Brie Austin

Wild Animal Sanctuary: A Mile Into The Wild and Wildlife Rescue

Wild Animal Sanctuary rescues Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My! To be more accurate, 43 African Lions, 14 Mountain Lions, 70 Tigers, 87 Bears, 28 Wolves, as well as many other species; all of them carnivorous — with the exception of a single porcupine and a camel: a total of 290 animals, are all part of an animal rescue.

The intolerance to a single Jaguar’s plight [that was locked in a small cage at the Denver Zoo] in 1981 stimulated Pat Craig’s sympathy. “They’re surplus animals,” he was told, “there is no room for them in the larger spaces.”

He was only nineteen years old, but that moment prompted him into action. He rescued that Jaguar (Freckles) by getting permits to keep the big cat on his mother’s farm. And it was the catalyst that began a life that would be committed to rescuing abused and tormented animals: he created The Wildlife Animal Sanctuary thirty-one years ago and is still going strong in a lifelong commitment to animal rescue.

Today, The Wildlife Animal Sanctuary is the largest carnivorous wildlife sanctuary in the Western Hemisphere, occupying 720 acres in Keenesburg, Colorado; in addition to that,
they just received an additional 300 adjoining acres as a gift.

Twenty-plus years after they initially began rescuing animals, and only after management took into account their ultimate safety and welfare, did TWAS open to the public in 2003.

In 2012 the Sanctuary opened its Mile Into The Wild, an elevated walkway that takes visitors from the base of the entrance [just beyond the gift shop], past the animal indoctrination center, and then along the expansive open-areas where wolves, bears, tigers and lions roam.  It ends at the Bolivian Lion Complex (a closed-in heated facility, built on short-notice to accommodate 25 lions rescued from Bolivia, South America). From inside the complex the lions have outdoor access that provides three separate prides with 20 acres each.

From the walkway there is an unobstructed view, where the spectators are a non-threatening presence; the animals don’t perceive air-space as territory, making it a win-win scenario.

There is also an area along the walkway set up with tables and chairs for those wanting to stop and picnic: there is also a snack bar located there. And an additional section was just completed that provides direct access from the far parking lot to the walkway, eliminating the need for visitors to utilize the shuttles from the overflow parking areas to the main entrance. A thirty-thousand square-foot welcome center is expected to be completed by the summer of 2013.

Did you know that tigers are the only cats that like water?  I didn’t either.  But my guide Katie provided an on-going education and narrative as we progressed along the
walkway.

“Those bears there are Natasha and Tiny. Aren’t they cute together? They’re boyfriend and girlfriend.  Our motto is OK to dating, no no to mating.” She went on to explain that even though they strive to stimulate the animal’s natural wild instincts –such as feeding the tigers three times a week to stay within the feeding schedule of a tiger found in the wild –, that it would be cruel to the offspring to be born into captivity.

“Some of these animals were so badly abused, that they have no idea what the wild is.  For example, we’ve had big cats that — before they arrived here — had never seen or touched grass: they were in cages in someone’s basement all their lives.”

“That camel? he is a different story altogether. He was raised on a horse farm and thinks he’s a horse” she said.  “When the farm was sold and the stables to be shut down, the owners of the horses — that were boarded there — were so concerned for the camel that  they all pitched in to cover the cost to have him transported here so that he wouldn’t be destroyed. being non-carnivorous, he was certainly an exception to our standard guests here. He’s the only camel we will likely ever have and he seems content, so we just let him think he’s a horse.”

Katie’s connection to these animals — like all of the staffers and volunteers I saw — was apparent. She knew all the animals’ names, and recited stories about each of them. When she was 10 years old, she saw a documentary about Pat Craig (founder-executive
director) and his Sanctuary, and upon her graduation from college headed west from Georgia intent on working at TWAS; she is now the communications director.

There are no guided tours at TWAS; all visitors are on their own due to the small staff.  But they are building audio boxes where a spectator can press a button and hear a fact-filled audio of what they are seeing – and what they should be looking for – at that place along the walkway.

In addition to Katie, there is a staff of fifteen, and a dedicated volunteer team of one hundred. She noted that “We could never run this place without the volunteers, they’re so amazing!”

Dug into the ground beneath the vast open-space that the packs and prides enjoy, are dens. “Do you see those round cement cylinders there? Those are tunnels that go into the ground about ten feet, and then open up to areas as large as 30 x 50 feet; the bears hibernate in there.”

While TWAS cares for nearly 300 animals, it is also the only sanctuary or zoo in the U.S. that maintains a full fleet of specialty air-conditioned animal transport vehicles. It uses them to rescue animals regularly — throughout the U.S, Canada and Mexico.  But also, on occasion, works in conjunction with others to support the rescue of animals for other facilities.

For example, in 2011 TWAS worked with USDA, IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) and the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries to provide the vehicles to relocate twelve tigers — that would have otherwise been lost — to various facilities around the U.S.

Wandering this sanctuary one can’t help feeling humbled by the magnificence of these animals, and the care and effort that is provided to them by so many. It’s a reminder of the ripple effect that one person’s passion can create. In this case it began with a 19-year old boy.

I highly recommend a trip out to The Wild Animal Sanctuary. You’ll enjoy the day, be amazed by the sites, while also helping to support a wonderful cause.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary

1946 County Road 53
Keenesburg, CO 80643
303-536-0118
Wildlife Rescue

For more information, a
virtual tour, their newsletter and more, visit their website at https://www.wildanimalsanctuary.org/

About Brie Austin

Co-author of I'd Do It Again, he is a columnist/reporter for a variety of magazines in the areas of music, lifestyle, nightlife, travel and business. He also writes business documents and creates copy for websites.