CALL,
OF T^Ei i
□ Wild animal walk-through safari
has more than 450 birds and animals
BANIXJN DebbieTrnmel wouldn't even think about
quitting her fob. _ ,
Hint would mean giving up the surrogate children she’s |
raised from u bottle — including a twelve-week old black I
leopard named Black Jack.
" They're all special.” Tramel said, as Black Jock Iwits
a playful paw at her face. "How many people r an say
they're working with on endangered species?"
Trnmel is one of nine full-time animal keepers at the
West Coast Game Park seven miles south of Bandon on j
the Oregon Coast The walk-through safari, home to more
than 450 birds and animals, is the largest wild animal
[letting park in America, said Boh Tenney, park director.
"Our emphasis is hand-raising." Tenney said I he
animals get to know you and they know what you're there
for."
Visitors to the game park inn [Hit or film 75 different
sjms ies on more than 20 natural wooded acres The game
pork, which opened 25 years ago ns a deer refuge, has
expanded to include several endangered species, hous
ing one of only 25 pairs of snow leopards in the world.
Tenney said.
What makes the park unique. Tenney said, is it mix
es wild animals with species that would otherwise he
their enemies, while also building working relationships
between people and animals. Animal keepers establish
a certain bond of love and trust with each animal. These
bonds help park viewers get a closer look at the animals
than zoos or drive-through
WEST
COAST
GAME
PARK
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safaris allow
“We put people closer
than they have ever been,"
Tenney said "A zoo does
not work with animals the
way we do.”
Park visitors shouldn’t
he surprised to see a lion
and tiger (aged together, or
a fox and a raccoon shar
ing the same nursery, Ten
ney said the pork tries rais
ing different species
together and sometimes
finds that animals can live
harmoniously with their natural enemies
"What we've accomplished over 25 years 1 don't think
mu lie repeated." Tenney said. "It's taken ns years and
years to blend what you see here ”
Highlights at the park include a presentation area where
visitors mil |>et Black |ai k and other wild animals, a nurs
ery housing small animals and caged areas housing
zebras, hears and other larger spur ies Deer, peacocks,
pigmy goats, and llamas are among the several dozen ani
mals roaming the park, pestering guests for food and
attention An elk refuge is also a popular area of the [wrk.
Trnmel said park visitors are excited to actually touch
and hold the wild animals Main people say they are
envious of her job
"Most people are enthralled about being able to touch
an endangered species,
she added
However, what visitors
don’t get to see, T ram el
said, are times when the
animals start feeling their
wild instincts. When an
animal starts to act up. a
keeper is in charge of giv
ing the animal a time out
period until it can be trust
ed with visitors, she said.
Some animals aren't dis
played for periods of time
because of behavior prob
lems.
"You can't tame theso
guys,” Tramel said. "You
make them more workable
and human-oriented."
West Coast Game Park is
open year round with lim
ited winter hours. The
Robby Slsfks finds out ms
quickest way to bseoms
popular wim ms animals Is
to buy tbs food cups.
park is open seven days a week Mart:h through Novem
Intr and o[>cns only on the weekends December through
February Admission is $6 for adults 13 and older and
$4.75 for children ages 7 to 12. Children ages 2 to 6 are
charged $3.50. and children under 2 are free. Senior cit
izens 60 and older pay $5.
Black jack, a 12 -week-old black leopard raised ami trained by Debbie Tramet. gives her a love pat.
Hope Craighlll celebrates her
70th birthday at the West Coast
Game Park by holding. Squirt an
apricot and white Aslan skunk.
; Shannon Boahm, of Roaeburg.
1 pots a afbarlan lynx, ona of aev
arat at tha park, (above)
Knowing tha Bound of park direc
tor Bob Tannay'a voice, bean.
Yogi and BooBoo, walk up to
] greet their friend and keeper.