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Iraq
Baghdad Zoo is a draw again
2007-12-31
News so good even the Los Angeles Times can't ignore it.
AGHDAD -- Capt. Amy Cronin never had a pet. Before deploying to Iraq, she didn't even really know much about animals.

But in 15 months, Cronin and her unit, the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, have gone from providing logistics and supplies to U.S. troops to helping refurbish an animal clinic, building horse stables and constructing new habitats for bears and porcupines at the Baghdad Zoo. "It's really satisfying," said Cronin, 28, from Boiling Springs, Pa. "Typically support soldiers don't get to interact with Iraqis as much as infantry would. And this gives me the satisfaction of seeing the direct results of my work."

That has included projects to resuscitate the zoo, in a lush 3-square-mile park in the heavily fortified Green Zone, which also includes the headquarters of the U.S.-led coalition forces, the Iraqi parliament and other key administrative buildings. It used be among the largest animal sanctuaries in the Middle East.
Posted by:Steve White

#6  And now that I've *read* the link, your dad is extraordinary.
Posted by: Seafarious   2007-12-31 16:43  

#5  Outstanding link, Zorba.
Posted by: Seafarious   2007-12-31 16:39  

#4  It's probably safer then the San Francisco Zoo...
Posted by: tu3031   2007-12-31 14:48  

#3  What a lovely man your father is, Mr. Anthony! Thank you for the link! :-)
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-12-31 06:23  

#2  If you are interested there is history on this, the original zoo rescue was done by my father Lawrence Anthony a South African with the help of individual US soldiers during the coalition invasion of Iraq in 2003. He received the United Nations Earth Day medal for what he did and wrote a popular book Babylon's Ark. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon's_Ark
Thanks
Posted by: Zorba Glaper1428   2007-12-31 04:32  

#1  I recall stories of troops finding emaciated tigers and other animals when they first entered the zoo.

And the NYSlimes really can't confirm why they call that Black Lab the "American Dog"? Hopefully the thinking has evolved from an insult to a joke.
Posted by: gorb   2007-12-31 01:52  

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