Episode 5: The Release

Inside Busch Wildlife Sanctuary

Each year Busch Wildlife Sanctuary receives literally thousands of injured, sick and abandoned animals. How do they get to Busch, and what happens to them once they arrive? And most importantly, are they able to be re-released back into the wild after treatment? We answer those questions by following the fate of one particular pelican who was saved by local fisherman, Daniel Jones. Come with us this month as we meet Pelican 5679 and discover his fate.

As we do each first-Monday of the month, take a journey with David C. Guggenheim inside this amazing Sanctuary which cares for injured, sick, orphaned and un-releasable native wildlife in southern Florida. It’s a place for healing; animal and human alike.

We also get to meet Charlie, one of Busch’s two otters. While Charlie is undoubtedly cute, otters can be very aggressive and are vectors for rabies, so watch out if you ever encounter one in the wild. Charlie is special in that he is, what they call, “target trained” – what is that and why train a wild otter? Come find out.

You will also have the privilege of meeting one very special panther, Makaya. She came to Busch after being used as a prop for family photos. Now, as a permanent resident of Busch, Makaya shows us why the panther is such a critical part of nature, and why the Florida Panther’s situation in the wild is so grim.

To learn more about Busch Wildlife Sanctuary go to www.buschwildlife.org or you can call them anytime on their hotline: [phone].

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