Campers Learn Humane Care for Wildlife

This was no ordinary day at the zoo.

There were lions, tigers and bears. But impressing a 5-year-old these days isn’t as simple as volunteers at the Wildlife Waystation in Angeles National Forest would have thought.

“Where are the dragons?” asked 5-year-old Alex Tallen, who, accompanied by his 70 camp mates from Camp Crossroads in Santa Monica, visited the 800 exotic animals cared for daily by Waystation volunteers.

“The way these animals are cared for is so much more humane and educational,” said Lauren Bernard, art and science teacher who chaperoned the outing Tuesday.

Tours, available weekly, give the volunteers a chance to educate the public about exotic animals.

The Waystation takes in abandoned, orphaned and injured wild and exotic animals. The most recent adoption was last month when private owners could no longer care for two baby black bears. Six-month-old Cinnamon is from Oregon, and 5-month-old Kachina is from Michigan. Because the bears are close in age, they live in a cage together where they share a miniature swimming pool, stuffed animals and a red wagon.

“They became instant friends,” said Jan Brown, Waystation public relations officer and tour volunteer. “They’re cute now, but when they’re full-grown and almost 600 pounds, you probably wouldn’t want one in your living room.”

Other exotic animals at the Waystation include timber wolves, binturong bear cats, panthers and Himalayan moon bears.

Masha, a European brown bear once scheduled for termination, was rescued by members of an animal rights group who brought the bear to the Waystation.

The majority of animals taken in by the Waystation are those unwanted because of mutilation or deformity. “Zoos only want perfect animals,” said volunteer Yolande Michaels.

The Waystation also takes in hybrid animals given up by private owners. A hybrid, for example, is a combination of wolf and dog. Breeders combine the two hoping to create a powerful dog, but the outcome is a dangerous and unpredictable animal, according to Michaels.

Tamer animals being housed at the Waystation include potbellied pigs, llamas and rabbits, which children are allowed to pet and feed.

But alas, no dragons.