Animal Rescue at PAWS

Co-Founder Pat Derby of PAWS/ ARK 2000 talks to Rob Stewart about rescuing elephants and taking care of them in this park.

Animal Rescue at PAWS Rob on the Road Animal Adventures Pat: Rob you’re in Elephant Land now. Rob: You got that right this is amazing. This is Pat Derby Cofounder of PAWS here and this is an animal rescue operation in full swing. Pat: Yes, yes Wanda came to us from Detroit Zoo. Rob: This is Wanda the Elephant. Pat: Wanda the Elephant. Wanda has suffered all of her life from really chronic foot problems. She was in a circus. Wanda has had a rough life. Rob: And she puts her foot right up here to have her foot worked on which is one of the many things you do here when you rescue elephants form where? Pat: Right. Rob: Where do you get all these rescued elephants? Pat: We’re contacted from all over the world right now we’re working on an elephant who’s alone in a zoo in Canada. Rob: Can we give him a treat? Pat: Sure. Rob: Come Wanda, hi baby. Pat: Right there. Rob: How cute. Pat: Good girl a Wanda. You’re a good girl. Rob: Hungry little thing. Well you have 9 elephants here on your property right now? Pat: Yes, right. Rob: So there’s a few more down the hill is that right? Pat: Yes. We’re going to go see them. Rob: Alright let’s go see them now. Pat: Alright. Rob: And so pat there’s four more here eating bamboo tell me about these? Pat: These are African Elephants and less toss the bamboo in. Rob: Toss it? Okay. Pat: Right. Rob: So we stay further back from these. Pat: Right yes. Rob: Oh you see why that trunk is pretty strong. Pat: Yes. Rob: Okay we’re going out to see Rebecca. I can’t believe crossed the— Pat: Yeah. Rob: And you say you’re like Rebecca’s mom now. Pat: Yes I am her mom. Actually they all treat me like mom and they understand there’s a respect for me. They have an incredible respect for age. The matriarch is always the oldest you get there unconditional love and support and trust. Rob: You said that it all begins with an elephant. Pat: Yes. Rob: Explain that to me. Pat: Well from the moment I was born I had a fascination with elephants. I think I’m elephant, I don’t know. You know I am most comfortable when I’m with them. Becky! Hello I brought you lunch that’s mama’s baby girl. Rob: Her tail is wagging just like a happy dog. Pat: You want some cherries. Rob: And this is something people can do come out here and see the elephants. Pat: Right. We take them in here of course we don’t let them get this close. Rob: Yeah so this is a treat. Pat: They are so forgiving and they’re so in the moment. It’s their philosophy I think is I’m here it’s a beautiful day I’m going to enjoy and savor every moment. Rob: What a lesson for life? Pat: Yeah, really. Rob: Northern California is home to thousands of horses and even a safe haven for wild horses to roam free. We’re giving you a front row seat. I’m whispering today because we’re in Shingletown, California and these are wild horses. I’m here with Diane Nelson who is Cofounder and runs the Wild Horse Sanctuary. Good to see you. Diana: Thank you for coming. Rob: We of course will move if they all start getting a little bit closer but this is unbelievable the wild horse sanctuary that you run to protect wild horses. Tell me about it. Diana: Well over 30 years ago when the government first started catching wild horses they were not enough people coming forward or even knew about the program so at the end of one of our contracts to remove horses from the Modoc National Forest 80 horses were going to be shot and buried and that was just more than we could stomach so we said we’ll take them. Rob: I cannot believe we’re standing this close to wild horses. Diana: They never underestimate the power of food. If you tried to touch them they would move away or you know like when we have to sort them to take the babies off you see they truly are wild. Rob: Standing here talking to you I can’t help but think of the word sanctuary. Diana: That’s what we try to be. I have had people say that it’s as much a sanctuary for people too though because in today’s hectic world I think we all would like to be able to have a piece of life like they do, you know some freedom to be themselves and just enough food they’re not looking for more, they just need enough and I want to learn to rope and to ride and just ride the pony out there in the hills and we get to do it here with these guys. Rob: You must feel incredibly blessed. Diana: I do. I do. I always loved horses and the idea that at this point in my life I would be taking care of as many as I have and, but I feel blessed to have people who care. Rob: Do I see tears in your eyes? Diana: Just a little bit. Like you said I feel blessed I believe you. I just have always loved them. I don’t know why people have a passion for what they do but I love history I think about the pioneers and sometimes I wish I had been able to be one of them. Rob: Well I’ll tell you here at the Wild Horse Sanctuary you are a pioneer in your own way. Diana: Oh thank you. Rob: Diane Nelson thank you so much. Diana: Thank you. Rob: By the way this is so cool. I mean they’re just anywhere right over there.