Author Topic: ~ Top 10 Best Animal Sanctuaries You Might Visit ~  (Read 1473 times)

Offline MysteRy

~ Top 10 Best Animal Sanctuaries You Might Visit ~
« on: September 03, 2014, 07:27:54 PM »
Top 10 Best Animal Sanctuaries You Might Visit


1. Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary, Borneo   



The Sepilok Sanctuary is the home site of the endangered Orang Utans. It is home to around 80 of the marvellous animals and nearly 25 babies. The species of primate are native to Indonesias Sumatra region. Over the past twenty years nearly 8% of all acceptable Orang Utan habitats have been wiped out, due to population growth and commercial development. The Sepilok Sanctuary is part of the 20% that can support the needs of the wonderful creatures. In present day there may only be around 15,000 Orang Utans in the world and this includes the few thousand that are found in captivity, most of the wild population of the primates live in Borneo, where the sanctuary is located. Originally the reserve was established as a rehabilitation area for the species, now the role has changed just a little bit as the Orang Utans that were cared for started to flourish; now the role of the reserve is to help inhibit the animals population.

Offline MysteRy

Re: ~ Top 10 Best Animal Sanctuaries You Might Visit ~
« Reply #1 on: September 03, 2014, 07:28:47 PM »
2. Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries, China   



Located in China is the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries, the reserves that cater to Chinas most precious species of animal. Aside from the panda population the site is also home to other unique and endangered animals such as the clouded leopard. The land has over 6000 species of flora as well, and is designated in 2006 as a UNESCO world heritage site due to its unique species along with the out of this world natural beauty. The sad truth of the reserve helps to spread is that there are only 1600 giant pandas left in the world today and over 30% of that world panda population lives in the Sichuan reserve. Recently a big earthquake has damaged almost the entire natural habitat of the pandas and the species existence on earth may now hang in a delicate balance of time. The pandas main source of food is the bamboo grown in the region, which is currently becoming rarer to find in the wild.

Offline MysteRy

Re: ~ Top 10 Best Animal Sanctuaries You Might Visit ~
« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2014, 07:29:28 PM »
3. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Brisbane, Australia   



The Lone Pine Sanctuary located in Brisbane, Australia is the largest reserve dedicated strictly to the conservation of Australias Koala species. Over 130 Koalas now live at the sanctuary along with other species strictly found in the Australian ecosystems such as the famous and unique kangaroo. The Sanctuary has made quite a growth in their koala population - when the reserve was established in 1927 the koala population only included two koalas, the gain has nearly 75% growth in the conservation areas koala population, quite an accomplishment. Visitors to the 2 acres reserve can have the opportunity to hand feed some baby kangaroos and even some baby wallabies. The reserve remains to be the epicentre of Australias unique animals, especially the Koalas of the country, who without the sanctuary may not last as the habitats even under protection are quickly fading and becoming no longer suitable for the species.

Offline MysteRy

Re: ~ Top 10 Best Animal Sanctuaries You Might Visit ~
« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2014, 07:30:09 PM »
4. Boon Lotts Elephant Sanctuary (BLES), Thailand   



Found deep in Thailand is the Boon Lotts Elephant Sanctuary, where the deep thinking and good remembering elephants of Thailand are kept safe. The 200 acre natural reserve mainly has rescued and retired elephants living in its area but the population flourishes and new additions are added quite frequently by the elephants that dwell on the reserve. Boon Lotts knows their elephants intimately and all of their elephants have their sometimes sad stories but the positive thing is the lucky ones who live on the preserve have a great life provided to them now. Visitors can meet 13 of the elephants up close and personal, the sweet and curious elephants of Boon Lotts are very welcoming and do not mind sharing time with visitors. The sanctuary can also provide accommodations for those who want to stay on the reserve grounds. The amazing creatures roam the lands of the sanctuary and they are in fact a peaceful species.

Offline MysteRy

Re: ~ Top 10 Best Animal Sanctuaries You Might Visit ~
« Reply #4 on: September 03, 2014, 07:31:01 PM »
5. Chengdu Moon Bear Rescue Centre, China   



The Chengdu Moon Bear Rescue Centre has blossomed over the years into a full blown site that provides recued bears with everything they were denied in captivity. After the bears are settled in and show healthy behaviour the Rescue Centre sets them loose in lush green foliage, where they can roam freely without the restraints of being captive. The land where the reserve is located has many cool water creeks for the bears to swim in and plenty of access to food and tons of fun things to do for the bears such as climbing up high in a tree to admire the land they patrol. The sanctuary is actually the first of its kind in the world, having a semi-natural environment and full bamboo enclosures where newcomers adjust before being released into the general population of the sanctuary. The Rescue Cesntre gives visitors the chance to see the bears up close and personal in their natural playful state.

Offline MysteRy

Re: ~ Top 10 Best Animal Sanctuaries You Might Visit ~
« Reply #5 on: September 03, 2014, 07:31:44 PM »
6. The Vervet Monkey Foundation, South Africa   



The vervet monkey at one time was regarded as vermin in South Africa and in some rural regions it still is along with other primate species. In 1989 an environmentalist stumbled upon an orphaned baby vervet monkey, the young primate was injured and on its way to a slow death without its mother to bring him back to health. The person that found the monkey was told to put it to sleep but being a naturist it was out of the question and a group banded together to form what is now known as The Vervet Monkey Foundation in South Africa. Before the facility was brought into fruition there were no facilities like it in Africa to provide rehabilitation for animals such as the vervet monkey. Now the facility is the main provider of care and rehabilitation of some of Africas most precious species. The facility takes a holistic approach in the conservation of South Africas indigenous wildlife.

Offline MysteRy

Re: ~ Top 10 Best Animal Sanctuaries You Might Visit ~
« Reply #6 on: September 03, 2014, 07:32:34 PM »
7. Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa



Another reserve in South Africa is the Shamwari Game Reserve, which houses some of the African continents most unique species. The 49,000 acre reserve is just a short 45 minute drive from Cape Town. It has received numerous world awards for its great conservation efforts and includes residents such as the African Lion alongside a bunch of other animals of South Africa. The reserve has around 5 unique ecosystems in its relatively small area. It also caters to travellers looking to safari in its lands by providing over 7 lodges that are available yearlong. Focusing mainly on the conservation of Africas diverse species is what the conservation was created for. It is also meant to let people from around the world be able to see the reserves inhabitants up close and personal with caged rides in the reserve and of course, people can rent 4WD vehicles for their own excursions.

Offline MysteRy

Re: ~ Top 10 Best Animal Sanctuaries You Might Visit ~
« Reply #7 on: September 03, 2014, 07:33:19 PM »
8. McNeil River State Game Sanctuary and Refuge, Alaska   



The McNeil State Game Sanctuary and Refuge is found in Alaska just about 250 miles south of Anchorage. The unique refuge is home to many of Alaskas brown bear population. Established in 1967 to protect the population of the native bear species, the Sanctuary has been leaving its mark on the species with increased growth over the past 45 years. Nature photographers flock to the refuge to see the amazing sight of bears feeding on the McNeil River Falls, where at times up to 20 or more of the bears gather together to fish for food. Nearly 72 of the graceful brown bears have been spotted at the falls to hunt for food at one time. This is what the refuge is all about creating an undisturbed site where the bears can roam freely without disruption from commercial development and due to the sanctuary the brown bears have been flourishing.

Offline MysteRy

Re: ~ Top 10 Best Animal Sanctuaries You Might Visit ~
« Reply #8 on: September 03, 2014, 07:34:11 PM »
9. The Donkey Sanctuary, Devon, UK   



A unique and out of the ordinary reserve is The Donkey Sanctuary in the United Kingdom, where they have over 150 Donkeys and some are even more than 40 years old. The sanctuary was established in order to give rescues a free place to frolic without hindrance and to rehabilitate service donkeys. Today visitors can meet with all the donkeys that roam around the main yard and they can even enjoy donkey rides around the grounds. The Sanctuary doesnt only provide a safe place for the animals to live but it also provides training to the donkeys that inhabit its grounds and training to donkeys of private owners. The Sanctuary allows guests to bring their dogs along with them to the grounds and it is open 365 days a year. When visitors come to the grounds they will learn how the sanctuary came to be and they will also learn many facts about donkeys and how to care for a donkey.

Offline MysteRy

Re: ~ Top 10 Best Animal Sanctuaries You Might Visit ~
« Reply #9 on: September 03, 2014, 07:35:20 PM »
10. Yellowstone Park Wolf Reintroduction, USA   



For 70 years now the Yellowstone Park Wolf Reintroduction program has been successful in bringing back the grey wolf population in the Yellowstone National Park. The delicate and fragile canine species is one of the parks most complex species. Now at night when the moon is high in the sky visitors of the park can again hear the long howl of the grey wolf. The program actually started in 1995 as biologists noticed that the wolf population of the park was gradually fading for reasons not immediately known. The group then went on an expedition to Canada to capture pack members to introduce into the park. Members from different packs were caught to reduce the chances of inbreeding right from the start and also because it is almost impossible to capture a whole pack as they are very elusive. Now after 17 years the grey wolf population has grown by at least 30%.