((PKG)) TEXAS WILDLIFE REFUGE
((Banner: Connecting with the Wild))
((Reporter: Anush Avetisyan))
((Camera: David Gogokhia))
((VOA Russian))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: San Antonio, Texas))
((NATS))
((Tiffany Soechting, Marketing Director, Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch))
When you come here, the animals are roaming freely like they would if they were in their native homeland, and you can touch them. If they decide, they can come up to you and eat. And you have that connection with seeing that animal, and, I think, it makes that connection, and in that animal being endangered, more important to every person.
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((Tiffany Soechting, Marketing Director, Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch))
The only continent that we do not have represented is Antarctica. Every other continent has a species that's from here. People wonder, “Well, how did you get those?” Well, we were very blessed that we do not have any animals that we imported from their homeland, from the other country.
((NATS))
((Tiffany Soechting, Marketing Director, Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch))
For the most part, the majority of them are born and raised here. And even if we bring them in, like, if we bring a new male in, the whole rest of the herd is comfortable with what's going on. These are Scimitar-horned Oryx, totally extinct in the wild. There are none left. Here at the ranch, obviously with the babies that you can see, their breeding program is very, very successful, very proud of that. And there, we have over 60.
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((Tiffany Soechting, Marketing Director, Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch))
The ranch is established on a Texas Land Heritage property. It's been in the family for over 100 years and had cattle and goats on the property.
((NATS))
((Tiffany Soechting, Marketing Director, Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch))
In the early 80s, my mother and father-in-law decided they wanted to do something different. They loved animals and so they decided to pull animals (originally) from all over the world and give them a safe home away from home.
((NATS))
((Tiffany Soechting, Marketing Director, Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch))
My husband is the fifth generation. We raised both of our boys on the ranch. Now, my oldest son had a son just this last night. So now, the seventh generation lives on their wildlife range as well.
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