I wonder if one post will be enough to explore the question traveling along my brain synapses. Should a human “own” a wild animal? My immediate response is HELL NO! However …..I have read stories, that really get my goat, about confiscating a wild animal away from a human. What an unfortunate circumstance it is, to build a bond resulting in a separation - leaving a broken-hearted human and a desolated wild animal. What does one do? Is it possible to make a law with exceptions? Do we need a law in the first place? How do we live freely if we can’t make proper judgments and an even bigger question I ask, why can’t we make better judgment calls?
I’ll fess up to wild animals making me crazy, I’m a spiral-wide-eyed girl for a cute panda bear. I’d like to linger on an observation of these feelings, wondering if they are exclusive to wild animals. I’ve noticed a distorted idea of ownership we can’t seem to escape. We have to own objects, people, beliefs and opinions…ect… and throughout history it seems wild animals.
Aren’t we animals ourselves? Is language what keeps us superior?
I’d like to share a relationship I witnessed with Pat Derby and Ed Stewart at PAWS in San Andreas, California. I believe beyond a doubt, Pat and Ed, deserve more then anyone I have ever met the privilege to coexist with wild animals. I’ve been to zoos, wildlife parks and private ranches where I haven’t even come close to experiencing the amazing love between a human and wild animal like I did at their sanctuary.
And why is this experience so powerful?
Pat Derby deserves A LOT more attention then I’ll be able to give to her and her past is worth seeking out. She was a Hollywood animal trainer who started to use humane techniques and stood up against the cruel practices others were using in her field. She is a feisty determined firecracker for the welfare of animals. Her and Ed Stewart are the Founders of the Performing Animal Welfare Society. Her book “A Lady and her Tiger” is a powerful memoir that left me with events I won’t easily forget. She writes about her years of difficulties searching for funding and land for the rescued animals. The PAWS 2300 acre San Andreas sanctuary is finally an incredible successful home to her and the lucky beasts.
PAWS, once a month, gives a tour of their land - gently introducing you to the animals. They provide a new life, most of the animals there have had a hard time coming from circuses, zoos and private owners through the exotic animal trade. They’ve done the best they could with the resources available, not allowing themselves to stretch beyond their means. Each story on the website of the animal’s background will make any animal lover sigh with great sadness. My boyfriend and I went on the extended weekend tour, since I wanted to get some material for a short documentary. I’m so glad we did too, because Sunday was a very intimate experience at their 30 acre Galt sanctuary with Pat, Ed and another couple from LA. Fortunately for my project, we all bonded like cookie dough on a spoon. A memorable occasion for sure!
Sunday we were able to meet Roy, a Siberian Tiger, crossed-eyed from his breeding and luckily rescued before he was sold on the market as a pet. I could go on and on about each animal’s story, but it was their behavior toward us that astounded me. It’s was my the first time being close to a wild animal acting relaxed, happy and expressive. A tiger walked past the fence staring directly into my eyes, sending a chill up my spine (which is exactly what I would imagine would happen in the wild). Another big cat, Alexander, a black leopard, displayed some of his natural instincts, the first was him sitting as still as a statue, while we approached hoping we wouldn’t see him. He didn’t move until Pat called out letting him know he was in our site, then he came up to the fence and rubbed his head so she could scratch it. His playfulness didn’t end quickly, there was no stopping Alexander. He strutted over to the empty pool plopping down for a catch the tail game, followed by a peek over the rim of the plastic pool. I imagined him thinking this might be more amusing for his visitors. He was right!! It was hard to walk away, but a monkey was waiting for us, so I needed to say good-bye. When I looked back, he was under the tree sprawled out on his back looking over his shoulder at us. Really, leopard??? Am I truly observing you acting like this? I can’t even remember the last time I saw anything like it- especially not at a zoo where the animals are usually pacing, stressed or showing off their dead sleeping pose.
I have to admit when I saw Pat and Ed saying hello to the animals, talking to them and scratching lovingly, I wanted to run up and kiss their heads and pet them like a wild woman. A sweet old bear walked over to the fence where I was standing and started to rub herself against it, she looked so much like my big bear of dog, Nanook. I had to put my hands in my pockets to restrain myself. I started to get the wild-animal fever boiling up inside me, but reality set in, this tender little bear could rip my arm off in a matter of seconds. It hardly seemed possible at that moment, I had to find an inch of reality through the fog of lust. Plus what have I done? I gawked at them with a burning desire to be loved by them. Obviously, I wouldn’t just run up to a person and start petting, kissing and expecting them to love me without building a patient trustful bond. If anyone deserves to be petting and kissing the animals, it is Ed and Pat. Their years of hard work of building a natural relationship full of understanding seems to be an obvious display of what love and patience can create.
What are acceptable conditions for someone to live with a wild animal? I guess it would fully depend on whether they could give them a life they deserve (space, food, freedom), treat them with respect and know they are not ever the animals owner and yet still commit to caring for them for the rest of the animal’s life. Perhaps a law can be passed with an exception to these unique individuals. ?? Maybe??
grass mouth!, originally uploaded by ecstaticbird.