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“Vibrant and beloved ostrich” dies after swallowing zoo staffer’s keys, Kansas zoo says
Karen, a “vibrant and beloved ostrich” at the Topeka Zoo, died after swallowing keys she nabbed from a staffer, the zoo announced on Facebook last week.
According to the zoo, Karen “reached beyond her exhibit fence” and got the keys off the staffer before “immediately swallowing the keys.” The zoo tried both surgical and non-surgical fixes, but they were unsuccessful. Karen, a 5-year-old, was euthanized on Thursday, The Associated Press reported.
“We are devastated by the loss of Karen,” said Topeka Zoo interim Director Fawn Moser in a statement. “She was not just an animal; she was a beloved member of our community. Our thoughts are with our dedicated animal care team, who formed deep bonds with Karen during her time with us.”
Karen arrived at the zoo in March of last year, when she became part of the newly opened Giraffe & Friends exhibit, the zoo said. The zoo described the attraction as “an interdisciplinary multi-species exhibit that transports guests to the Serengeti Plain”
The zoo said Karen was “known for her water loving habits, like swimming in the pool, playing in the sprinkler, and, best of all, being our ‘dancing queen!'”
“Zoo guests and staff alike formed deep connections with her, captivated by her playful antics,” the zoo added.
The zoo, located in Topeka, Kansas, is home to more than 300 animals and sees about 250,000 visitors per year, according to its website.
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Former New York Gov. David Paterson, stepson attacked while walking in New York City
NEW YORK — Former New York Gov. David Paterson and his stepson were attacked in New York City on Friday night, authorities said.
The incident occurred just before 9 p.m. on Second Avenue near East 96th Street on the Upper East Side, according to the New York City Police Department.
Police said officers were sent to the scene after an assault was reported. When officers arrived, police say they found a 20-year-old man suffering from facial injuries and a 70-year-old man who had head pain. Both victims were taken to a local hospital in stable condition.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the former governor said the two were attacked while “taking a walk around the block near their home by some individuals that had a previous interaction with his stepson.”
The spokesperson said that they were injured “but were able to fight off their attackers.”
Both were taken to Cornell Hospital “as a precaution,” he added.
Police said no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
The 70-year-old Paterson, a Democrat, served as governor from 2008 to 2010, stepping into the post after the resignation of Eliot Spitzer following his prostitution scandal. He made history at the time as the state’s first-ever Black and legally blind governor.