By Christina Cooper, Education and Development Director Global Wildilfe Center\r\n\r\nGlobal Wildlife Center is a 900 acre non-profit wildlife preserve located in Folsom, Louisiana, on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain. Global Wildlife is home to over 3600 animals from all over the world, many of which are endangered and threatened in the wild. Global Wildlife Center is open to the public, and over 250,000 visitors take a safari each year where they are able to wiggle the hump of a camel, get eye to eye with giraffes, and feel the wooly fur of bison on an interactive, hands-on adventure.\r\nWhen officials warned of Hurricane Katrina’s imminent approach, staff members worked to prepare both the animals and the facility for the storm. Tours of the wildlife preserve are conducted in covered wagons. All of the canvas covers were removed from the eight wagons to protect them from damaging winds. All merchandise was moved to the middle of the gift shop in the event that the glass walls were to shatter. Windows at the Center were boarded for the protection of staff members staying on site. The giraffe compound gate was tied open to allow the giraffes access to the barn without trapping them inside.\r\nThanks to Global Wildlife Center’s large acreage and no fences policy, the animals were able to use their natural instincts to protect themselves from Hurricane Katrina’s high winds. During the eye of the storm, Foundation President Ken Matherne drove out to check the fence line. What he saw when he got out in the fields was remarkable. All of the animals, over 30 species in all, were side by side, bedded down, and just as cozy as they could be. Zebras were next to camels who were next to llamas, and all of them, together, had removed themselves from danger by finding high land away from any trees, in the center of the grassy expanse.\r\n When the calm after the storm came, driving around the wildlife preserve and seeing the devastation to the pine and oak trees was an unbelievable experience. They were twisted and on the ground, and there were about five hundred of them in all. As I steered the golf cart around the debris, I held my breath, looking for injured animals. I did not find a single one injured or that had perished. It was amazing. When I came over the hill and looked down across the clay ponds, I saw a brand new baby waterbuck antelope. It must have been born the same day of the hurricane. The sight of the tiny baby, unharmed, following his mama after such a storm was an awe-inspiring experience. \r\n The day after the storm was like a candyland for the animals. They so enjoyed chomping on leaves that were now within their reach. Everywhere you looked there was a tiny deer or antelope peeking out from behind a curtain of green, happily munching away.\r\nIn the days and weeks after the storm, it has been heartwarming to see how much people in the community care about Global Wildlife Center. With communications sketchy, and phones and e-mail down, it was a few days before staff members on site could get through to anyone. It was weeks before the Center phone was restored, and one concerned woman, when she finally got through, said, “I have been calling every day, every hour, to find out how the animals are.” A group of college students contacted the Center e-mailed our webmaster in Las Vegas to offer their assistance feeding the animals. And anywhere we venture out in our Global Wildlife shirt, people stop us and say, “I was thinking about the Center during the storm. We were worried about you!”\r\nAfter three weeks of no electricity or phone, Global Wildlife Center was finally able to reopen September 17th. Although the Visitor Center and the animals are fine, the Center’s bright future depends on the support of our visitors. The animals miss their people—we hope you make a trip out to visit them soon! \r\nCall 985-796-3585 for more information on Global Wildlife Center\r\nFolsom, LA\r\nor visit www.globalwildlife.com