Portman, je t'aime

Natalie names a baby gorilla

Posted by Sarah van Schagen at 1:48 PM on 02 Jul 2007

Read more about: green living | celebrity | biodiversity | cutesy

Adorable actress and Grist-darling Natalie Portman visited a Rwandan wildlife park Saturday to name one of 23 baby mountain gorillas. Naming her gorilla "Ahazaza," meaning "future," Portman and others hoped to draw attention to conservation efforts for the highly endangered primates.

I've yet to find any images from the event, but I'm sure Cute Overload is all over it.

For story: Portman, je t'aime
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Natalie Portman...

Mmm... Natalie Portman.

Sorry, I'll get to thinking about the gorilla in a minute.

by Pathos at 5:34 PM on 02 Jul 2007

"Ahazaza"?; Steve Irwin

What an improbable name! No doubt Ms. Portman had a little help coming up with that one.

Similarly unclear is why "Ingufu," said to mean "strength," should obviously be a way to honor Steve Irwin -- but sure, why not?

In connexion with the disappointing cartoon-movie "Happy Feet," mentioned in the "15 best green films" thread, it should be recalled that Steve Irwin did the voice of one of the elephant seals, who for reasons unknown, speak Australian. But again, why not?

Actually, among the "special features" on the DVD of "Happy Feet" there is a brief episode which was cut from the final production, presumably before the elephant seal scene was created, and is more interesting than that scene. It shows Happy Feet swimming after the factory-ship, and encountering a blue whale, which terrificly startles him; and then, he has the whale and other things explained to him by an albatross. Steve Irwin did the voice of the albatross. And as impressive as are the drawings of the elephant seals, I cannot help but feel that the character of the albatross, cheerily floating above the waves, fitted Steve Irwin much better.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 9:12 PM on 02 Jul 2007

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