Posts

The Case for Gray Wolf Reintroduction in Colorado (on the ballot for November 2020)

Image
There is a motion on the 2020 Colorado ballot to allow the reintroduction of gray wolves to the state of Colorado. This is an exciting opportunity for animal lovers and conservationists alike. And though the subject is a much-debated one, here is my reasoning for voting for this initiative... The Science: In a perfectly balanced world, all ecosystems are self-sustainable. This means that vegetation is lush and abundant, providing food and shelter for prey and other animals alike, while top predators keep prey animals (herbivores) in check, so that they don't decimate the vegetation. It's a perfect circle, and can naturally remain in balance until something comes along and upsets part of it. For example, humans killing off all of the top predators. Wolves, mountain lions and grizzly bears are the top predators of Colorado (although wolves and grizzlies have been extirpated by hunters since the 1950's). They hunt prey that are larger than themselves, such as elk and moo
Post a Comment
Read more

Visit Red Pandas - Make a Difference for the Planet

Image
On February 13, 2020 Red Panda Network published the following article about our upcoming trip to Nepal to trek through the lower Himalayas and search for the red panda in the wild. Jennie of the Jungle and RPN are teaming up to provide a Himalayan adventure with global significance. Red Pandas. Travel. Conservation. Community. Can you imagine finding all of those in one experience? That’s exactly what I knew I’d discovered when I first heard of Red Panda Network (RPN) and Jennie of the Jungle’s new partner trip kicking off in October 2020!  It’s inspiring and positive in a world often full of disjoined negativity. So I’m literally counting my vacation days to see if I can join.  RPN ecotrips are specially designed to educate about red pandas; to create tailored experiences for viewing this endangered species while preserving their habitat and to cultivate a small community of travelers immersed in local people and culture. Yet, what about the global perspective? Tha
Post a Comment
Read more

A Day with the Wolves

Image
I drove 3 hours down to Guffey, Colorado the other day to visit the rescued wolves at Rocky Mountain Wildlife Foundation. I had been wanting to visit them for a long time, and finally found some time to do it right after New Year's. The sun was shining and the day was clear, despite the wintry weather, and I had the wolves all to myself! Mark, the founder of RMWF, told me a little bit about the wolves under his care, which for the most part were rescued from abusive pet owners who had bitten off a little more than they could chew with trying to raise a wolf. Some of the wolves were wolf-dog mixes, and some of them were 100% wolf. I got to get up close and personal with some of these wolves, and they were full of pure love and affection! Mark spent years working with these rescued animals, some of which were so fearful of humans when they came to the center that they wouldn't let him anywhere near them. Now they all love him, and it's fun to watch him interact and play
Post a Comment
Read more

Animal Adventures in Africa 2019

Image
Lions and baboons and cheetahs, oh my!  Hi folks! I just wanted to share the video that JOJ leader Aron made of our recent trip to Namibia, Africa this September. Check it out and tell us what you think! I'll be offering this trip again October 2021. Get in touch for more info or to reserve a spot, or sign up on the website. Enjoy!
Post a Comment
Read more

Saving Thailand's Elephants - Thailand and Myanmar with Jennie of the Jungle Part 2

Image
Photo courtesy of Tripfuser.com Myanmar! Also known as Burma. I'd been wanting to visit this country for a long time, and it all started with a photo. I saw a beautiful photo of Bagan at sunrise, showing temples upon temples in front of layers of pinkish, glowing trees. Hot air balloons floated over the scene. I had to see this place. And it truly lived up to the dream! After spending a week in the jungles of Chiang Mai, Thailand at our elephant rescue project, my volunteers and I flew to Myanmar for our one-week tour of the country. We would see Mandalay, Bagan, Inle Lake, and Yangon. I had no idea what to expect, as there isn't a whole lot of information about this country. Myanmar just opened up to tourism about twelve years ago after being fraught with internal struggle and war. They didn't even have cars in Bagan until five years ago! Despite the warnings about the dangers of tourism in a country strife with war for so many years, I found it to be one of the m
Post a Comment
Read more

Saving Thailand's Elephants - Thailand and Myanmar with Jennie of the Jungle Part 1

Image
I just got back from an amazing volunteer trip to Thailand to work with rescued elephants in Chiang Mai. Myself, my co-leader Aron, and our four JOJ volunteers spent a week in the hills of Northern Chiang Mai with the Karen tribe, who have owned elephants for centuries. These elephants were once used for subsistence by putting them to work in the logging industry. They were captured, brutally tamed, and put to work hauling large felled trees from the forest. After the advent of tourism, they were put to work in the trekking and entertainment industry, forced to learn tricks, perform, and carry tourists on their backs all day in the hot sun. Suffice it to say these animals are not treated well. Abuse and cruelty were the only ways the owners knew to keep their elephants in check. Many organizations are now trying to help Thailand's captive elephants have a better life. On the forefront, Save Elephant Foundation, run by Lek Chailert, is running a number of different proje
Post a Comment
Read more