Category Archives: Apes
Portrait of Taylor-2
Taylor was a 21 year old resident of Antelope Valley, California, USA who had three jobs. Firstly, she had her own photography business doing portraits and events.
She also was a pet care associate at the PetSmart in East Palmdale, California, USA.
Finally, she worked with animal actors at Birds & Animals Unlimited in Acton, California, USA. She was a kennel assistant who cleaned up after penguins, kangaroos, wolves, cats, dogs, bunnies, hours, hawks, eagles, peacocks, emos, pigs and goats. These animals acted in movies, TV commercials, news, and various videos. Her favorite animal was one of the wolves, Cruz, who had been in the TV show Zoo.
Image Credits: Bat-Ami Gordin © 2017 all rights reserved. Credit if you use it, please.
Portrait of Joel
Years ago, Joel, along with his wife, Chemaine, were in the habit of taking in animals that needed homes. Consequently, they then founded of Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary. Located in Phelan, California, USA, it was established in 1997. Joel loved managing this establishment and everything that went along with this task. However, he noted, “it’s hard and it’s rough, and I often feel like pulling my hair out, and that’s why I have so little of it.”
Joel always had an interest in animals and he claimed, “they are my whole life.” Joel’s grandparents had a pet store where they used to sell exotic animals. They stopped selling them when they realized people were not caring for these types of animals properly.
Joel loved all the animals at Forever Wild and could not say which was his absolute favorite. He had a certain affinity for the cats, and aside from them, he had a special fondness for the new Black Bear named Honey. Honey was a year old at the time of this posting and Joel said she could potentially grow a little bigger, maybe up to 250- 300 pounds, “a pretty good size for a female.” I asked if the Black Bears were rare; and Joel said, “they are all over California; there’s a good population of Black Bears in California.”
Forever Wild did not breed any of their animals. The animals had not been DNA tested, so without knowing their genetic background, “there isn’t a benefit to breeding them to help the species out.”
Joel also believed that breeding the animals in his menagerie would be like “the pound breeding dogs.” His sanctuary was a place where animals could live out their lives. Most of these animals were not wanted by someone, were not cared for by someone, or were confiscated. They had nowhere else to go.
The animals all looked happy, until the food was on it’s way, and then of course they were very anxious to get their meals. Joel and his staff gave the big cats enrichment programs, so that they wouldn’t pace back and forth, bored and miserable. There were gigantic balls in some of the cages for the Tigers. The lion, named Wazu, was roaring the whole time I was there; he had a gorgeous loneliness with him.
I was jumping around with glee and excitement to be around these animals. The day that I was at Forever Wild, I got to hear a lion roar and tigers purr.
Image Credits: Bat-Ami Gordin © 2017 all rights reserved. Credit if you use it, please.

Joel with a Capuchin monkey named Baby G

Joel with a <a href="Macaw Parrot named Big Bird
Posted on:
valued benevolence haiku
valued benevolence haiku
precious wildlife
deep grumbling adulation
gorilla moment
remarkable hug
unwavering affection
instinctive wisdom
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Written for:
Also posted on:
V is for VISION
Photo credit: Wild for Wildlife and Nature – Please LIKE them on Facebook
If I could have just one wish

The hand of an unknown monkey at testing facility, grasping the side of the trash can after they discarded her for dead.
If I could have just one wish
in a world-field
of possibilities
achievement begins
in my mouth
fullness
is fulfillment
crushed by nature
a singular duality
purchased finality
no longer missing
only needing
to have one
more
wish
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Written for:
A ray of hope flickers in the sky – Prompt # 137
Also posted on:
I is for……….Inlinkz
Photo Credit: EvolutionaryParenting – Facebook Page
four animal dedication senryu
four animal dedication senryu
despite hands of death
appalling emergencies
utter allegiance
hypothetical
assumptive hostility
devotion prevails
delightful dedication
instinctive adoration
selfless sacrifice
warriors behold
duty includes compassion
life preservation
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Written for:
February 21st – Theme: Dedication
Also Posted on:
Calling All Toads
Photos credits:
2) PitBullSharky on facebook
3) flixya