Chapter Six

King at Last

The low rumble of another train passes by as the sun peeks around the mountainside, and I awaken to a new day. The crisp, cool wind blows my long whiskers, and it almost tickles. The inhabitants at our sanctuary now include another lion named Sultan, several leopards, and some cougars. Two of the cougars, Baby and Bam Bam, live together in one habitat. Next to them in a separate area is Bandit. He was just a cub when he was given as a gift to an eight-year-old girl. As Bandit got older, bigger, and of course dangerous, the little girl’s mother had the good sense to find a home for him. My habitat is located across and down the narrow road from the three cougars, and since I’m king of this sanctuary, I keep a watch on their activity. When I hear a–ow, a–ow, a–ow, I know Jonathan is near, because he is their favorite human.

Similar to the four species of big cats from the Panthera genus, the cougar, (also called mountain lion, puma, panther, or catamount) is from the Felidae genus and is the largest of the small cats. Cougars are most closely related to the domestic cat and even have many of the same vocal sounds such as growls, hisses, purrs, and screams. But they cannot roar like the big cats can—not like I can. Nobody can roar like I can! But I do wonder what it feels like to purr, for lions cannot purr. Cougars are silvery gray or reddish colored and have amazing light-and-dark color patterns on their faces, giving them their distinctive look. Though they can adapt well in many environments, the native rocky terrain here at the sanctuary is perfect for them.

Feeding time around here is very interesting! Bam Bam the cougar is screaming for his food, Billy the baboon is grunting loudly, the coyotes are barking and howling, the goats are maaa–ing, Natasha is roaring, and I’m just sittin’ on my boulder waiting patiently for my fifteen pounds of red, grade A-beef! Some of the tigers have been given their meals and the crunching, growling and snarling I hear has made my stomach begin to growl. I can wait no longer! I’m high-tailing it to the front of the habitat to rub against the steel fence, hoping the food cart gets here quickly. Sheena has taken her time, but now she’s by my side, also waiting.

“Here comes dinner, Sheena!” I’m heading to my food bowl. “Grrr–r–aow.”

A loud howl has suddenly come from the wolves’ habitat! I see running and hear the sound of walkie-talkies echoing in several areas of the park. I can’t tell what’s going on! I’m standing on my two back legs and have placed my front paws on the fence to get a better look. When standing, I’m almost ten feet tall, so it makes it easier to check out the situation. Here comes the battery-operated cart, rushing down the road, and all I can see right now is the dust that lingers in the air.

The dust is starting to clear, and I can see some of the keepers, Jonathan, and Tina. Uh-oh. Doesn’t look good. One of the wolves has hurt his leg badly, possibly from a fight with one of the other pack members. It’s Cheyenne, and I can see he’s in pain. Fast as lightning, the keepers are already luring the rest of the wolf clan into the night areas and locking them inside. Now the habitat is empty except for Cheyenne, and the keepers are running toward him, taking care not to fall into one of the deep den holes that the wolf pack has dug into the hard, rocky ground. Two keepers are moving the steel travel crate into the habitat and lifting Cheyenne inside. Off they go now to the animal hospital for treatment. Oh, I hope he’ll be okay. I guess it’s just part of sanctuary life—never a dull moment.

§ § § § § §

Each and every animal here has a story to tell, and many come to this sanctuary with lots of problems from their past abuse and neglect. Speaking of problems, Sheena had a stroke a couple of months ago and though she still gets around pretty good on her own, I sometimes follow her when she’s not having a good day. When I notice her getting a bit wobbly, I walk beside her and keep her steady so she can get to her food and water. It’s just what a good partner does—just as a pride of lions would do to help each other survive in the wild and just as you would do to help your friends when they are in need.

All the animals here have found a good place to live out the rest of their lives, and I’m so thankful that I’m one of them. Though it’s not like living in the wild, it comes in close second and is the best it can be. This is a place we all call home.

ELVIS AND SHEENA

ELVIS AND JONATHAN

ANTHONY, THE LION CUB RILEY, THE COYOTE

TINA, DOREEN, AND JONATHAN

JONATHAN, TINA, AND ALADDIN, A RETIRED ENTERTAINMENT TIGER.

DEDICATED TO SAMPSON THE TIGER, WHO WAS ABLE TO EXPERIENCE AT LEAST SIX MONTHS AT THE END OF HIS LIFE AT KEEPERS OF THE WILD.