Expat Living

Zoo is veritable nursery

So far this year 150 animals have been born at the Guadalajara Zoo, from recent newborns such as hippos Tammy and Tachita to mountain goats and Tembo, a giraffe of just five months. Muluk, a puma cub born in the spring of 2011 had to be separated from her mother, who wasn’t born in captivity — but captured in a Jalisco pueblo — to ensure his mother didn’t kill him. Long-time zoo employee Jose Luis Rodriguez Avila, who is director of the mammals there, said the zoo has had success in breeding 90 of the 98 species of mammals in its collection, including the big cats that inhabit Mexico and Jalisco: pumas, jaguar, ocelote, linx, jaguarundi, tigrillo. Over the years, only a few animals have not had offspring that survived: elephants, chimpanzies, anteaters and tapirs. Due to space limitations and the lack of programs to reintroduce animals to the wild, birth control is used to reduce overpopulation of the zoo, he said.

Potters make their mark

Tonala was the host recently  of the Seventh Annual National Ceramic Competition, where the talents of Mexico’s best clay artists are exalted each year.

Junkers

The Automovil Guadalajara club of classic car enthusiasts is holding an exhibition of antique vehicles at the Minerva glorieta on Saturday, July 28.

Day of the Dog

To celebrate the “Day of the Dog” on Sunday, July 22, the Parque Metropolitano in Zapopan’s Colonia La Estancia will be erecting a “dog city” with special activities (including a “shoe pool”?) and special food available for man’s best friend.

New inmates at zoo

After a pregnancy period of almost nine months, two hippopotami gave birth to 30-kilo babies in the Guadalajara Zoo last Friday.

Consulate July 4th bash

U.S. Consul General Daniel Keller gave a rousing speech on the similarities and ties that bind Mexico and the United States at his invitation-only celebration to mark the 236th anniversary of U.S. Independence, Tuesday, July 3 at the Tec de Monterrey Convention Center in Zapopan.