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"The
greatness of a nation and it's moral progress
can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." -Gandhi
Montana Large Animal Sanctuary
& Rescue
Bactrian
camel is newest Niarada animal sanctuary resident
By
Jim Blow of the Leader
NIARADA
&; The Montana Large Animal Sanctuary added some new residents
to its rolls two weeks ago.
Not only is Muhane (pronounced Moo-haw-nee) and the seven other
former residents of a New England wildlife park new to the sanctuary,
but they are also the first of their breed to live at the Niarada
ranch.
Muhane
is a five-year-old Bactrian camel, a charmingly peaceful creature
with the archetypal two humps that even small children recognize.
&;Isn&;t he wonderful?&; MLA co-founding director
Kathryn Warrington asked with a broad smile as she introduced
the camel.
Muhane,
chewing cud with distinct squeaks from his grinding teeth, watched
Warrington intently. He has been kept in an isolation pen for
several weeks while he grows accustomed to the area, but his
arrival was noticed by all the rest of the animals at the sanctuaries.
Groups of curious llamas, members of the 700-plus herd at the
ranch, gathered at the closest fences to take a look at the
new arrival.
The
bactrian camel lives primarily in Central Asian deserts north
of the Himalayas, so Muhane should adapt to Montana&;s
weather without any problems, according to Warrington.
The
other seven guests, small Patagonian cavies, were being kept
in an isolated indoor pen in a nearby barn. The Patagonian cavy
is very much like a large hare, weighing from 20 to 30 pounds
as an adult.
The
cavies seemed to be settling in nicely, despite the long cross-country
trip. Even with their built-in nervousness, they took to their
spacious, warm home immediately.
Two
drivers shared driving duties over the 39-hour, 2,600-mile trip
from New Hampshire, pulling the 15-foot trailer. Since Muhane
is eight feet tall and nine feet long, it wasn&;t an ordinary
trailer, but gave the camel plenty of room to relax during the
trip.
The
cavies were transported in carriers as pairs and were obviously
excited to be back together again. But Muhane was a bit more
hesitant after arriving at the MLAS ranch. It took him the better
part of an hour to decide to step out of the trailer and onto
the ground. But he quickly explored the spacious pen and shed,
particularly enjoying its salt block.
The
Boston-based New England Anti-Vivisection Society, founded in
, works to expose and replace animal experiments in laboratories
and classrooms with ethically and scientifically responsible
modern research methods and to protect human beings who may
be subjected to such experiments.
NEAVS
advocates for the protection of animals through public outreach
efforts and publications, through education programs designed
to promote greater compassion and respect for life, and through
the support of legislative initiatives and litigation intended
for the protection of animals.
The
Greenville Wildlife Park, located in the Nashua, N.H. area,
is shutting down after its founder died last summer. In August,
after months of negotiation, the park&;s board agreed to
release 24 animals for placement by NEAVS and to spay/neuter
many others.
NEAVS
placed the animals, including monkeys, tigers, a skunk, African
lions, bobcats and prairie dogs, in sanctuaries across the country.
Besides Montana, animals were placed in Texas, Illinois, and
Boston, Mass. All of the facilities are approved by the Association
of Sanctuaries or have a dual accreditation by the American
Sanctuary Association.
&;NEAVS
was prepared to help every single animal at the Park. We offered
assistance with placements and a plan to spay and neuter all
the animals, thus assuring that they would no longer contribute
to the over-population of captive exotics in America,&;
NEAVS president Dr. Theo Capaldo said. &;We are pleased
that Kathy Eldridge and the (Park) board accepted a substantial
part of our proposal. It has made all the difference in the
world to (the animals).&;
The
Park will officially close its doors to the public on Nov. 1.
But
for Muhane and the seven cavies, their long journey has come
to a conclusion at their new, spacious home at the end of a
long dirt road in Niarada. Muhane will soon have a companion
camel to spend his time with, another rescue animal that MLAS
is receiving from Washington in the second week of November.
The
MLAS, founded in , is a not-for-profit volunteer-based animal
welfare organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation
and continued care of neglected, abuse and need animals. As
such, it nurses ill or abused animals back to health, rescues
imperiled animals and gives animals the opportunity to live
out their lives in dignity, according to Warrington.
The
sanctuary, founded by Kathryn Warrington, Brian Warrington and
Susan Rawlings, also educates the public to promote higher ideals
of humanity towards all animals and one another.
The
sanctuary recently expanded operations to two locations &;
the Black Bear Ranch in Niarada and a second smaller ranch closer
to Hot Springs. Construction is underway at the Black Bear Ranch
for the sanctuary&;s new headquarters.
With
operating costs in the neighborhood of $400,000 a year, the
sanctuary depends on private donations from a variety of private
donors, including direct payroll deductions or silent auction
fundraising auctions. Local volunteers also donate their time
and services.
The
sanctuary&;s feed bill alone is $130,000 a year, more than
half of which is purchased locally.
&;We
significantly support the local economy,&; Kathryn noted.
With
the largest llama herd in North America, Warrington said the
sanctuary continues to take in animals that have no place else
to go. Most recently, a herd of 60 llamas arrived at the MLASR
ranch after a man in the Bozeman area died. He loved his herd
of 82 llamas, but his widow could not care for them. MLAS literally
came to the rescue.
&;People
love them ... so the idea that the llamas have a place to be
is what means so much to them,&; Warrington said.
She
said that the sanctuary offers a place for animals to live out
their lives with love and peace. People who work at or staff
sanctuaries are devoted to that vision.
&;We&;re
committed to the point of being committed,&; she laughed.
&;Most of the people in the sanctuary business are totally
nuts ... in the most exquisite way.&;
For
more information on the MLAS, visit www.mtanimalsanctuary.com
or call (406) 741-.
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