Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Taxidermists Don't Wish the Elusive California Capybara Ill, But They Would Love to Land Its Carcass
Photo by lorentey via Flickr.
()
The appearance of a capybara the world's largest rodent far from its native South America near a wastewater facility in Paso Robles — has taxidermists at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History even more excited than Twitter.
Jim Dines, manager of the museum's Mammalogy Collection, tells the LA Weekly that the museum's collection only has a capybara skeleton and a tanned skin. But what it would really love to have is a full specimen: "specimens are always preferable to skin and bones, especially because skins and skeletons in a museum's inventory are not always from the same animals."
What are the chances? The museum has landed famous animals who fell ill and died before. Bubbles, a hippo that was always trying to escape from a safari park in Laguna Niguel (not the late Michael Jackson's favorite pet), ended up in the museum's research collection after she was tranquilized on one of her escape attempts and, sadly, drowned.
So if a capybara in California should fall ill and die, there will be at least one museum in town gunning for the carcass.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
There are no reports of injuries after a blast and ensuing fire, which could be seen for miles on Thursday night. -
The FCC voted to end E-Rate discounts for library hotspot lending and school bus Wi-Fi. -
About half the Pacific Airshow’s 2025 lineup has been grounded because of the federal government shutdown. -
USC says it’s reviewing the letter also sent to eight other prestigious schools nationwide. California's governor vowed that any California universities that sign will lose state funding. -
Scientists say La Niña is likely, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a dry winter in Southern California. -
According to a grand jury report the contractor took advantage of strained relations and political pressures to “force” the city to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to settle disputes.
Best of LAist