I cannot express enough how good it feels to finally be here, the past few days have been just the start of an amazing opportunity to expand my knowledge, learn from some incredible keepers and see some animals that I never would have laid eyes on IN MY LIFE!
It felt really intimidating at first, coming to a place that represents such strength, perseverance, compassion and hope and wondering what I could contribute that would help. I have a ridiculous amount of respect for everything FREE THE BEARS stands for after first finding out about the bile trade a few years ago. The years since then I found out more and more, eventually finding Free the Bears and following along loyally since that day.
Everything feels so familiar and so good! After a year of training with some of the most supportive and inspirational people it's amazing how simply I just slip back into the routine and not just the routine...those good ergonomic tips come back to mind, "bend your knees when you shovel shit or you'll wreck your back in 20 years".
So here I am pooper scooping a new species....Sun Bears and Moon Bears (or the Asiatic Black bear). Everyday is a new surprise with these little beasties, one cage immaculate and the next looks like there was a music festival and someone overloaded the portaloo....then rolled in it (pics to follow don't worry I wouldn't let you miss out on that!). The past few days have consisted of 'bear balls', bamboo treats, chopping up porridge and other goodies, re-painting one of the cages and starting on a bear hammock! I won't mention the WH&S but here's a hint for mummy and daddy....burning holes in nylon straps with a red hot piece of steel ;)
We toured Phnom Tamao Wildlife Recue centre yesterday and it is enormous!!! Between 2001-2013, 55000 animals were seized from traders and from homes where they were pets including a current total of 80 Burmese Pythons and one Reticulated Python, around 60 odd Gibbons (Pelated, Yellow cheeked and White cheeked), Silver Langurs, Slow Loris, two Leopards, Siamese crocodiles and the newest additions...12 tiny Australian Sugar Gliders.
When you see these animals it's sad to see they cannot all be released however not so much if you could imagine where they would have ended up. I found it confronting to realise the amount and variety of animals but when I saw those tiny little sugar gliders all huddled together......I had no idea that this was still happening at home to that degree and how easy it seemed that they had been smuggled out.
Just confirms even more in my mind that I'm here for the right reasons, to learn, to educate and contribute whatever I can to help and share the reality of our world and the animals. I'm taking in as much as I can and my passion is stronger than ever.
Every day is something new, something inspiring and something unforgettable.
One hundred and thirty-seven, the number of Sun and Moon Bears currently with Free the Bears in Cambodia.
Seven, the number of houses containing these Bears live in soon to be eight once completed :)
