Yesterday I went with a few senior couples to Wild Is Life, a sanctuary where abandoned, injured and orphaned animals are given a second chance at life. They rescue, rehabilitate and rewild (when possible). It was so much fun. I didn't think I would ever touch the top of a giraffe's head, but I did.
I was especially drawn to the baby animals.
Nina is one year old and the youngest of the four elephants here. The oldest elephant is ready to rewild but is being kept so she can nurture and teach Nina how to be an elephant.
This is Nina's foster mother. She was attacked by a lion prior to coming to the sanctuary and her trunk and tail were badly injured. Her trunk recovered but her tail had to be amputated.
These 3 elephants are fed a special formula every day. They hold their own bottles. All of them are under 5 years old.
They know when they are brought to the visitors that treats await them. This one was anxious to get to the treats.
The greatest attraction is Marimba, a 20 year old pangolin. She arrived about 19 years ago after her parents were killed by poachers. She is the oldest living pangolin in captivity in Africa. The species is rapidly being killed off by poachers. Her handler's name is Mateo. He has been with her since she first arrived. For 19 years, 7 days a week for 10 hours each day, he takes her around the reserve to the many ant hills where she feasts on ants, the only thing she eats. Before she is put to bed at night, she is weighed to make sure she has eaten sufficiently. Marimba and Mateo have a very close bond. There is a second handler who occasionally cares for her when Mateo takes vacation time. He held her and rubbed and patted her like a baby. At the end of her walk, she rushed to him to be picked up.
We got to feed the giraffes.
This is Jim Davies. He is our medical missionary. Notice how the giraffe strips the leaves.
At the end of the tour, we were treated to a High Tea. It was such a fun day.
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