An Exotic Animal PhotoJournal

On Saturday afternoon, we were able to spend a little time at the East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue during their spring open house event. We only recently found out this non-profit animal rescue was located so close to us. Now that we've been there once, I'm sure we'd like to go back, and perhaps arrange a field trip. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue is not a zoo, but a small non-profit organization dedicated to giving forever homes to exotic animals. Some have been retired from labs, some from zoos, and some were pets. East Coast provides the animals with safe and comfortable habitats and vet care. The animals are not expected to perform or interact with guests in any way, and can move indoors or out in their habitats as they choose. It's actually rather like an assisted living facility for the animals. All funds raised or donated goes to the animals' well-being and care.

So what kind of animals are housed at the exotic animal rescue?

Beanie, a 40-year-old gibbon:

Other primates include capuchin monkeys and a marmoset (he was confiscated from a drug house!).

There's a small herd of fallow deer and an elk. The elk is pretty friendly!

Also, on the hoof - llamas, sheep, goats, mini-horses, and a cow. None of which seem very exotic, but some had been trouble-makers on their farms, and the mini-horses had been previously kept in very cramped quarters and were not healthy.

This is Liam, a serval; and they also have a bobcat that had been kept as a pet.

Probably the most popular for visitors are the African lion, Angel, and two white tigers, Keisha and Khan. Rocky (not pictured) is a mountain lion that came from a roadside zoo that was under investigation.

Not the most photogenic of animals, but there are two alligators. 

If you want photogenic, the two peacocks were quite willing to strut their stuff!

 

Apparently they get called most often about exotic birds, since parrots can live over 100 years and require a lot of attention that many pet owners don't consider before taking their new pet home.

This is one of the most unusual animals - one I hadn't heard of before. They have a couple of New Guinea Singing Dogs. Yes, that is a real thing. They are rare wild dogs, and these had been kept in very cramped conditions before coming to East Coast.

There are many other animals as well, but some were understandably not in the mood for visiting or pictures.

We really enjoyed our visit, despite the chill and light rain and all the mud. It was quite educational, was an excellent field trip related to our biology study, and would be a good place for an animal lover to volunteer.

This post is linked at Sometimes Wordless Wednesday, hosted by Tots and Me . . . Growing Up Together! This post is linked at the Homeschool Linky Party on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.

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