On Tuesday, April 1, 2008 – Delilah, our Great Indian Hornbill passed away early in the morning – Delilah had died in her sleep due to heart failure. After 35 years as owner/founder Peter Lang’s best bird, Delilah the Great Indian Hornbill and our unofficial greeter was missing from her usual perch near the dining area.
Delilah was truly loved and adored by the entire Safari West staff, as well as every visitor who had the good fortune to meet her. Many will remember Delilah's special delight in warming her wing feathers by the outdoor fire pit. Certainly, tens of thousands of school children exclaimed over the bird which reminded many students of the toucan that touts breakfast cereal.
If you have any special photos or to see how you can donate to Delilah's Education Fund please email delilah@safariwest.com
If you have any special stories you would like to share about Delilah, feel free to post on this blog.
39 comments:
Delilah will be missed, we visited Safari West on several occassions and always looked forward to seeing her.
She was always in the same area and my kids would just sit and watch her, they were amazed by her size and she seemed very smart.
Thanks to Safari West her life was wonderful and she was loved by everyone, I'm very sad she is no longer with us but I'm glad my family was able to share in her life, she always made us smile.
If there is animal heaven she is an angel, Good Bye Delilah!
Lisa & family
Delilah was a funny bird. I had an experiance that will last my whole life. One day I was eating some chiken then delilah jumped on the table and tried to eat my chiken. She ploped it in her mouth and the staff had to wrestle it out of her beak. She gave my family and me a good laugh!
Alex, age 9
Delightful Delilah. We enjoyed watching her each visit. We will miss her.
My daughter and I come to SafariWest for a girls weekend away every year. We always like to consider Delilah as just one of the girls! Our first visit to Safari West was memorialized when we met Delilah up close. She will be greatly missed and will be conspicously absent from our next girls weekend. But she will always be remembered with love and affection.
Vicki & Annie Simpson
I worked at Safari West for a year and a half in 2001-2002 and became very fond of Delilah in that time. One of my fondest memories of Delilah is of her chasing the house keeping staff and sending them running and squealing. I think she took great joy in playing these chase games. Safari West won't be the same without Delilah and I know that she'll be very much missed by everyone.
Rebecca
I'm sad to hear that Delilah died. She looked young and beautiful. I saw her eat a dead mouse once.
Charlotte Jones- age 7
Delilah was an amazingly beautiful bird. I remember when I 1st saw her last September, I was in awe of her looks, almost prehistoric,,,does she have any offspring,, ? Anyhow my kids thought she was amazing hopping around all over the place,, she stopped to sit in a dirt area and my kids squatted down near her to look at her,,, then a man came over and said " Hey don't go so close to her, she can rip your arm off really easy"..That scared us for a while, but then we smiled as we watched her hop some more...we will come back to Safari West, but will miss Delilah.....
My wife and I were fortunate to see Delilah up close as our first visit to Safari West coincided with a film crew for a local station. Delilah was eating grapes as she was being filmed and I will never forget seeing her posing for the camera.
Thank you, Delilah, for gracing us with your beauty and joy and for making so many people smile! You will be missed by so many.
Lexie
I am deeply saddened to hear of Delilah's passing. She was a magnificent creature to watch and talk to. My condolences to all who loved her. I know she is as special in Heaven as she was to us.
Blessings Dear Beautiful Bird.
I met Delilah last year when we visited Safari West for my Girlfriends Birthday. We first saw her posing for pictures down by the fire pit and I was completely taken with her obvious character.
The next morning we saw her with your photographer as he got a few snaps before our drive set off and she soon tired of this coming over to the vehicle to see who the rest of us were. When Delilah looked at you it was easy to see that she was so much more than 'just' a bird.
A wonderful spirit that will be truly, sadly missed by all who were lucky enough to have met her. My condolences to you all at Safari West.
Bye Deliliah. Thank you.
Hamish & Susannah
We'll never forget Delilah hopping out to us when we first visited Safari West in 2004. She made mealtime very interesting....
Long live Delilah!
She was a favorite at Safari West for my sons and I. I remember her beauty, especially early morning in the sunlight on the grass. We were fortunate enough to get some great pictures of her and we have emailed a couple to you. We hope you will heal and know that your bird has touched many people! We will miss you Delilah!
Kim, Joey(5), and Luke (2)
I was deeply saddened when I heard of Delilah's passing. She was an incredible bird with a delightful personality. I had the privilege of spending many hours with Delilah on my many visits to Safari West and on one occasion, while she was with an employee, she allowed me to scratch her casque. Safari West will not be the same with her gone. Delilah, you will be sorely missed. Rest in peace.
We will truly miss Delilah. Last summer when we were visiting we had a wonderful experience with her. Delilah was eating her dinner and after she came hopping over to us and looked up at my boyfriend and tugged on his pant leg as if to say "Hey I need love too". It was a unique experience, one we will never forget.
RIP Beautiful Delilah!!!
Our sincere sympathy to Delilah's Safari West family. She was lovely and funny and wonderful. How strange not to see her next time we visit... We recently lost our pet parrot and know the bond that can exist between birds and their human families. It is extraordinary. We are truly sorry for your loss and hope there is some comfort in the privilege you had of spending so many years in her company.
I am so very sorry to hear of Delila's passing. My husband and I met Delilah a number of years ago while visiting Safari West for our anniversary. She was a stunning creature, with a personality that shone like her beautiful yellow beak, and was as striking as her black and white feathers. We spent quite a while with her; you could tell she enjoyed the attention, but that she enjoyed giving it back as well.
It's unfortunate that so many future visitors to SW will miss out on her delightful ways.
We'll see you again someday Miss D!
Lisa and Tim
I apologize for all of the deleted comments, I was having trouble with the system.
-L
This is such sad news. I was at SF only once (so far) and she was one of the highlights. She jumped right up on the table at dinner and sat facing me while I ate. The next morning we were waiting for our safari jeep to pick us up and there was a young autistic boy very agitated and upset, he was sitting on the bench next to me. She jumped up on the arm of the bench right next to him as if to say "it's ok", he settled right down and she jumped off and hopped away. It was amazing. Delilah you will be missed!
Cheryl
While I am very sad about Delilah’s passing, I am also worry about a Safari West staff — Adrian, who is the tour guide / professional photographer that we met during our last visit. Adrian and Delilah were so close to each other, just like a pair of best buddies. I’ve seen Delilah followed Adrian around whenever he wasn’t driving, and she wanted Adrian’s attention all the time! Adrian told us Delilah even tried to chase his girlfriend away once, because Delilah was so in love with Adrian. I am not sure if Adrian is still with Safari West or not, but I know this is a great loss for him as well.
Delilah, I am sure you are flying freely in the same heaven, and still look after Safari West like you always do.
Delilah, thanks for all of the great memories and pictures. May you rest in peace beautiful bird. We will always miss you.
Ali & Shawn
We had the pleasure of visiting Safari West and meeting Delillah. At the time we were there, she had recently lost her mate and was very sad. The guide said the way they attract mates is that when they spot a prospective mate they like, they offer them a treat. Well, she caught a little lizard and kept following my husbad Gary around with it in her mouth. The guide said that she must really like Gary and wants him to be her mate. It was so cute and one of the highligts of our visit and we will never forget her. Thank you for making her a part of your wonderful place.
We had the pleasure of visiting Safari West and meeting Delillah. At the time we were there, she had recently lost her mate and was very sad.
The guide explained that the way she will attract a mate is by offering a treat. Well, she caught a little lizard and kept following my husbad,Gary around with it in her mouth. The guide said that she must really like him and wants him to be her mate.
It was so cute and one of the highligts of our visit. We will never forget her. Thank you for making her a part of your wonderful place.
I'm sorry to learn of Delilah's passing. My husband and I met her last summer when we came to Safari West for our anniversary. She so enhanced our stay, just watching her antics. We spent a nice part of the afternoon just bird-watching Delilah.
I still have 2 photos of her in my camera which I will treasure now, not only as a rememberance of our anniversary, but also as a tribute to this wonderful bird.
Our sympathy to the staff of Safari West who has lost a long-time friend.
Lynn & Bob
My family and I especially looked forward to see Delilah the times we've come to Safari West. My children and I would pet her beak and she'd dose off to sleep. One time we pet her so long, it took her a while to wake up! She was flopped comfortably on the ground with her wings out. I bought my mother a shirt from the gift shop of Delilah. She was absolutely beautiful and so full of life.
My family and I especially looked forward to see Delilah the times we've come to Safari West. My children and I would pet her beak and she'd dose off to sleep. One time we pet her so long, it took her a while to wake up! She was flopped comfortably on the ground with her wings out. I bought my mother a shirt from the gift shop of Delilah. She was absolutely beautiful and so full of life.
My family and I especially looked forward to see Delilah the times we've come to Safari West. My children and I would pet her beak and she'd dose off to sleep. One time we pet her so long, it took her a while to wake up! She was flopped comfortably on the ground with her wings out. I bought my mother a shirt from the gift shop of Delilah. She was absolutely beautiful and so full of life.
My family and I especially looked forward to see Delilah the times we've come to Safari West. My children and I would pet her beak and she'd dose off to sleep. One time we pet her so long, it took her a while to wake up! She was flopped comfortably on the ground with her wings out. I bought my mother a shirt from the gift shop of Delilah. She was absolutely beautiful and so full of life.
I posted a comment about "Remembering Delilah"
as connier on April 18 2008 My comment is as true today as it was then....I miss her.........we all do........she was unique.
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