258274 OR161NALJTO CITY CL6RK
CITY OF ST. PAUL �o�Ncu N0. �'�'A
. OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
- � OUNCIL RESOLUTION—GENERAL FORM
J
PRESENTED BY �y �
COMMISSIONE "�� ATF
WHEREAS, a gorilla was born to Bridgette and Casey in
the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, and the baby gorilla
has been designated as belonging to Como Zao; and
WHEREAS, around the clock care is needed for the sur-
vival of the baby gorilla; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Comptroller is hereby authorized
to remit to Dr. Lee G. Simmons, Director of the Henry Doorly
Zoo, the sum of up to $2,000.00, which is approximately one
half of the cost necessary for such care; said sum to be
charged against Code 3T50 - Animal Purchasing; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution is to
be sent to Dr. Simmons and he is requested to send periodic
billings to the Como Zoo as said care continues .
_.,�
F M A P V
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Asst.. Co ation Coun
APR � 0 tl�
COUNCILMEN Adopted by the Counci� 19—
Yeas Nays
But�er pR $ 019T2
��t?� Conway 19—
Levine
n Favor
Meredith
Sprafka v Mayor
Tedesco A Sainst
Mr. President, McCarty PUBLISHED APR 2 21912
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T:�aL IiGnorahle T�4ayor ar�c�
:�c,bex�s ag �I�� C�.�y Cct��ci.3
o£ �th� Ci�y o� Saint Paaal
,�ah�c Fl�tcher, i��.rsc�or of �he Como Zoo, has rec�n�sy
���;� corv,�c��d by i3r. L�� G , S�.r��aonsj Director of the Ii�nry
J�cx3y Zoo in Omah� N�brasl:a.
Dr. Szmmons is pres�r�tly c�xzng fax a female goril3a
bars� ta Bridge�t� and Casey on April 10, 1972 . The baby
t:a� b�er� noted by Dr. Ss.mmans as b�3�ngzng to the CoMO Zoo.
Tgtys� o�hex gorill�. b�.b��s th�� were destined £cs� S�.int
:�a�� dz�d �.� tt�e �ge r�f �hr�� mnn�hs . This age is apparen�ly
cri�ical s.n �h� life of �Ch� gaxz�I�. and to for�stall � �tra�edy
i.��r����ng , �� a��eabs tha� �.r�u�td �th� cYock care zs need�d for
vh� b�by goxill�o . B�o 5�.�nm�ns ��.s proposed a cost sha�i.ng of
��:ch care arz�i �3ae City' � p�rt�ore w�21 be approx3mate2y y2 , OQ0.00.
T:�e c�.r� ti,7�. II Ia�t un�i 1 the gor313� as 3 1/2 months of a�e.
A r��olution accom�ani.es this 1et�ex authoxazing �ayr�e�t
of �unds .�� to th� �fax�rs��atio�s�d �mount to cover the Caty' s
��s�t in the pres�xvation of th� life of this animal .
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��� e '� I ° ° DIRECTOR DR. LEE SIMMONS PH. 733-8400
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ApriT 12, 19 72
iVlr. John Fletcher �
Como Zoo
. St. Paul, Minnesota. 55108 �
Dear John:
With regard to the care of the female gorilla baby born to
Bridgette and Casey on April 10, it is essential for the welfare of this
youngster that a 24 hour watch be kept until she is past the critical
sta.ge, which from our experience and the experience of others, seems
to be approximately 3 1/2 months of a.ge.
. As I am sure you are well aware, both of the gorilla babies which
were destined for St. Pa.ul previously, ha.ve died at exactly three months
of age. The only reason that the 1 1/2 year old female who survived and
is presently in our nursery, did not die, is tha.t we ha.d her in our home
when her nearly fata.l episode of gastric dilita,tion occured at 2 a. m. when
she was exactly three months old. As I have indicated to you over the
phone, it is my feeling, with the concurrence of aur animal committee,
that we will relinquish our claim to this baby and designa.te her as belong-
ing to the Como Zooe �
It is with all of these factors and pa.st experiences in mind tha.t
we would like to request tha.t the Como Zoo help support the additional
personnel which we all feel is essential to safegua.rd the health of this
baby until she is out of da,nger. We presently ha.ve two nursery -
attendants, who are responsible for caring for the infants in our animal
nursery during our normal work day. In the past, night time feedings
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and cbservation of our other babies ha.s been performed by our night men
a��d volunteers. Unfortunately, as you well know, volunteer help tends to
bec�me disenchanted after awhile, and it is very difficult to get volunteers
to rr�a:� such a facility on a long term basis during the night time hours. �
�his is, of course, the situa,tion which occured with the last infant who
di��. The volunteer help simply ran out, we were unable to afford pa.id
�rsannel on a round-the-clock basis, and decided that since she had done
extremely well with no difficulties at all, that although she was not quite
three month� of age, she was pa.st the critical period. This, of course,
�roved not �o be the case, since she went from an appa.rently normal
, i��ar:� to death in less tha,n 1 1/2 hours, while the night man was attending
�o ar�other emergency in the zoo.
Our propo�al is that we add two additiona.l 8 hour shifts of one
person per shift on a seven da.y a week basis, for at least the first 3 1/2
m_onths of li�e. Our scale on part-time personnel is $2. 00 per hour, �
althouah it may be necessary to raise this to perha,ps $2. 25 for night
time work. If the Como Zoo would be willing to split the cost of these
a�ditional two shifts, your cost for 3 1/2 months would be approximately
�l, 8�0. 00. The Henry Doorly Zoo would, of course, bear the cost of th�
oYLher shift. .
Pending your reply on this matter, I am caring for the infant in my
ow�z home since at the present time this is the only way I feel adequa.te
care can be given. There is, of course, a limit as to the length of time
I will be able to do this. , �
Thank you for your prorr�pt attention to this matter. We will keep
you informed of all developments.
Since rely, ,
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=:;-�� _���l,�;t�;��.vz�c����
�jllr. 7�ee G: Simmons �-
� Director
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