Jim, Lori & the Cheetah

A few weeks ago, my partner, Jim, and I, went on an Ultimate Animal Encounter, which was an early morning walk with a couple of wild Cheetahs, named Anubis and Osiris.   Our friend, Clare Kelso, who gives countless hours to the zoo, gave us this Encounter as a Christmas present.  We were given it in 2008 so hold the record for the longest time between getting it and using it!

The Auckland Zoo sent us a little kit beforehand – no bright clothing, no jangly jewelry, wide brimmed hats or sunglasses.  Apparently they want to be able to see your eyes and it makes them nervous if you’re wearing sunglasses.  We were more than happy to oblige.  You also have to be 1.3 meters in height or they consider you prey.  So at 8:00am in the morning, before the zoo opened, we gathered for our walk on the wild side.  There was a film crew shooting at the Zoo gates so we had to wait for them to finish a shot before we went in.  Jim was more than happy to chat with a number of the crew he knew from previous shoots.

It was a beautiful sunny day and the zoo was so quiet with no one around.  You could hear the bellow of the lions as they arose and the crowing of the roosters, who run freely around the zoo.  We were welcomed by Elana, who was our guide through- out the entire walk.  We also had a man named Dougal, who was taking the morning off work and a Kiwi keeper with a guest from an American zoo.  Four of us and 2 Cheetahs.   Each Cheetah had a keeper who held onto their leads.

Anubis and Osiris are brothers who couldn’t be less alike.  One is very wary and always on guard while the other took every opportunity to fall down and have a roll around.   They’ve been hand reared but are still wild.  The keepers work hard at building a familial relationship with them where they’re seen as part of the family.

The Cheetah is Africa’s most endangered cat.  Their only asset is that they can run really fast.  But it doesn’t guarantee they’ll hold onto what they catch.  Apparently the bigger cats are prone to stealing their hard won conquests and there’s nothing much they can do.  Their teeth are similar to a Labrador dog.  Isn’t that kooky?  You expect them to have these lethal teeth but they don’t.  They’re lithe looking and have long legs with powerful haunches that give them their explosive running power.  They’re paws are quite dainty and they sort of resemble a large dog/cat.  Every now and then they get a chance to have a big run in the elephant enclosure.  They have to book it and ensure the elephant is out, most likely having a walk around the zoo themselves.

The tour started when we got to the Cheetah enclosure and the keepers were putting their leads on, patting them and letting them lead themselves out into the zoo.   We strolled around the zoo for the next hour and a half, following two wild Cheetahs.  They loved looking at the flamingos and the giraffes were pretty intriguing.  We spent quite some time staring at them.  When we were going past the lions they really hunkered down and looked pretty furtive.  Lions are no friends of theirs and can kill them or steal their catch.  They stopped, stared and their whole body slunk down as they literally crept past.

The Auckland Zoo has tons of wild chickens running around everywhere.   I thought the Cheetahs might think this was easy pickings but they ignored them and just kept going.   We had a long stop at the Orangutan enclosure.  One of the Cheetahs loved watching them and the youngest Orangutan, Madju, put on a defiant show.  He waved his bit of cloth around and taunted the Cheetahs.  He was very cheeky and seemed to have a pretty good idea he was safe.

After that one of them got up on the picnic table and sat down.  It was picture taking time.  Jim and I stood next to Osiris and one at a time patted his fur.  It was quite course and his fur was hot to the touch.  He was also purring very loudly.  It was like a cat purr times 6.  Then he jumped down and on we went.   We got back and the Cheetahs went into their enclosure and had a lovely morning tea.  They started with a bit of frozen rabbit, to give them roughage and ended with some yummy looking raw steaks.  We left them having a good gnaw on bones and went off as the zoo was opening.

Lori Dungey
ConArtists Creative Director

PRESS RELEASE

September 22^nd 09

“Survivor SPCA” Comes to the Shore

We at ConArtists – the home of Theatresports™ want to make you howl, snort, screech, neigh and purr with laughter, and it’s all for a good cause.

Recently, at a meeting of actors from ConArtists, everyone showed their true colours.  They’re big softies.  While one actor was updating us with pictures of his wee girl, born this year, another was proudly showing us pictures of his new puss.  At that meeting three cats sat around the table as if they were part of the planning and creative process.  And, in a way, they were.  All were rescued moggies who have inspired us to do more.

In New Zealand, and Auckland particularly, we seem to be hardening our hearts.  Suddenly there’s evidence of people not caring.  And it’s not always what you think.  As big businesses cut down forests (we have lost 80% of our rain forest in NZ) and we all contribute to pollution through cars and litter etc, the fast buck and the easy path is more and more prevalent.

When we hear of corporates and individuals stepping up it gladdens our hearts.  In fact it’s downright inspiring AND it has inspired us.    ConArtists – the home of Theatresports™, also has a sense of corporate responsibility and so even though we’re non profit, we’re stepping up too to support of our favourite charity for the furry and feathery….and no I don’t mean New Zealand Fashion Week.

Actors are a push over for a good cause. Being an actor means a very well developed sense of empathy, so those big eyes seeking out a friendly face at the SPCA Village have found many of our actors will answer the call.  Even the most cynical of us have found ourselves leaving with fluffy bundles to love and pamphlets of advice on how to keep the darlings in the appropriate style.  And now we’re helping them further by putting on an hilarious show on the Shore.

It’s a brand new format – “SURVIVOR! SPCA”.  The details are below and rest assured it will be a laugh a minute and the money raised will be going to the dogs.  Oh, and the cats, rats, rabbits, horses, goats… well , you get the drift.

I know it’s been a tough year  BUT that doesn’t stop animals suffering and needing our help.   We need you to help them stay alive.  SO help them SURVIVE by enjoying “Survivor” with us.

THE TRIBE HAS SPOKEN.

CAST: Actors – Nigel Burrows (Birkenhead Resident) and 22 years with ConArtists, Scott Sinclair, Allan Roberts (Castor Bay and Head of Drama at Rangitoto College), Lindsay Brown, Geoff Dolan, musician; Ross Devereux and MC; Clare Kelso.  All these people are from 10 to 20 year stars of improv in Auckland.

Guest Judges – Bob Kerridge from SPCA plus two other animal nuts, celebrity guests.

For more info, interviews or photo opportunities:

Clare Kelso
0274-411-215
360-1495
clare@conartists.co.nz