Good to know the better angels won out and Maggie survived unharmed! You two belong on outings together!
I was also glad to get more info about the Sanctuary, because from the pics it looked as if the animals were held in pretty sad and unsatisfactory conditions - very small pens, nothing much to occupy them, no vegetation etc. But I see now that the alternative for these animals would have been worse.
The alternative is terrible. In the middle of the boardwalk is an information hut, and I can't believe how cruelly mistreated some of these animals were. The 16 pens in a spoke are temporary housing. Here the new arrivals are treated and acclimated to one another. Behind it is a much larger common area where the tigers are introduced physically. It's a much nicer area, with trees and a big pond, but it was being renovated and was closed that day. There's also an equivalent facility for lions, but the boardwalk didn't go that far. It will be opened to the public in May
( ... )
Like gilli_ann I was glad to here these are only temporary enclosures, because they do look terrible from a welfare/behaviour point of view. Even though they're temporary, I can't help thinking "could do better".
Glad to hear that Maggie survived :D and I'd love to hear the wolves howling.
It's a double-edged sword, like all beautiful animals in captivity. We don't have trees on the prairie; we do get snow, something that isn't normal for tigers or lions. On the other hand, most of these animals were confined in terribly small or horrendous enclosures, some too small to let the animal turn around. Life on the prairie doesn't look so bad after that.
I really don't know much about the socialization process. We saw the tiger area; there's another for lions. I suppose they built what they could afford. The boardwalk will get to the lions in May, and Maggie and I plan to go again. I want to hear the howling sunset cacophony. I wish... oh, there were so many things I wish for, if I could make this world a better place.
It's good to know there are places like that in the world. I remember reading about a primate facility that does similar work. Unfortunately their story was there was never enough money for everything the animals needed and always more animals that needed a place than they can hope to house. Hope the tigers and bears have it better than the chimps did!
I think it's the same with animal projects everywhere-- too many needy animals, and not enough money. This facility is appearing to do well, but I shudder to think of what happens if the economy takes a dive. They need lots and lots of meat, and it ain't cheap. The founder, Pat Craig, is so dedicated. It's really a labor of love.
Anyone who runs one of those things would have to be! The chimps' stories were so heartbreaking - many of them were rescues from medical facilities and had to have expensive drugs just to stay alive. One had been an AIDS research chimp - anyone who touched him had to do so with gloves. Poor thing. One had been someone's pet (I have my own animus for people who take on pets they can't care for, but I digress) and they found him and asked him to come to see her. She remembered him even though she hadn't seen him in 35 years. It was enough to rip your heart out.
Comments 20
Whew, no kidding! What a close call for you.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
I was also glad to get more info about the Sanctuary, because from the pics it looked as if the animals were held in pretty sad and unsatisfactory conditions - very small pens, nothing much to occupy them, no vegetation etc. But I see now that the alternative for these animals would have been worse.
Reply
Reply
Glad to hear that Maggie survived :D and I'd love to hear the wolves howling.
Reply
It's a double-edged sword, like all beautiful animals in captivity. We don't have trees on the prairie; we do get snow, something that isn't normal for tigers or lions. On the other hand, most of these animals were confined in terribly small or horrendous enclosures, some too small to let the animal turn around. Life on the prairie doesn't look so bad after that.
I really don't know much about the socialization process. We saw the tiger area; there's another for lions. I suppose they built what they could afford. The boardwalk will get to the lions in May, and Maggie and I plan to go again. I want to hear the howling sunset cacophony. I wish... oh, there were so many things I wish for, if I could make this world a better place.
Hope you are well. Best wishes. *pets Billy*
Reply
So glad Maggie wasn't eaten by them! :D
Reply
Really, you cannot take a bad picture of a tiger. They have no bad side. They're always in Brad Pitt mode.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment