Page 6 - Explore Arkansas May 2016

6H EXPLOREARKANSAS
GO WILD
Animals abound at Arkansas refuges
ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE • FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016
BY SARAH DECLERK
SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER
The Natural State’s diverse habitats attract an array of wildlife, and the state’s refuges provide a protected home for critters, from native and vis- iting creatures to exotic and endangered species.
The following list includes a few places where people can catch a glimpse of their animal neighbors.
TURPENTINE CREEK WILDLIFE REFUGE
Lions, tigers, bears and more have a home at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs. The refuge rescues and rehabilitates abused, abandoned and neglected big cats, as well as some other exotic species, said founder and president Tanya Smith.
“Taking an animal that’s been totally defeated in every way you can imagine and letting it see that people care about it and not everybody’s bad, and getting them back to health where they can finish out their lives with some dignity and respect, is just an amazing reward,” she said.
Guided and self-guided tours lead visitors past habitats containing a variety of animals. The refuge educates the public about the plight of big cats, and all proceeds from visitation benefit the animals, Smith said.
The refuge also offers an internship program, which provides experience and training to people who often later work as zookeepers, veterinarians and wildlife researchers.
“It’s really awesome to see these people out there today in their real-world jobs
now, doing things they dreamed of doing — and [they] can do it a lot more safety- conscious because of the training they received here, so I’m just real proud of that program,” she said.
In addition, the refuge has nearly completed its on-site veterinary hospital, which will allow animals to receive veterinary care without having to travel, she said.
RIDDLE’S ELEPHANT AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Travelers in Arkansas may expect to see cows and horses, but they may not expect to find elephants in Greenbrier. Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary provides a safe haven for elephants who need a home, said cofounder Scott Riddle, who incorporated the sanctuary in 1990 with his wife, Heidi.
The sanctuary takes in all kinds of elephants, including those with behavioral or physical problems, and many residents come from circuses, zoos and private owners, he said.
“We thought that there was a facility that should be started to do the sort of work that we do, because there wasn’t anything of this type at that time,” Riddle said. “We thought that there were elephants within the United States that really needed somewhere to go.”
The Riddles are interested in educating people about elephants, he said, adding that he ran an annual school for elephant caregivers for 10 years. He said his wife travels to Asia to take part in conservation programs, and he works with various facilities to design safer elephant enclosures.
Visitors can see the elephants from
SARAH DECLERK/ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary in Greenbrier provides a permanent home to elephants in
need of shelter.
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the first Saturday of each month, and a caretaker is available to provide information.
“We hope you enjoy yourself and see the elephants,” he said. “We always ask people to try and support the elephants if they can make a donation. It is tax-deductible, and we always need that support.”
CENTRAL ARKANSAS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPLEX
In addition to refuges for captive animals, the state offers numerous national wildlife refuges for animals in their natural habitat. The Central Arkansas National Wildlife Refuge Complex includes Logan Cave, Holla Bend, Bald Knob, Cache River, Wapanocca and Big Lake national wildlife refuges.
Most of the refuges were established to provide a winter home for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds and forest-dwelling songbirds, said project leader Keith Weaver,
adding that notable birds include mallards, pintails, snow geese, greater white-fronted geese and northern bobwhites.
Logan Cave was established because of the endangered gray bats, Ozark cavefish and Ozark cave crayfish that reside there, he said. The refuge is closed to the public to protect those species, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s website.
Most national wildlife refuges allow wildlife-dependent recreation, including hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, environmental education and interpretation, Weaver said, adding that various refuges also offer internships, volunteer opportunities and a youth employment program called the Youth Conservation Corps.
“The national wildlife-refuge system is the largest system of lands and waters dedicated to the conservation of fish and wildlife in the world,” Weaver said. “It’s a unique system; it’s got a very focused mission of
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