Found neglected in an Escondido backyard, Hannah was brought to the Ramona Wildlife Center. One such animal is Hannah Shirley, a pygmy hippo who is living her best life at the Ramona campus. Some animals are too far removed from their wild instincts and cannot survive independently in the wild. Depending on the situation, however, there are occasions when release is just not possible. This is to ensure they can maneuver through trees and hunt once they are released. Eagles and other birds of prey are tested with obstacle courses and staged prey before release. A recent popular rehabilitation story involved an injured eagle who was released shortly before the Fourth of July. While animals with no place left to go are welcome to stay on the property as ambassador animals, the main goal is to release them back into the wild. Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals Surrounded by illustrations of woodland creatures, the poem “A Prayer for Animals” written by Albert Schweitzer, read as follows: Some species, such as the rabbit, purposely stay away from their babies during the day so as to not draw unnecessary attention from predators.īefore leaving the office to tour the grounds, I encountered a heartwarming plaque on the wall. For anyone who thinks they have met a baby animal in need (who isn’t physically incapacitated or injured), they are encouraged to “stay and watch.” More often than not, babies who appear abandoned are just waiting for their mother to come back with food. To help determine the cause of an animal’s issues, veterinarians at the center use x-ray technology and bloodwork analysis. Squirrels shot with lead-based bullets are eaten by larger predators who develop lead poisoning. Vermin like rice and rats that come into contact with the poison are later eaten by scavengers who then get the poison in their systems. Other less obvious causes for animal injury come from poison and shooting. Most patients of the center are animals hit by cars or birds that flew into power lines. The Ramona facility focuses on what are known as the “Three R’s”-Rescue, Rehab and Release. For the staff, this is not just a job it is lifesaving work. From this I could tell that the facility really cares about the creatures they help. Instead, he referred to them as patients. Throughout our entire dialogue, never once did Blue refer to the animals as animals. While San Diego Humane Society’s Bahde Wildlife Center focuses on birds and small mammals, the Ramona campus focuses on larger mammals, predators and raptors. Between the two wildlife facilities, about 13,000 wild animals a year are given a second chance at life. The Ramona Wildlife Center is one of five facilities in San Diego County, the others being in Oceanside, El Cajon, Escondido, and San Diego. These neglected and abused animals are left looking for an escape that is found in sanctuaries and animal rehabilitation facilities.įounded in 1972 and initially called The Fund for Animals, the center merged with the Humane Society of America before joining San Diego Humane Society. These babies are then sold as pets to people who more often than not are unable to properly care for them. Animals like tigers and cheetahs are separated from their mothers. Talk about living on the edge! Unfortunately, many places around the world smuggle exotic animals across borders. He even worked at a zoo in Iraq that was less than 50 miles from where ISIS was headquartered. Blue has travelled to exotic locations such as Ukraine, Iraq, Dubai, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Ethiopia, and Somalia. He even worked for three years at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida before returning to work in San Diego.īlue’s adventures include saving livestock from California wildfires to working on conservation projects all around the globe. After a lot of hard work, Blue got promoted to animal keeper. He eventually obtained his animal welfare degree and worked his way up the corporate ladder. Starting at age sixteen, he broke his way into the zoo-keeping world as a food service worker and janitor at the San Diego Zoo Safari. I could tell I was in for a fascinating time!īlue has decades of extensive experience caring for animals. On the wall behind Andy was a painting of Tug dressed in a Napoleon war suit. His small dog Tug scurried around the room and gave me a scrutinizing sniff before granting his approval with a tail wag. Andy Blue, the campus director, showed me to his office where we discussed both the history of the center and his career. RAMONA, California - Upon arriving at San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center, I was greeted by a spitting image of Steve Irwin, the late Australian crocodile hunter. By Teresa Konopka Teresa Konopka Raptors are among the types of injured animals rehabilitated at the Ramona Wildlife Center.
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