|
St. Augustine Wild Reserve
|
|||||||
|
|
The St. Augustine Wild Reserve is a non-profit corporation created as a rescue center for unwanted exotic animals. Many individuals obtain an exotic pet, only to realize that the animal's wild nature doesn't fit into their life (or their household) as they expected. This is where we come in. The Reserve will take in unwanted exotic animals as an alternative to euthanasia. Some of the Reserve’s animals came from abusive homes. Two wolves were rescued when their owner was involved in a fatal auto accident. Many of our animals were confiscated by wildlife agencies from individuals who held these animals without proper state permits, or who starved their animals, maintaining them in inferior conditions. Five Arctic wolves and an African lion were received from Michael Jackson, who no longer wanted them at his ranch near Santa Barbara. The Founder of the Reserve, Deborah Warrick, has worked with exotic animals all of her life, having received extensive training at the Los Angeles Zoo. She has received her AA Degree, and B.S. Degree in Holistic Nutrition to better care for the animals’ nutritional needs. She is currently working on her B.S. degree in Biology, and plans to continue on to veterinary school. We do allow still cameras here at the Reserve. Much like a zoo, you may take as many photos of our animals in their habitats as you'd like. No video, please. HOWEVER, we do NOT advocate or permit “photo opportunities” with animals. A photo opportunity is where a person over-breeds his tigers and lions so that he has an ample supply of babies to transport to county fairs and flea markets; the babies must sit on wooden boxes all day while a visitor holds a baby bottle and has their photo taken while bottle-feeding the infant animal. That is usually the only feeding that the baby will ever receive. This can cause undue stress on an animal that is forced to sit for hours in adverse conditions, and can also result in public injury. “Photo opportunities” do nothing to further education about endangered species, and only promote the illegal pet trade. Many unscrupulous individuals over-breed their animals, so that they can use their “puppy mill” tigers, leopards and cougars in photo opportunities. When the animals grow too large and dangerous, they are left to a life of loneliness in a bare cage, and more babies are produced. Our goal is to educate the public about exotic animal ownership, to prevent future animal abuse. We transport various animals to schools, churches, and other outreach venues for educational presentations so that individuals may see what these animals are really like, dissuading them from obtaining such an animal as a pet. |
|
|||||
