the animal for it to trust you if youre going to stick in an inch and a half needle and
poke around trying to obtain that.

Narrator
At eighteen with a twenty year life expectancy bobcats Sparky and Pheonix are elder cats
and their care can be difficult because close contact by humans can be dangerous.

Kris Sommers, Zookeeper

Generally for the bobcats we will have to anesthetize them for most any procedure.
We do treat them, of course, with preventative worming, and we just take the pill and put
it right into their chick or mouse for the day. So preventative medicine we can give
without anesthetizing, but for the hands on.

Linda Moore
Today is Thursday so Tacata gets vitamins.

Narrator
Kris and Linda share the care of the meat eating birds called raptors. And once again the
task of building trust is the key to caring for these birds. A process called imprinting is
how the animal comes to identify with the human.

Linda Moore
Imprinting is a process whereby a young animal identifies itself with whoever is
taking car of it. For example, if you have a bald eagle and its being raised by a human
being, its going to think its a human being, it will identify itself with humans and thats
true of many different types of species of animals.

Narrator
If ever there was an animal that took to imprinting its Norman the sea lion. He seems to
love his keepers and entertaining the crowds. And though an elderly sea lion at twentyone, like George Burns he seems to only have perfected his act. Like any star Norman is
pampered he gets his teeth brushed.

Linda Moore
Okayglad my toothbrush doesnt look like that when I finish with it.

Narrator
He seems to take it in stride when his heartbeat is checked. Norman seems to prove that
even at the zoo, the latter years can be the golden years.

Nat sound: Linda Moore

The name is Norman.

END OF STORY

HOST INTRO - Salamander story

The National Aquarium has created another type of zoo here with its tropical rain forest
exhibit. Tamarin monkeys and exotic birds are some of the creatures youll discover here.
That was a screaming peha by the way. The number and diversity of animals in a rain
forest are a good indicator of the health of the environment. In our next story, well meet
a scientist who feels that salamanders are also a good indicator of the health of the forest.
Heres Miguel Rivera.
Salamander story
Natural Sound
What did you find? Two red efts, the young of the newt.

Narrator
Sam Droege is a hunter. His prey is tiny and lurks beneath the dead logs of the forest.
Sam is hunting for salamander.

Dr. Sam Droege, Scientist

Actually, its really interesting. Theyre right next to an ant colony! You can really see
the florescent circles in the things. Its just cold. Theyre wondering what the hells going
on. Theres the yellow orange florescent underbelly on him.

Narrator
Sam Droege is trying to prove that the salamander can provide key information for the
survival of the earths forests.

Sam Droege
Theres a strong relationship between the numbers of salamanders in an area and the
amount of disturbance that a forest has had. So we can almost take the pulse of the health

of the forest by seeing how many salamanders there are around. A healthy forest has lots
of salamanders, an unhealthy one is poor in them or has none.

Narrator
Sam Droege works at the Patuxent Wildlife Preserve in the east coast state of Maryland.
In order to see changes accurately in salamander population, he and other scientists are
creating newer, harmless methods for marking and counting these elusive creatures.
Injecting liquid elastomers seems to be the most humane method.

Natural Sound lab assistant

Ive got three salamanders from there that Ive got to give a mark to. Hell have one
mark and it will be orange on his left lower leg. This will be the only salamander in this
plot to have this mark, so if we ever see him again, well know how big he was.

Sam Droege
Thats why we went with the elastomer, because it seems to be less harmful to them
than the removing of toes. But in the future we hope to have a DNA scanner that would
automatically give us the name of the animal based on its unique DNA. But, I think thats
a few years away.

Natural Sound lab assistant

This guys clearly marked so you can see the front leg on this side has some orange,
oops!

Narrator
Droege has found that the salamander is biologically one of the most efficient organisms
on the planet.

Sam Droege
About 99, 98 percent of the food that goes in, gets transferred directly to energy or into
body fat. Our assimilation efficiency is somewhere between one and five percent.

Narrator
It is because of their efficiency that the effects of pollution, natural disasters, and
urbanization can be detected in salamanders before any other species in the forest.
Theyre hearty and have good survival techniques, including a high level of toxicity to
ward off predators.

Sam Droege
The bright colors warn about the fact that they might be a poisonous thing to eat.

Narrator
Surprisingly, salamanders also live to be 20 to 25 years old, which is ideal for the purpose
of tracing their lifestyles and migratory patterns. And in a healthy forest, there should be
plenty of them.

Sam Droege
If you took all the salamanders in this forest and put them into one area and compressed
them into a salamander brick. And then you took all the birds and did the same and then
all the mammals and anything else that was alive in there, the bricks that you made from
salamanders, in other words, the total mass or the bio mass of salamanders, would exceed
or equal the mass of all the other species put together.

Narrator
Scientists like Sam Droege are on the cutting edge of environmentalism. He has made his
job his life and has been successful at merging the two.

Sam Droege
I take the ideas and ideals that I have about whats right for the environment and whats
healthy for plants and animals and extend that to my family and to how I live.

END OF STORY

HOST ENDING
After todays show, you should be inspired to take a long walk in the woods, visit a zoo,
hear a screaming peha and take a visit to an aquarium. Thanks for joining us here on
Connectionswhere we keep you connected to the world.