Lions, tigers and bears ... oh my!
If you've ever been to the Wildlife Waystation in Little Tijuanga, you know what a Herculean task it will be trying to move 400 lions, tigers, bears, ostrich and other exotic animals.
Here's what the Associated Press reported: "The Waystation holds about 400 animals, including lions, tiger, leopards, mountain lions, wolves, bears and even more exotic animals such as ostriches. Workers began evacuating the animals Sunday and up to 275 were being evacuated on Monday ...." Waystation founder Martine Collette said on KPCC today said they were moving more exotic animals.
One stumbling block: She needed more large trucks to transport them. Another news agency said someone showed up with a large Budweiser truck.
I would hate to be on the 134 or 101 freeways behind that truck. Let's hope they all make it safely to the LA Zoo and Pierce College.
During a visit there 12 years ago, I took my sons who were 6 and 8 years old. People can get so close to the lions and tigers it was frightening. There was a grizzly bear who thought my youngest was lunch. He growled as my son walked gingerly by.
The place is so crowded with wild and dangerous animals it is a miracle that is even exists. Now Collette is asking for another miracle -- a modern Noah's Ark -- to get these animals to a second waystation until the Station Fire blows over.
My prayers are with her.
Comments
Steve,
It's actually "Little Tujunga," not "Little Tujuanga."
Or as Charlie Gibson so cluelessly pronounced it on Tuesday evening's newscast, "Ta-jun-ga."
Ha, ha, ha.
But Steve, these are wild animals, so you shouldn't be surprised that a bear growled at your innocent little boy who "gingerly" walked by, as you wrote.
That's what wild animals do.
But instead of merely "praying" for the transport and safety of the animals, why don't you use your bully pulpit and contacts as a newspaper guy and actually DO something to help ?
You're always writing columns about changing the world and fixing things, and wishing there was something you could do...so, DO something in this case.
Publicize it more than just mentioning it in a little blog that nobody will read.
You have a rolodex---make some phone calls---do it now.
You seem like one of those dreamers who thinks his work is done after coming up with the concept...sorry, but that's just the beginning.
Go call some people, Steve.
"Hope" is just a hypnotic political slogan---it's not a solution to a problem.
Solve the problem.
BE "change."
Posted by: The Wizard of Oz | September 2, 2009 10:37 AM
I agree. WWS exists because humans stupidly and selfishly try to tame wild animals and keep them as pets. Ms. Collette needs and deserves much credit AND help. Put the word out for her, don't just point it out and hope you aren't behind the trucks helping her. Send a check too, I'll be doing that.
Posted by: E-Los Angeles | September 2, 2009 12:11 PM
Steve,
Get on this effort.
You seriously write so many formulaic bleeding heart columns about wanting to fix this and that...yet I imagine you're always waiting for someone else (usually the government) to do the heavy lifting.
This is your time to act, Steve, pick up the phone and call some people.
You're an editor for a newspaper, so chances are that anyone you telephone will return your call.
But don't wimp out by resorting to hoping you're not behind the trucks on the freeway---that's weak.
That was almost as weak as Larry Wilson's recent column where he (foolishly) made fun of evacuees who aren't running out of their homes with boxes of books---as he asserts he would be doing.
Posted by: The Wizard of Oz | September 3, 2009 12:33 AM
You guys are wasting your breath trying to get Steve to "do something."
Like most journalists who write about sob stories, he likes to "talk," not "act."
Scauzillo stuffs his face with do-nuts and pizza and ice cream at the same time he talks on and on about this "diet" that he's on, and how he's eating Cheerios to lower his cholesterol.
Posted by: Temple City Tuna | September 3, 2009 11:04 AM
Steve,
Do you have any updates to report about this story ?
Did the animals get safely transported ?
Did you involve yourself further ?
...or did you merely pat yourself on the back for writing a blog which hardly anyone read.
Inquiring minds want to know if you were sadly inconvenienced on the freeway by coincidentally finding yourself driving behind the slow caravan of trucks which were transporting the animals to safety.
It's a rough life being a journalist, isn't it, Steve ?
Posted by: The Wizard of Oz | September 15, 2009 1:07 PM