[Vision2020] A Final Trumpet, and Maggie's Gone

[Tom Hansen]

The following story illustrates the departure of Maggie, Anchorage's adopted
and beloved pachyderm, to California.

The city of Anchorage had decided it would be best if Maggie were moved to
warmer climate as it has become increasingly more difficult for Maggie to
survive Alaskan winters.

>From the Anchorage Daily News -

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A final trumpet, and Maggie's gone 
Daily News staff

Published: November 1, 2007 
Last Modified: November 1, 2007 at 08:45 PM 

The giant C-17 transport plane rolled down the Elmendorf runway at 7:34
tonight and lifted Maggie into the sky, taking Alaska's only elephant south
to California and a new life in a sanctuary with sunshine all year and lots
of other elephants. 

The flight to Travis Air Force Base should take about five hours, followed
by a truck trip of about 85 miles to the PAWS elephant sanctuary.

Weeks of training Maggie to tolerate her special packing crate cage paid
off. Zoo and Air Force officials said the move by truck across the city
Thursday afternoon went off without a hitch. Maggie was moved by crane from
the first truck to a conveyor-belt truck for final loading onto the plane.
The later-than-expected take-off was because loading Maggie just took longer
than anticipated, officials said. There were no noticeable problems with
Maggie herself, said Capt. Kelley Jeter, Air Force spokeswoman.

As Maggie was lifted into the plane, she trumpeted twice, "almost like to
say goodbye," Jeter said. 

Trainers, a behaviorist and at least one veterinarian are traveling to
California with her, where PAWS officials and a contingent of reporters will
gather to welcome her.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college
students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."

- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)