Black Pine Animal Sanctuary (6-7-2010)
Yesterday me and Helen headed up to Black Pine Animal Park in Albion, Indiana. Black Pine is located about 25 minutes north of Columbia City. I travel through Columbia City quite often during the summer going to the lake and was quite surprised that I had never heard of this place before. When we arrived at about 11:30am there were no other cars in the parking lot, and I started to rethink coming. That thought quickly left however as the park was great, and we had it all to ourselves!
I think this must have been Helen's favorite animal there lol, go figure! We paid a total of $15 to get in and that included 2 cups of food for the animals. The picture to the left is a pig... inside the pig... 2 cups of food ;)
I think this must have been Helen's favorite animal there lol, go figure! We paid a total of $15 to get in and that included 2 cups of food for the animals. The picture to the left is a pig... inside the pig... 2 cups of food ;)
This has got to be (in my opinion) one of the ugliest birds of all time, and looks as if it once walked with the dinosaurs. This is a male Emu, native to Australia. Not something I would like to come across in a dark alley...
Not quite as bad, but a close second on ugliest bird.. the African Ostrich
Above: left to right, click to enlarge. 2 Donkeys, Butterscotch a white Fallow Deer is native to the British Isles and was a former backyard pet, African Pygmy Goat, and Johnny the Camel is a retired performer from Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Black Pine is not a Zoo, but a sanctuary. The animals are there because they have nowhere else to go. They do not breed, some are rescued from abusive situations, some are just retired animals from preforming, or used to be house pets. They are at Black Pine to live out the rest of there life in peace.
Black Pine is not a Zoo, but a sanctuary. The animals are there because they have nowhere else to go. They do not breed, some are rescued from abusive situations, some are just retired animals from preforming, or used to be house pets. They are at Black Pine to live out the rest of there life in peace.
I am not 100% sure of what is primate is.
Again, I am not completely sure of what this is.
Sorry that this pic, and the one above is a bit blurry, I was having some trouble getting the camera to focus on the monkey and not the fence.
Also, there were a couple of monkeys that were not out when we were there, and I didn't get pictures of. These include Tarzan the Chimpanzee (retired performer). Lisa, a Lion-Tail Macaque, and Mae, a Hamadryas Baboon, she was out but wouldn't show me anything except her red butt.
Sorry that this pic, and the one above is a bit blurry, I was having some trouble getting the camera to focus on the monkey and not the fence.
Also, there were a couple of monkeys that were not out when we were there, and I didn't get pictures of. These include Tarzan the Chimpanzee (retired performer). Lisa, a Lion-Tail Macaque, and Mae, a Hamadryas Baboon, she was out but wouldn't show me anything except her red butt.
This little critter, which at first glance I thought was a baby Kangaroo is actually a Patagonian Cavy. Joey is a female rodent. The fourth largest species of rodent on earth. This is a popular exotic pet, she wondered into someones yard and the owner was never found.
This is Gus, as you walk into the reptile house, this is the first thing you see. He is a North American Alligator. Gus was originally rescued from a closet in a collage fraternity, he was then housed in a pet store for 5 years until he outgrew his accommodation and was then moved to Black Pine.
Footloose - A Red-Foot Tortoise was adopted into a home from a pet store to spare him from euthanasia, he was then adopted permanently by Black Pine in May 2008.
Bengal Tigers
Black Pine has a total of 5 Bengal Tigers. I am not sure which ones I have pictures of, but here is what I know. Luna was removed from squalor at a former breading facility in Indiana. Her top canine teeth are broken off because her previous owner used to feed her frozen meat. Luna is also the most unpredictable tiger at the park. Darly and Montrose were also removed from squalor at a former breading facility. Cita and Jai are sisters, they are offspring of a retired circus cat.
Lion
Kovu - An African Lion was rescued from a roadside shed in Mexico when very young. In 2007 Black Pine rescued him for a second time from a small facility where he was discovered living indoors with no access to sunlight and a very small area to live.
A bit of a funny story to add to this. When we entered the park we were told that if any of the animals were not outside to just call there names and they may come out. Well when we first walked up to this exhibit, Kovu was inside. Helen thought that this was the bear habitat, and started calling for the bears. After 2 or 3 minn, this massive Lion came out of the hole, and I thought Helen was going to have a heart attack. She thought the lion had eaten the bears lol. I guess Kovu just got tired of hearing her call him the wrong name, so he decided to come out and clear thing up. I could almost read his mind as he came walking out through that hole. "There, now do I look like a damn bear lady". Pictures don't do Kovu justice, he is massive!
A bit of a funny story to add to this. When we entered the park we were told that if any of the animals were not outside to just call there names and they may come out. Well when we first walked up to this exhibit, Kovu was inside. Helen thought that this was the bear habitat, and started calling for the bears. After 2 or 3 minn, this massive Lion came out of the hole, and I thought Helen was going to have a heart attack. She thought the lion had eaten the bears lol. I guess Kovu just got tired of hearing her call him the wrong name, so he decided to come out and clear thing up. I could almost read his mind as he came walking out through that hole. "There, now do I look like a damn bear lady". Pictures don't do Kovu justice, he is massive!
This is Ben, he was adopted by the park in early 2010 after the traveling educational show that he was with went broke.
Below is a video of both bears, Ben and Wrigley:
Wrigley was adopted in June 2009. She was removed by wildlife officials twice from previous owners and has permanent scars from the abuse she suffered while used as bait to train dogs to hunt bear. In my own personal opinion, they should have removed Wrigley from the previous owners and then used the previous owners to train bear to kill. But thats just my opinion.
Below is a video of both bears, Ben and Wrigley:
Wrigley was adopted in June 2009. She was removed by wildlife officials twice from previous owners and has permanent scars from the abuse she suffered while used as bait to train dogs to hunt bear. In my own personal opinion, they should have removed Wrigley from the previous owners and then used the previous owners to train bear to kill. But thats just my opinion.
Leopards
Chui is a black African Leopard, and China is a Asian Leopard. Both were rescued fro the pet trade. FYI: There is no such thing as a black panther, that term is a nickname that can apply to black leopards or Jaguars. Below is a video of both Leopards enjoying an afternoon snack.
That was it for Black Pine Animal Sanctuary for today. I told you that when we arrived there were no other cars in the parking lot, and when we left, an hour or so later, there were 4. It turned out to be a great experience and the staff was helpful is showing us where everything was, and also bringing Johnny the Camel out of his barn so that we could see him. You cant beat the price, and knowing that it goes directly to helping feed and take care of these animals who otherwise would have no place to go helps. If you find yourself in the area, and would like to have some entertainment and also help animals at the same time, plese visit the Black Pine Animal Sanctuary
Also, Black Pine is on Facebook HERE
Also, Black Pine is on Facebook HERE
View Location of Black Pine Animal Sanctuary in a larger map
After leaving the park we stopped in a local park to pick up a quick geoache.
We then headed over to the area in which we used to live for a little trip down memory lane. Here is Helen at the Lake Wawasee Boat Ramp in Kosciusko County, IN
And last but not least, The Boat-Car! We had just got to the boat ramp, and this car came driving down the boat ramp, and right into the lake. I have been coming up to the lakes in this area for 28 years and this is the first time I have ever seen one of these around here. I want one!!
HTML Comment Box is loading comments...