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Tigers and Lions and Clouded Leopards
Saturday, January 23, 2010
As many of you know, my latest novel Altar of Eden takes place in and around New Orleans, so it was a special thrill to have my first booksigning in New Orleans during this tour. It was hosted at the Latter Branch library in the Garden District. The library was located inside a handsome mansion and held in a small intimate wood-paneled room with an antique crystal c handelier hanging over the podium. It was the perfect venue to talk books, science, and history. Like stepping back in time to some gathering of the British Royal Society.
The event was extra special as I had just finished an intimate tour of the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species (also known as ACRES). The same research facility where Dr. Lorna Polk works. The mission of this center is a daunting and noble cause: to pull endangered species from the brink of extinction. They use all manner of cutting edge science and reproductive strategies to accomplish this goal: embryo hybridization, artificial insemination, even cloning. They have a dedicated staff of scientists and animal caretakers, who work alongside veterinary students and teachers. But what struck me most about my visit to their facility is the true and heartfelt love for "all creatures great and small" and an abiding desire for preservation and support of threatened species.
A few of the highlights of this visit include:
(1) Meeting the delightful and enthusiastic director of ACRES, the esteemed and world-renowned Dr. Betsy Dresser. For those who caught the 60 Minutes episode a few weeks ago ("Resurrecting the Extinct"), you had a brief glimpse into her world and her research. Despite her busy schedule, she took the time to give me a personal tour of the facility's 1,200 acres of property--from its high tech labs to its outlying animal habitats. Unlike zoos, these facilities are not open to the public as their reproductive operations are often fragile. Like the whooping crane facility where only people in full camouflage are allowed to interact with the wild birds and talking is forbidden.
(2) I also got a chance to visit the facility's Frozen Zoo (where Lorna works in the book). In this lab, banks of liquid nitrogen tanks preserve genetic material from thousands of endangered species. It is literally a genetic library, a way of preserving DNA from animals teetering on the brink of extinction. With all the rapid advances in reproductive and genetic sciences, this storehouse may eventually hold the key to resurrecting species lost in the wild.
(3) The tour of the facility included a trip through the animal habitats on a rainy, muddy day. I got a chance to visit Ditteaux (pronounced Ditto), the first cloned African wild cat. I was allowed to get up close and personal with a pair of highly endangered Cloud Leopards (truly beautiful cats) whose fang-to-skull ratio is almost equivalent to the famed saber-toothed tiger. But one of the true highlights was a chance to feed two of their large cats: an African lion and a white tiger. Eye-to-eye with these huge beasts, I was simply overwhelmed by the raw power and majesty of these older cats. You could see them staring deep into you, sizing you up. These were not tame cats. They'd tolerate being fed, but you could tell from looking in their eyes that if that fence were down, I would be dinner.
(4) I also got a chance to visit their adoption center, where domestic cats used in various breeding programs are available for adoption. I never met a happier and socialized group of cats. They had the free run of a feline version of Disneyland and were excited about visitors, rushing forward to rub a leg or stretch up for a scratch under a chin. If anyone is interested in adopting one of their cats, let me know and I'll put you in contact with the facility. I've already got my eye on one (or two)!
So as you can imagine, I had a fantastic time during my short tour. But as with many research centers, the facility keeps its doors open through grants and donations. Over the coming months, I'll be looking for some creative ways to do some fundraising for ACRES. More to come on that!
And who knows...we may be seeing more of Lorna, Jack, and the newly rebuilt campus of ACRES in a future book.
Jim
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Comments
Name: Sean Date: 2010-01-23
Totally amazing and much, much better than the 60 Minutes piece. Thanks for the behind the scenes look.
Name: Zita Hildebrandt Date: 2010-01-23
Feeding a lion! How cool is that? I agree with the nice lady about the forceps. You need to keep your fingers to type up stories for us!
Name: Deedra Date: 2010-01-24
Wow, I bet feeding that lio was amazing. Thanks for the tour & the pictures. Can't wait for the next Sigma Force book this summer. Hope to see you in AZ again soon.
Name: Barbara Stallings Date: 2010-01-24
Loved the info about ACRES in New Orleans and of course seeing you feed the lions. I was curious if the lions lived in the cage or if they were able to get out into a habitat?
Name: Sue Neukirch Date: 2010-01-25
Please, PLEASE have Jack, Lorna and ACRES in another book (but no more killing off big cats - or any animals - I cry watching Lassie). AOE was excellent!
Name: james rollins Date: 2010-01-25
Barbara, you asked about the lion...yes, he has a full habitat (quite large) that he has to roam.
Name: Suetu Date: 2010-01-25
So, another boring day in the life of a novelist?
Name: Julia Suliin Date: 2010-01-26
Wow...AOE reads like a movie! It's an amazing book! That's really exciting that you fed a lion. And you also played with smaller versions! : ) What an honor it must have been for you to meet with Dr. Dresser, and her to meet you! That 60 Minutes video with her discussing about ACRES is absolutely riveting. AOE is truly Superb!
Name: Richard Bard (BRAINRUSH) Date: 2010-01-26
I thoroughly enjoyed Alter of Eden. In particular, knowing your background as a Vet made the story come alive for me. I'm thrilled to know that there may be a sequel. It would be great to hear more about the positive effects that animals/pets have on our physiology. Congratulations on your continued success.
Name: Kate Lyons Date: 2010-01-28
It was great meeting you last week at Eagle Eye. Hearing you speak about Altar of Eden after having just read it wa super. And now this behind the scenes look at ACRES! What a treat.
Name: Reggie Walsh Date: 2010-02-05
Loved the new book. It is interesting to see the real ACRES, thanks for sharing your experience with us. Regards, Reggie
Name: Mindy Date: 2010-02-26
I have read all your books and I have to say that AOE was my favorite so far. Probably because I love animals and especially Igor...I have an aviary of my own. I loved the pictures of the real ACRES and hope you write not just another sequel but a series about these characters...like the Sigma series!
Name: Susan Aglukark Date: 2010-01-23
have you ever had a chance to travel to Northern Canada? You should visit the polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba, or better yet, let an Inuk hunter take you out on the land in Nunavut. I think you'd really enjoy that.