big cat rescue: part 2

[adina]

I went back up yesterday, specifically to take photos for them, where as last time was a field trip with the girls. This time, it was just me, and I got to get right up close (too close?). The cubs are kept seperate until they are a little older, I actually was in the cage with them, pet the little white one, which then tried to eat me. Well, okay, taste my leg...it does the same thing my dog does, wraps it paws around your leg and bites down, playing, but I screamed like little girl, much to the amusement of the guy I was with. Actually, they spent most of the day laughing at me. Once you are used to it, you know that the fence is there, and they aren't going to go thru it, but as a first timer, all I saw were these ginormous cats running at me. So I'd jump and scream, and they'd laugh.

Most of these are with the 27-80, which shows you how close I was, I'll post a few more later, and a link to the site again, I've got some errands to run.

Totally amazing experience, loved it. They open to the public the end of this month, photogathering? You wouldn't be able to get as close as I did yesterday (safety reasons) but when I was there with the girls, we were less than 7 feet away. Downside is there isn't a whole lot else up there....

[I_Fly]

Wow, Adina, I love the shot of the lion yawning. I also like the first one with the symmetry between the cat and the person. That last one of the white cub is cute and I love your story about it trying to eat you.

[mjs1973]

They open to the public the end of this month, photogathering?

Count me in!!!

[adina]

I'll talk to them and see what we need to do to get a group up there, if anyone else is interested, let me know.

That guy in the first one is our martial arts teacher, and tops me by a few inches, I'm 5'7", and that tiger is one of the smaller ones.

The tiger jumping down off the tire is actually running at me. Took me a few times to be able to stand there long enough to get the shots while it was coming, mostly I screamed and ran.

[walterick]

I'll come

[adina]

I'll come

I don't believe you.

[walterick]

oh ye of little faith...

as soon as it hits like 85 degrees I'm there!

[adina]

We've been having a pretty crazy October, was 90 just last week....you might be here sooner than you think.

[walterick]

Damn I had to open my big mouth.

Ok so how much are flights to... where are you?? Any fields nearby a 767 could land in?

[adina]

There's a cornfield right down the block...

[GB1]

Nice shots ... the Yawn is funny, was he watching the Comedy Channel? The Tire Tiger reminds me of a scene from Gladiator. But the shot of him standing up on on the fence is the best.... yikes, I doubt I'd place my hands anywhere near there...

G

[WesternGuy]

Adina, great images. I don't know if I could stand there if a big cat ran at me even though I knew there was a fence between us.

Thanks for sharing - looking forward to more in the future.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

[Old Timer]

Must have been a great experience to get that close and personal with these big cats. Nice job on that yawn.

[adina]

here's the link to the site...I've got 500+ photos to go thru...hoping to get finished with them next week.

http://www.jschwark.com/html/cat_main_page.htm

[walterick]

"Cornfield"

If you build the runway, I will come.