Betty, the chimpanzee that had been at the Dublin Zoo for the longest and the oldest living chimp under human care, passed away last week at the age of 62. She was one of the zoo’s most cherished and well-known inmates.
A zoo blog article claims that Betty had age-related ailments that were impairing her quality of life, and the tough choice to end her life was made to spare her from suffering in the future.
Although it is heartbreaking to lose Betty, she enjoyed a lengthy life that exceeded the average lifespan of a chimpanzee in captivity. According to the zoo, she was also the oldest chimpanzee in human care at the time of her death.
Team leader Helen Clarke Bennett of Dublin Zoo, who has worked as a zookeeper since 1987 and has known Betty for many years, paid tribute to her.
In 1964, a West African chimpanzee named Betty made her way to Dublin. Bennett notes that Betty participated in archaic practices like “Chimp Tea Parties” and that the Dublin Zoo continued to operate in the “style of the early Victorian era zoos” throughout that period.
Betty saw major advancements in zoo standards throughout her decades-long confinement. For example, in the 1990s, the chimp habitat was transformed from a metal-barred concrete “pit” to an island with trees.
Bennett claimed to have known Betty since the zoo’s early years since Michael Clarke, Betty’s father, was looking after her at the time. The chimp was “always strong-minded,” according to him, and would not give up on her goals.
After Wendy moved in 1964, Betty’s best friend, Wendy, became an integral part of her life for the majority of it. One of the cutest pairs in the zoo was formed by the two monkeys.
“Wendy had a cheeky side, but Betty could hold her accountable!” Bennett penned the piece. “When Wendy was obstinately refusing to go outside while the habitat was being cleaned, Betty putting her arm around her to encourage her to go outside with the rest of the troop will always be one of my favorite pictures.”
Betty and Wendy celebrated their 50th birthdays together in 2012 at the zoo. The zoo workers believed that Betty, who was devastated by Wendy’s death in 2014, wouldn’t be far behind.
She even managed to live on for a further ten years, rising to the rank of dominating female chimpanzee and earning the title of longest-serving inhabitant of the zoo.
Bennett stated that Betty experienced reduced kidney function and chronic arthritis in her latter years, which affected her weight and mobility. She was also under continuous wellness management.
They had to make the tough but humane decision to end the beloved chimp’s life after all medicinal and surgical alternatives had been tried. Even though Betty is no longer with us, she will always be cherished as a unique original and a zoogoer’s favorite for many decades to come.
“Although I am really saddened to bid farewell to a friend I have known since I was a young child, I am sure that Betty’s euthanasia was the right choice, ensuring that she didn’t suffer needlessly and preserving her dignity to the very end. That gives me a great deal of comfort,” Bennett wrote.
“Everyone here at Dublin Zoo as well as the many generations of visitors who were fortunate enough to know her will miss Betty terribly; there will never be another like her.”
Peace be with you, Betty. You lived a very long life, and it’s obvious that your loved ones and caregivers cherished you.
Uber driver saves up for 8 years to build a genius expandable container home
Imagine dreaming of an expandable container home that can travel with you, unfolding into a comfortable living space quickly, and equipped with all the essentials.
That’s exactly what Kamal Kadhar dreamed of ten years ago, inspired by innovative designs he discovered online.
Despite lacking formal construction training, Kamal started a journey fueled by determination and passion.
Using his earnings from eight years of driving for Uber, Kamal built a compact yet expandable container home measuring 7.5 feet by 24 feet.
The beauty of his creation lies in its portability – it can be towed by a 4×4 vehicle, eliminating the need for cranes or forklifts.
Kamal’s journey began in a field outside Tiruchirappalli, a southern Indian city, where he constructed his first prototype.
What sets Kamal’s creation apart is its simplicity and resilience. He opted for mechanical winches instead of complex hydraulics to ensure ease of deployment in remote locations.
As Kamal describes it, the expandable container home is like an octopus – small when needed, expandable when necessary, and can withstand disasters like fires, hurricanes, or floods.
The relocation process is as easy as moving a shipping container, making it legally transportable anywhere in the world using a 4×4 SUV.
The journey wasn’t without its challenges.
After investing almost a decade of hard work and facing financial strain, Kamal’s family was on the verge of giving up.
However, witnessing the prototype changed everything. Realizing the idea’s value brought relief despite the personal and financial sacrifices.
Kamal’s unconventional path involved learning everything from YouTube, combining his experiences as an Uber driver with visits to construction sites and apprenticeships at a builder’s shop.
The relocation process is as easy as moving a shipping container, making it legally transportable anywhere in the world using a 4×4 SUV.
The journey wasn’t without its challenges.
After investing almost a decade of hard work and facing financial strain, Kamal’s family was on the verge of giving up.
However, witnessing the prototype changed everything. Realizing the idea’s value brought relief despite the personal and financial sacrifices.
Kamal’s unconventional path involved learning everything from YouTube, combining his experiences as an Uber driver with visits to construction sites and apprenticeships at a builder’s shop.
His creative mindset was founded on his father’s small scrap metal shop, where he played with metal and aluminum, shaping the project to resemble a regular shipping container.
The main structure starts small at 7ft 6in and expands to 20ft.
The expandable container home takes less than 2 hours to build, with a foundation not required.
It can be adjusted on uneven surfaces using built-in leg jacks.
The roof opens with stainless steel hinges, both mechanical and electrical components, avoiding hydraulics for reliability.
The roof opens to add solar panels, maximizing power generation for personal use or resale to the government by connecting to the grid.
The sides expand mechanically, controlled by a hinge, making it easy to pull and open with just one finger.
The kitchen, also expandable, is attached to the bathroom facility. Utilities run down the middle, and it’s designed to hook up to city sewage.
The living area is spacious, with a total interior size of 300 square feet, and the bedroom features a foldable bed.
This house has been tested in a remote village, and even non-professionals helped build it confidently.
You can expand it and adjust the interior to make it more spacious.
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