January 27, 2009:
Lincoln,
Although you probably know this by now...and possibly more...
The turkey removal apparently was a concerted effort by ACC [Animal Care & Control] and NYS DEP [NYS DEC] with the final approval by the NYC Parks Commissioner, Adrian Benepe.
Dan Weaver is the likely culprit - admitting to a friend of mine - that he did call ACC who must have in turn called DEP....then Parks.
I spoke to a UPR [Urban Park Rangers] yesterday who confirmed that ACC and DEP [DEC] needed Parks approval and, under the agreement of his anonymity, said: "the final decision to remove the turkey went all the way to the top, to the Commissioner".
Haven't found out any CPC culpability, thus far. Looks like ACC performed the actual physical removal.
Alice Danna said she spoke to a UPR Sgt. Sonny who stated that DEP now thinks Pelham Bay Park is an "inappropriate" location for the turkey's release. Another location "upstate" was going to be found....as it languishes in limbo, somewhere, "with a NYC wildlife rehabilitator". Sgt. Sonny told me that a "woman rehabilitator in Queens" had the turkey....Alice called several on Queens website all of whom denied any knowledge/involvement.
Katherine
January 16, 2009:
Hi Lincoln,
I just heard that the turkey was removed from the park and will now be relocated to Pelham Bay Park. We were chatting about this after Christmas when Dan Weaver was talking about it at the feeders. I really liked seeing it around and, as you said, it was doing fine where it was. Such a shame - I'm bummed about this.
Just thought I'd pass along my 2 cents.
BXXXX
Hi Lincoln,
Here is info from Regina Alvarez about the turkey - she sent this to a few folks this past week (Tuesday?) or so):
Hello All -
The turkey that has been living in CP for the past several months was apparently captured the other day by a member of the public who believed it would starve to death or freeze. The turkey was taken by this unknown person to Animal Care and Control, who in turn brought the turkey to a wildlife rehabilitator in Brooklyn.
The Rangers were all set to bring the turkey back to Central Park, but the DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) has ordered the wildlife rehabilitator to reintroduce the bird to Pelham Bay Park, where there is already a flock of turkeys. The other option she was given was to euthanize the bird. She must comply with DEC or she risks losing her license.
The Rangers will work with her to release the bird in Pelham.
As always, if anyone has any questions, please feel free to call or email me.
Regina
Regina V. Alvarez
Director of Horticulture and Woodland Management
Central Park Conservancy
14 East 60th Street
New York City, NY 10022
212-988-9026
Note from me:
1/17/2009:
The turkey was in perfect health and was able to fly and perch high in trees. I would like to know who this 'member of the public' was and what right they gave themselves to handle a healthy wild animal.
I called the Urban Park Rangers last week when I heard about this and was told by a very senior person that they were not informed about this and was not involved in the removal of this turkey.
1/19/2009:
I bumped into Dan Weaver (who I suspected was the 'member of the public' mentioned above) Monday afternoon. I asked him if he had anything to do with the turkey's removal. He denied having anything to do with it and told me that he was not aware that it was taken away. He said that he received an e-mail from Regina Alvarez last week stating that their (Central Park Conservancy) policy would not allow them to intervene in such a case.
I asked Dan if it was possible to have the e-mail forwarded to me but he said that he deleted it.
I am going to ask Regina to send me a copy of the e-mail which she sent to Dan.
1/19/2009:
I had a conversation with a senior NYPD cop late Monday evening about the disappearance of the turkey;
"Sometime last week I heard on the radio (NYPD) that the '20' (20th Precinct) was called about a loose turkey on the west side of Central Park..."
"We have it cornered!" my friend described the voice on the radio.
"We're taking it over to the Zoo!"
In my company he called a contact he had for security at the Zoo. The voice assured him that he was 90% sure that the turkey was not delivered to the CP Zoo.
Recent Mail
Region 2 Program Contact Information
1 Hunter's Point Plaza
47-40 21st Street
Long Island City, NY 11101-5407
Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island
| Program |
Phone Number |
Fax Number |
Email |
Regional Director
Suzanne Mattei |
(718)482-4949 |
(718)482-6516 |
|
| General Information |
(718) 482-4900 |
|
|
| After-hour Emergencies |
(800) 847-7332 |
|
|
| Air Quality |
(718) 482-4944 |
(718) 482-4874 |
|
| Attorney |
(718) 482-4965 |
(718) 482-4962 |
|
| Director |
(718) 482-4949 |
|
|
| Enforcement Coordinator |
(718) 482-4507 |
(718) 482-6729 |
|
| Environmental Education |
(718) 482-6404 |
(718) 482-6944 |
r2ed |
| Environmental Monitor |
(718) 482-4996 for S & HM
or (718) 482-4930 for Water |
|
|
| Environmental Remediation |
(718) 482-4995 |
(718) 482-6358 |
|
| Fisheries |
(718) 482-4922 |
|
fwfish2 |
| FOIL Coordinator |
(718) 482-4507 |
|
|
| Forest Ranger |
(631) 444-0401 |
(718) 482-4502 |
|
| Habitat |
(718) 482-4922 |
|
R2natres |
| Lands and Forests |
(718) 482-4942 |
|
R2natres |
| Law Enforcement |
(718) 482-4885 |
|
|
| Legal Affairs |
(718) 482-4965 |
|
|
| Major-on-shore Oil Facilities |
(718) 482-6454 |
|
|
| Marine Resources |
(718) 482-6464 |
|
R2natres |
| Natural Resources Program |
(718) 482-6464 |
(718) 482-4502 |
R2natres |
| Operations |
(718) 482-4047 |
|
|
| Permits |
(718) 482-4997 |
(718) 482-4975 |
r2dep |
| Pesticides |
(718) 482-4994 |
(718) 482-4066 |
|
Petroleum and Chemical
Bulk Storage |
(718) 482-6454 |
|
|
| Public and Media Affairs |
(718) 482-4953 |
(718) 482-6944 |
|
| Spills Duty Desk |
(718) 482-4651 |
|
|
Solid & Hazardous
Materials Engineer |
(718) 482-4996 |
(718) 482-6391 |
|
| Spills (chemical or oil) |
(800) 457-7362 after hours
(518) 457-7362 from out of state |
(718) 482-6391 |
|
| Water Quality |
(718) 482-4933 |
(718) 482-6516 |
|
| Wildlife |
(718) 482-4922 |
|
R2natres |
|
|
