Feature on a wildlife reserve - originally published on associatedcontent.com, 2007

St. Augustine Wild Reserve

By Terri Rimmer

This year on March 31st, my 41st birthday, my sister, mom, step dad, and I went to visit an unusual habitat, the St. Augustine Wild Reserve.

My sister is always finding cool things to do for my birthday and this was no exception. A trip to MGM Studios and "Tony and Tina's Wedding" came later during the trip.

The St. Augustine Wildlife Reserve in St. Augustine, FL is a 501© (3) non-profit educational compound where you will see approximately 80 exotic animals rescued often from the hands of those attempting to raise them as pets and mistreating them in the process. You can also sponsor an animal and volunteers are welcome.

When we arrive we are given a free bottle of water each and a tour guide, whose two trained daughters also assist, gives us the run-down of the rules like not standing too close to the cages and backing far away if a tiger raises his tail so you don't get sprayed. Otherwise the smell can last for days even after your clothes are washed in three or four cycles.

The reserve is known as North Florida's foremost exotic animal sanctuary which allows visitors a close-up view of lions, tigers, wolves, and more. The facility was created as a rescue center for unwanted exotics. The staff also gives private tours and off-site exhibits.

We're introduced to Mufasa, a huge lion whose enemy is man. He loves to get his back scratched through the cage by Deborah, who has ran the sanctuary since 2000, having years of experience in California rescuing and rehabbing wild animals. Deborah has a gift with all the animals as she demonstrates throughout the tour. She can get any of them out of their shell and turn them into putty in her hands whether she's scratching their belly or coaxing them out of their shyness with large crowds. Since she has raised them as babies they trust her and she is the only one on staff with this connection with them.

Favoring Terri Irwin, widow of Crocodile Man Steve Irwin, Deborah coos, "You big ole lion" to Mufasa as he "eats up" his personal time with her, no pun intended.

"If you live around here and you hear a big roar, that's probably Mufasa," the tour guide tells us. "We have very understanding neighbors."

A little trivia: The male lion sleeps 20-25 hours per day, sending his lioness out for food since he's lazy.

"Typical male," my mom jokes.

Mufasa has a full mane since he's not living in the wild but ordinarily these lions tear each other up preventing them from growing this trademark. Three battered and torn up metal bowls are displayed outside Mufasa's cage as evidence of his strength.

We see two tigers plus Angel, a white Bengal tiger that is lying down, eyeing the crowd. Bengals are on the endangered list. During the tour all of the animals are fed huge bowls of raw chicken and vegetables. We brought apples and lettuce for the lemurs who love them. All visitors are asked to bring food donations if they choose, though it's not a requirement.

There are beautiful wolves, one with especially gorgeous eyes. The tour guide tells us about the travesty of some people trying to cross-breed wolves and dogs. One wolf we visit is the victim of this practice. After we are visiting another cage, one of the wolves runs laps around his cage then takes a high jump into his little house.

"When you try to breed a dog, who likes people with a wolf, who is afraid of people, you get an animal who doesn't like people," the guide explains.

Isis, the female in one wolf couple we observe, is fiercely protected by her male wolf in their cage. But she reassures him always when the tour guide interacts with her, as if to say, "It's okay. I'm with you."

Other creatures we got to see include African caracals, mountain lions, bobcats, coati mundits, Patagonian cavies, black leopards (often called panthers), and spotted leopards.

"Panthers don't actually exist though people call black leopards panthers," the tour guide tells us.

On this day one black leopard, Onyx, a cancer survivor missing one leg, is hiding from the crowd though you can see part of her.

Appointments are required to visit the reserve and tours as small as two people are available. The entire visit takes about two hours in a large group but only about an hour in a smaller party.

It is recommended that visitors wear tennis shoes because of fire ants. You can also bring a camera to take pictures but camcorders aren't allowed.

The reserve is always in need of donations which are 100 percent tax deductible.

The address is Box 3546, St. Augustine, FL 32085 and the phone number is 904-940-0664. You may also email them at CHUFF@aol.com.

The website is staugustinewildreserve.org.