The other day, I covered an event at the Fort Worth Zoo
The Fort Worth Zoo and I have a rich history. Back when the Texas Rangers won the pennant for the first time, they hosted a party and invited VIPs such as myself, for some reason, to come by.
At the time, I was single, unlike now, when I’m single, so I attended this party with a bro.
A stage was set up in an open area of the zoo and people were filling the plaza. I want to say this took place near the Hall of Wonders, but I don’t remember the exact location. Actually, I want to say, “Everyone was standing ’round the Meerkat Mounds,” but I’m almost positive that wasn’t the case.
So my bro and I had just picked up some dinner and were standing among the crowd gathered by the food stands.
Around this time, a man started trying to meander through the crowd. I noticed him and stepped forward so he and his security guard could snake their way through.
Last year, WBAP led a “Back the Blue” event at Ol’ South Pancake House, down the street from the zoo. Naturally, the zoo would respond by bringing the penguins.
They bought the penguins to us. Talk about convenience!
But this week, we were presented with giraffes. The zoo has started construction on a renovation that aims to more accurately create the animals’ real life habitat.
“We’ve always been a part of the Southern Black Rhino breeding program,” the zoo’s director would explain. “We just didn’t have the space.”
I nodded thoughtfully to showcase that I absolutely knew what the Southern Black Rhino Breeding Program was and didn’t think it was lyrics to a Blue Oyster Cult song.
It may seem like editorializing that I fed the giraffe. I can imagine the anti-giraffe crowd rising up in anger.
In my defense, we all fed the giraffe. Ramona Bass, pictured here, is leading the fundraising effort. She explained that the giraffes were not likely to get full.
The zoo, and this is completely true, set out giant wagons filled with branches so everyone could give the giraffes something to eat.
Bass gave me some tips on how to hold the branch, explaining that the giraffes are surprisingly powerful.
I nodded politely and then wandered up to the giraffe and was shocked at how powerful those things are! That thing locked on to the branch I was holding and doggone near flung me around the giraffe habitat. The Giraffe-icile, if you will.