DVDizzy Forum

today, I started volunteering at a local wildlife reserve. A rescue for exotic pets, surplus breeders, and retired entertainment animals.
Today was awesome! First task (after I signed a waiver that said if any animal bites, claws, maims, mauls, or kills me, I don't sue lol ), cleaning up of course. We scooped up around the barnyard animals. They have a bunch of chickens, turkeys, geese and two goats. They wander around the reserve and are not caged, but stay away from the cages, they know better. And the predators don't seem to care about them. Then we went to a few of the cages and helped out cleaning them. And then I went and helped out the guy who does all the diet prep and feeding. That's when it got gross. I had gloves on thankfully. But it was a lot of blood. Chicken and red meat. Every now and then when you are digging through the pile to get what you need, a scent suddenly comes out and hits your nose...oh god, that will take some getting use to. And then as I was passing the red meat to him, I noticed how it didn't look like the red meat I am use to seeing, beef. I just thought it was because it was parts we don't eat. I NEVER should have asked...it was horse meat! :yucky:
Seriously, not that beef made me feel any better. I have a thing about handling red meat. I don't. But I might just be able to live a dream here. I'll deal with it. Handling the horse and beef meat will be worth it months down the line when I can actually go into the fox cage or be allowed to pet the tiger through the bars. I will endure. lol

So what next...oh....pictures!

Pictures from today...as promised!

Nova, an Arctic Wolf, thought she doesn't seem to know that.


I believe this was Jade...so many names to remember, so bear with me


Sarabi, the Barbary Lioness cub (a species extinct in the wild) and her step-mom Sheba


Sarabi wanted the goats on the other side of the fence so bad


Santiago, a Patigonian Cavy


Concho, a coatamundi


Genesis eating


Angel


Mufasa....no picture will ever do him enough justice. You have to see him in person


Julian, ring-tailed lemur


Sage, I think


Anubis, I think...


Natasha...???


Foxy Loxy, red fox (in black phase)



Jasmine getting a treat


Her brother Shaman


Macumba...he was scary


Nemisis...don't let the name fool you, he was a sweetie. He's got that "look" because he just got a big hunk of red meat.


Cartouche, an Egyptian Jungle Wild Cat...yes, they look a LOT like a domestic cat, but they don't act like one! Its like the feral from hell!


Java is letting everyone know, his food belongs to him.


Java again


You know in the movies, when they have a mountain lion and it does that signature screeching roar....yeah...throw a bowl of raw meat in Maximus' cage and you hear it! They call him Mad Max for good reason



That's all for now.

Wow! That looks really fun! Great pictures...I don't think I've even heard of a couple of those animals. Thanks for sharing!

Awww, they're all so beautiful! Especially the wolves and tigers. I love any members of the big cat and dog families and think they're such pretty creatures. I hope you enjoy volunteering there!

I'm so jealous >_< What's your favorite animal that's there Siren? The Baraby Lioness does realize the step-mom is a dog?

Not sure yet. I really like Genesis and Mufasa for big cats. Nova and Mirage are awesome wolves. Foxy is hysterical. And the Patagonian Cavies seem so funny too. Too early to say. And when it comes to animals...they pick you. Just because I like Mufasa, doesn't mean he will like or tolerate me near him. In which case, I'll like him from afar. But if he allows me to pet him eventually, and accepts me, then he would certainly top my favorites list. But Genesis I am feeling pretty partial too. He likes the ladies. When he was feeding, the men have to step away because he is protective of his food around men. But around women, he is a pussycat.

BTW, many of the animals were in movies and tv shows. A few of the wolves are from Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch...and you know, when he had them dumped at the reserve, he didn't give one dime for their care, not a donation to the reserve or nothing. All that talk about how much he loves his animals there...its all talk. He dumped a lion there too, though I believe it was moved to a different reserve.

One of the leopards was in a Michael Jackson music video, Billie Jean. Mariah is her name. Mariah and her brother Nemesis were both in the movie Sheena. One of the cougars is in the opening promo of a Mutual of Omaha: Wild Kingdom. Mufasa has made the late night show circuit. And many others were pets. One of the lynxes was purchased by a woman who thought it would be a good pet for her kids. And once it reached sexual maturity, being a male, it marked everything and then it got aggressive, so she locked it in her garage and threw slabs of meat in there, too afraid to handle it anymore. At the reserve, with loving care, he can now be petted and handled by the long time volunteers. Exotic pets just don't usually make good house pets. There is only a small fraction of the world's population that can responsibly own exotic pets...and it takes the right animal too. Every animal has its own personality and some take to it better than others. Nova for instance, she is an awesome wolf. She was raised by really good people, and then they had a car accident and died, she was left homeless, so the reserve took her, but that couple probably could have kept her till she died of old age. She is THAT good. But Anubis...I wouldn't trust him as an exotic house pet and yet, he was raised in a loving home too. It depends on the person and animal and 99% of the time, they end up euthanized or in facilities like this one

Wow Jade and Angel look amazing.

Crystal, those pictures are amazing!!! I'm always proud of you for all the work you do for animals, and this is no different. I think that it's great that these animals are protected at the reserve and have people like you to help them out! I love how the lion's stepmom is a dog! Too cute!

Thanks for sharing this with us!

Those are great pictures, especially the wolves and the tigers.

For those living or visiting FL, its worth a trip there. They do tours on Saturday only. And unlike most zoos, you get within 5 feet of the cats, wolves, and other animals (though they remain behind the fence at all times), and they feed them while you watch. So you get to see the feeding behaviors, often times that cat you just walked up on who was chuffing and getting pat, suddenly started roaring and snarling and swiping the ground with its claws to throw dirt around....its an amazing sight and not something many people get to see...in safety.

What's the name of it?

St. Augustine Wild Reserve. They do tours ONLY. You HAVE to make an appointment. Don't drive all the way from Orlando and expect to see the animals any day and any time.
http://www.staugustinewildreserve.org/

Cool- thanks! I have family in St. Augustine, so maybe everyone can go sometime.

blackcauldron85 wrote:Cool- thanks! I have family in St. Augustine, so maybe everyone can go sometime.

Let me know if you do, I'll be sure to volunteer on that day so I can meet ya!

Will do!

Siren, those animals are BEAUTIFUL!

I wish I got to work where you do!!