Rescue Zoo

Speaking of the Schindler Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, at the N.C. Zoo, and all the orphaned and injured animals it rescues, reminds me that I've come to call our State Zoo "the rescue zoo". Consider these examples:

. Polar bears Shasha and Wilhelm came to us by way of a Mexican circus which left them behind in Puerto Rico when U.S. authorities found them living in intolerable conditions in the travelling circus.

. Our two male Grizzly bears were "nuisance" bears in Montana. The first time each came into a town, they were captured and taken out of town. The next time they were taken further out. The third time was "strike three" for both of our bears. They were going to be destroyed.

. Bad conditions at poor roadside zoos were the stories with our black bears.

. The cougars were rescued when abandoned by private owners in another state. I believe one or both were found in a city apartment.

. Add bats saved from rabies by N.C. Zoo staff who found and implemented an experimental treatment despite risk to themselves, primates rescued from lives in research situations and rare, endangered pitcher plants moved from harm's way at a military site.

. And then there were the fund acceptance and organizational efforts on behalf of the Kabul Zoo, Afghan animals and the Baghdad Zoo by the N.C. Zoo Society and Zoo Director David Jones.