WINTER 2014

Enter to win two Child’s

Safari Wagon Passes !

GWC’s staff expert and

Psychology Graduate

Student gives us insight

into the benefits of human-

animal interaction!

Inside This Issue

News + Updates

From the President’s Desk..…….3

A look into GWC in 2014, & what’s to come!

A Tall Announcement!…………....4 Introducing our newest baby reticulated giraffe.

The Wild Engagement……………….5

A staff member pops the question on tour!

Wild Wonders

Amazing Aquatic Antelope..…….….8 Learn about the South African Red Lechwe.

Animals Helping to Heal…………....12

Inside look into the therapeutic benefits of learning

through touch from one of Global’s own.

YOU in the news!

Safari Selfie CONTEST…………...……....6

WIN 2 FREE Child Wagon Passes!!

Member’s Only Fall Fest…..…………….7

A thanks to all who attended this year’s event.

For the Young at Heart

Animal Mix n Match……......…..15

Can you help us match our favorite animals at

Global Wildlife Center to their proper names?! “Look deep into Nature, and

then you will understand

everything better.”

- Albert Einstein

..

2

A NOTE FROM THE

PRESIDENT’S DESK...

W ow, 24 years later and we get to wish you all a Merry Christmas! You are

part of our family! What an incredible year it has been! We welcomed

three baby Reticulated giraffes to our frisky long legged family. They are very

playful and already interacting with the tours.

We are fortunate that 2014 brought a mild winter, and as it approaches,

we start our annual winter feed ups. The tractors go out and start blowing their

horns, and the animals come out from everywhere - a sight to be seen. We have

also started Santa's list of winter projects at the Center. As we are open seven

days a week, we get to make most of them while you are busy with family and

friends. As you do every year, you will see many new things that make a trip to

Global exciting and fun, so bundle up and come see us!

We have added large corporate events to the venue this year, which has

been fun for both staff and the visitors. Global was honored to host The Louisi-

ana Organ Procurement Agency's annual donor picnic. Families of organ donors

and recipients came together to celebrate life in a relaxed environment. What a

great event for all!

As always, thank you for your continued support. We have once again been

named "Best of Louisiana" and "Best NorthShore Attraction", and we take all of

these awards with great pride. We have had another record year of visitors and

outreach programs, and we believe we have the best staff possible who love

what they do. They work very hard to make your every visit a lasting memory.

They even make special memories of their own. This year we even witnessed a

marriage proposal on tour!

Most of all, the millions of people that have been exposed

to this unique and educational facility make us very proud to

deliver back to our communities and state. Have a safe holiday

and we will see you all soon!

President of Advisory Board

Ken Matherne

Board of Directors

William Breaux

Steve Cart

Lance Kern

Karla Meche

Brittany Ricks

William Wainright

Managers

Sara Coulon

Brittany Ricks

Ambur Senac

Shelby Jo Magee

Sarah Parmley

Editors

Maci Matherne

Brittany Ricks

Creative

Contributors

Brittany Beeson

Brittany Ricks

Ambur Senac

Jenniffer Smith

3

A n n o u n c e m e n t !

T

A

L

L

Our

We are ecstatic to welcome our newest addition to

the giraffe family this fall. We would like to formally introduce Sky, our precious 5 month old reticulated

giraffe! She is a playful little gal, already eating from

the wagons and interacting with our guests! Book your

Private Pinz Tour to see her up close, and who knows,

you may even get a kiss from that long tongue of hers!

4

n n o u n c e m e n t !

THE WILD ENGAGEMENT

{A LOVE STORY}

There is constant excitement and love at Global

Wildlife Center. Many visitors bring their loved

ones out to visit our exotic and endangered ani-

mals. Our private tours make for a great retreat

for a first date or even an intimate proposal.

This particular love story started earlier this

year right here at Global Wildlife. Sarah and

Russell, long time tour guides and best friends,

met here and have been dating since February.

They share a love for wildlife, adventure, and

the outdoors. On October 25th, Russell’s 26th birthday, dressed up in their

Halloween costumes, Sara and Russell enjoyed a day on tour together. Little

did Sara know, Russell had an amazing surprise for her. As their last tour

came to an end Russell announced over the loud speaker for Sarah to stop

the wagons. Russell then began to dedicate the next five minutes to her as

he shared their love story to the 120 guests aboard. As he finished, Russell

got down on one knee and ask Sarah if she would marry him. She said,

“YES!!”. They will tie the knot on April 4, 2015 in honor of Sarah’s deceased

father’s 72nd birthday. Watch the video of Russell’s proposal here!

By Brittany Thomas Ricks

Russell & Sarah pose for a Halloween pic on

the morning of their engagement!

5

Aquatic

An inside look into the life of our South African Red Lechwe.

The amazing

ante lope

Story by: Maci Matherne

Photo By: Pat & Cindy Bonish

Even as an avid tour-goer, it is possible

that you have not yet had an up close en-

counter with the Red Lechwe, or kobus

leche. As we’ll find out, our family of five

prefer to watch us from their favorite

watering holes, instead of grazing in

open areas.

Our professional animal finders, also

known as Global Wildlife Tour Guides, give

us our first clue as to where we might

find these elusive antelope today. As we

venture into the west corner of the prop-

erty, it is fairly easy to spot the family of

Red Lechwe amongst the other antelope

and deer species. A beautiful mix of red

and brown hues that line the Lechwe’s

upper coat is a stark contrast to the

light neutrals of the surrounding fallow

deer.

Of course, today we find the Lechwe

near the terrain they love the most,

shallow water. The Red Lechwe love the

water so much, in fact, they are consid-

ered the second most aquatic antelope

species in the world.

Two male Red Lechwe stand alert in Lake Field.

9

Continued... Native to Zambia, Namibia, and Bot-

swana, their affinity for Southern Afri-

ca’s marsh and swamplands make

them a perfect fit for GWC’s conserva-

tion efforts in South Louisiana.

What makes them so fit for the

wetlands? The Lechwe’s hind limbs

are noticeably longer than those in

front, making them well adapted to

moving swiftly and gracefully through shal-

low waters. In the wild, females and their

young rarely venture from the water

source, as the species is, in comparison,

actually quite clumsy on land. We also

notice the hooves are small and pointed,

instead of shorter and flat like most of our other hooved animals at Global. This

peculiar structure allows the Lechwe to secure their footing in damp or muddy areas.

What is the best way to see the Red Lechwe at Global, you ask? “If you haven’t

been on a Private Pinzgauer Tour, this will be your best bet to see some of our favor-

ite antelope at the Center. The Swiss army vehicles allow visitors to go almost any-

where on the property, and customize how long you’d like to stay at each stop within

the hour-long tour!” - Amber Breaux, Tour Guide 10

‘Tis the Season 2014

NOVEMBER 26TH—DECEMBER 23RD

20% OFF

ALL GIFT SHOP

MERCHANDISE!

Find your holiday gifts for all ages this

year in Global Wildlife’s Safari Gift Shop!

Here’s a special offer to celebrate

this holiday season!

(Promotion valid from 11/26/14 to 12/23/14 only.

No extension on expiration date. Gift Shop merchandise

only. Redeem in Safari Gift Shop.)

WIN A FREE WAGON TOUR!

ENTER TO

WIN!

GLOBAL WILDLIFE SAFARI SELFIE CONTEST Enter to win two FREE Child Passes for our Safari Wagon Tour!

1. Send us your favorite picture of yourself, your friends, or family at Global Wildlife

Center via Facebook or email to reservations@globalwildlife.com OR

2. Connect with us via Instagram @globalwildlife using the hashtag #SAFARISELFIE. ***Only photos taken at Global Wildlife will be eligible to win.***

**Last day to enter is January 10, 2015.**

Thanks to all of our Global Wildlife Members

who came out to our Fall Fest this year!

By Brittany Beeson

MEMBER’S ONLY FALL FEST

On October 11, 2014 the center held its annual Member’s Only Fall Festival. The children painted pumpkins, roasted

marshmallows, and participated in a scavenger hunt! There was also a silent auction held in our gift shop for the adults.

The center holds two member’s only events a year. A

Beach Party is held every May and a Fall Festival every October. Become a member today and join us for our

next event! Visit our website at www.globalwildlife.com for more details.

A special thanks to all of our silent auction donors this year!

7

HELPING TO HEAL A Story of Animal Based Therapeutics

Anyone who has been on a Safari

tour knows that it only takes a few

minutes with our furry friends to

bring about a smile and lift your

mood. But did you know that inter-

action with animals has the power to

alleviate symptoms of learning disa-

bilities, physical disabilities, and

emotional disorders?

Donkeys, llamas, alpacas, cattle,

and birds, all of which are found at

Global Wildlife, are commonly used

in animal-based therapy. Therapy

with the use of animals may be best

known for bringing affection, com-

fort and happiness to people in

confined living situations, whether

they are in a hospital for a short stay

or living in an assisted living home.

Although this example is the

most popular scenario that comes to

mind when thinking of therapy

animals, there are many other situa-

tions involving human and animal

interactions that can be beneficial to

the psychological and physiological

wellbeing of both sides involved.

Just visiting with animals has been

shown to lower anxiety and motivate

participation. Connecting with an

animal by petting, feeding, or sharing

a laugh can bring positive feelings

and warm memories to those who

feel ill, lonely or neglected.

Therapy by use of animal interac-

tion also serves people with learning

disabilities, those involved in physical

therapy, or those recovering from

stressful life events such as a natural

disaster or trauma. Research sup-

ports the idea that contact with an

animal can improve a patient’s

physical, mental, and emotional

state, which in turn helps them to

better engage and participate in

social settings.

12

Animals who offer therapeutic interaction

come in all shapes and sizes, and their most

important characteristic is not their species,

breed or appearance, but their temperament.

They are friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and

at ease with strangers. They provide acceptance

and never fail to put smiles on the faces of chil-

dren and adults. So why not use a friendly Fallow

deer or a curious European Red deer for the use

of therapeutic interaction also?

Here at Global Wildlife Center, we offer

animal interaction and engagement throughout

our hour and a half long tours. From the physical

therapy point of view, the guest may be motivat-

ed to feed the animal or touch it. Because the

wagons sit high off the ground, the animals only

have access to the wagon windows with their

upper bodies while not allowing their feet or

constantly swishing tails to make contact with

anyone on tour. If the guests feel uncomfortable

with the close presence of animals through their

wagon window, they can simply move away from

the barrier and enjoy the animals from a more

desirable distance. This offers important sensory

stimulation without it becoming overwhelming

to these guests. From the cognitive therapy point

of view, for those with social deficits (as in the

autism spectrum) the animal is sometimes seen

as more welcoming and inviting in comparison to

engaging in a social setting with a person. The

animal can be presented as a new friend. This

allows a safe and exciting atmosphere which has

the potential to lower anxiety and offer a new

type of enjoyment and interaction.

One species known for positive therapeutic

interaction who calls Global Wildlife Center their

home are our family of llamas. Llamas are

indigenous to the high Andes of the South

American countries of Peru, Bolivia and Chile.

In North America, there are nearly 110,000

llamas located on ranches, farms, and privately

owned facilities. Llamas are clean, intelligent,

and have a face that will surely make you smile.

Their personalities are more similar to cats than

dogs, horses, or other livestock.

Due to their friendly demeanor, llamas are

an outstanding animal to choose to interact with

here at Global Wildlife. They are the most gentle

of eaters on the wagon tours and will often trot

alongside your wagon window to show extra

affection. Llamas are quiet, peaceful animals and

make soft humming sounds to communicate.

Just watching the llamas as they play, graze and

interact with each other is a great way to lower

your blood pressure and increase your feeling of

well-being. Llamas have a very gentle and inquis-

itive nature which is why they are becoming a

commonly used species in the field of compan-

ionship therapy and often provide comfort

through their visits to residents of nursing

homes, hospices and hospitals which provide

often needed stimulation and enjoyment.

13

In my continued academic studies of psychology, I

have focused my attention to companionship thera-

py and in more detail, the use of llamas as compan-

ions in therapy type settings. Llamas are amazing for

this because they are so loving, friendly and of

course non-judgmental, they are very straightfor-

ward and do not care how someone looks or how

they do things. They are amusing to watch with their

antics and laughter can be a great release for those

who are generally overwhelmed by their difficult

lives.

The importance of touch is necessary for our

emotional and physical well-being. For children and

adults who have been ill-treated or abused a touch

from another human can be a very difficult concept

to accept, but the touch of a warm fleecy animal is

non-threatening and offers pleasure to that individu-

al. Although llamas are large creatures, they offer a

feeling of loyalty and peace which takes away their

size. Also, a llama’s humming harbors the same

physiological benefits that a cat’s purring has which

is known to lower blood pressure and lessen anxiety.

Throughout my years at Global Wildlife Center, I

have had the opportunity to witness firsthand the

countless benefits offered through the interaction

between our guests and all of our animals that call

this place home. We are actively involved with many

local schools in the southern part of Louisiana as well

as hosting groups like Camp Tiger regularly through-

out our time here in Folsom. I have seen the faces of

children and adults light up when given the chance

to hand feed or touch the animals here.

I have personally never had a tour be able to

refrain from laughing from the enjoyment of their

contact with the animals and have never been able

to keep from laughing myself. It is an incredible feel-

ing to be safely surrounded by so many different

species, watching them interact with each other and

the tours full of guests. There truly is no feeling com-

parable to that joy. The increase in morale when en-

gaging with these animals is noticeable from the

time the tour makes its first stop in the field and you

can see the expressions on people’s faces glow with

excitement and happiness. I am proud to say that I

am a part of this.

So the next time you find yourself feeling down in

the dumps, stuck in the doldrums of life, or simply in

need of a pick me up from a stressful week, schedule

a trip to see us here at Global Wildlife Center for an

instant mood enhancer. Whether you prefer hands

on interaction or find yourself more of the observing

type, you will not be disappointed. You might even

find yourself making it a new addition to your

regular de-stressing regiment.

- Story By Jenniffer Smith, Master’s of Psychology

Candidate 2015

14

Animal mix n match

Can you help us match each of our animal’s picture to their species name?!

A

B C

D E

1 Red Lechwe 2 Grant Zebra

Scimitar Horned Oryx Sicilian Donkey

Kangaroo 3

5 4

Key: 1. E 2. C 3. B 4. A 5. D