Hark(ness), a panda!

October 8, 2007 11:06 AM

In 1936, the American widow Ruth Harkness became the first person to capture a living panda from the wild.
posted by bassjump (13 comments total)

It was delicious.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 11:22 AM on October 8, 2007 [3 favorites]

Can I just ask why she has to be referred to as a "widow?" If the fact that she had been married and her husband had died is relevant, that should be made clear, which it isn't in the post.

Other than that, very interesting post!
posted by cerebus19 at 11:22 AM on October 8, 2007 [1 favorite]

It does seem pretty relevant, but you'd have to click on a link to see that.
posted by found missing at 11:24 AM on October 8, 2007

Sorry, should have elaborated that she was continuing the work that her husband had started before his death.
posted by bassjump at 11:25 AM on October 8, 2007

The fucking nerve of you people...
posted by butterstick at 11:30 AM on October 8, 2007 [2 favorites]

"Ruth Harkness is a true American hero...

Hero?
posted by jaronson at 11:32 AM on October 8, 2007

Ms. Harkness was my third cousin, once removed.
posted by WCityMike at 12:05 PM on October 8, 2007

I only read the last link but that was fascinating.
Good post.
posted by Iron Rat at 12:05 PM on October 8, 2007

WCityMike are you for realsies?
posted by sneakin at 12:21 PM on October 8, 2007

Yes.
posted by WCityMike at 12:36 PM on October 8, 2007

Incredible! Sounds like something out of a movie. Totally puts this guy in the, err, doghouse.
posted by damn dirty ape at 12:39 PM on October 8, 2007

The panda was a close family friend of ours
posted by zemblamatic at 12:51 PM on October 8, 2007 [1 favorite]

The Lady and the Panda was a good read and I definitely recommend it if you like great white explorer nonfiction titles. Shame about how her life turned out, though.
posted by JeremyT at 1:33 PM on October 8, 2007