• Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
Thursday, January 26, 2023
  • Login
  • Register
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home News World

King of the Jungle

BCR by BCR
June 12, 2006
in News World
0 0
0
0
SHARES
49
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

King of the Jungle

 

Worker heeds call to care for Waccatee Zoo’s animals

By Blake Aldridge

The Sun News

 

TOM MURRAY/The Sun News

Tony Bolt carefully pets Lila and Akshara, a Bengal tiger pair, before feeding them at the Waccatee Zoo in Socastee.Tony Bolt’s first experience with Waccatee Zoological Farm was in 1991 when he sold them his 6-foot red-tail boa constrictor.

 

"That was the first big snake [at the zoo]. Sold it to him dirt cheap," Bolt said.

 

A year later he returned to check on the snake and realized the zoo was the place he needed to be. He said he told zoo founder Archie Macklen, "You need me to work here."

 

And with two pickup trucks, a trailer with a canoe inside and two horses, Bolt made the move from Greenwood that would change his life.

 

He now lives on the zoo property and has played a major role in the growth of the park.

 

His daily responsibilities include cleaning, feeding and taking care of the big cats – a Siberian tiger, two Bengal tigers, two lions, two cougars, a leopard, three bobcats, and a serval. He also takes care of the camels, including Clyde, the first camel at the zoo, and Chico, the chimpanzee, who has more room in his "dome" than some people have in their apartments.

 

Question | What is the best or most rewarding part of your job?

 

Answer | "The consciousness and the care and the way [the owners] think about the animals. … If there’s [an animal] that just looks like he’s not having a good day, we immediately [provide] constant care, try to figure out what’s wrong with it."

 

Q | What is the worst part about your job?

 

A | Dealing with aging or ailing animals. "We have a cougar that, she was an adult when I came here, she was born here. Before it was a zoo, she used to play in the yard over here, and she’s getting on in age. She’s got arthritis, of course. When she doesn’t have a good quality of life, we will have to do something. And that is a good and bad thing."

 

Q | What is the one question visitors ask you the most?

 

A | "When they ask you, ‘Oh, do you go in with the cats? Oh, I’d like to go in with the cats.’ Or ‘I’d like to have a cat.’ And I try to instill in their brain, you don’t want a big cat. You really don’t want to go in with a big cat. And they think it’s cool. Or ‘[Did] you go catch ’em out in the wild?’ Some people still think that zoo animals come from the wild. And we both know they don’t do that anymore."

 

Q | What advice would you give someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

 

A | "The best thing is stay in school. Get all the knowledge you can and learn at least three languages. As they say, knowledge is power. … Pretty much sample it all – find somebody that’s raising exotic animals and go help out for a few days a week."

 

Q | What is your favorite part of the Waccatee Zoo?

 

A | "When you go to an animal and you know he’s happy. As far as enrichment, you don’t need to go spend $300 on these special balls for these cats. You can put a piece of log in there and they’re tickled to death with it. Pumpkins, you’d be surprised what they do with pumpkins. You put a regular basketball in there, they’re going to tear it to shreds in no time. Take a big box, fold it up, put a little something in it they like [and] turn ’em loose. Just like children, you go spend a hundred dollars on a toy truck, they’re over here playing in the box it came in."

 

Q | What is the best part of your day?

 

A | "Early in the mornings and late in the evenings. The animals are settled. They done had their meals, they’re laid back, you know they had their exciting day. We’ll go and hang out with the animals. We always try to interact with all the primates, cats everyday. Some two or three times a day."

 

Q | What is your title?

 

A | "Title is ‘Whatever Needs To Be Done.’ I learned that after one week."

 

Q | Is what you’re doing now what you wanted to be growing up as a kid?

 

A | "Always. … I would sneak out of church – leave a window open and there’s woods nearby – I’m gone. I’m going to find something. Snakes, whatever. I’m in the creeks."

 

 

 

If you go

 

What | Waccatee Zoo

 

Where | 8500 Enterprise Road, off S.C. 707 in Socastee

 

Information | Waccatee is a privately owned zoo featuring exotic animals such as apes, tigers and camels, and the petting zoo variety. Open 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. daily. $7 for ages 13 and older, $3.50 for ages 1-12.

 

650-8500.

 

For the cats,

 

Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue

an Educational Sanctuary home

to more than 100 big cats

12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL  33625

813.493.4564 fax 885.4457

http://www.BigCatRescue.org MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.org

Sign our petition here:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/344896451?ltl=1140270431

 

This message contains information from Big Cat Rescue that may be confidential or privileged. The information contained herein is intended only for the eyes of the individual or entity named above.  You are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, disclosure, and/or copying of the information contained in this communication is strictly prohibited. The recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses. Big Cat Rescue accepts no liability for any damage or loss caused by any virus transmitted by this e-mail.

 

Tags: News World
Previous Post

Black Pine Animal Park is Moving

Next Post

Last night’s event

BCR

BCR

Big Cat Rescue is Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade

Related Posts

News World

Enrichment Program @ BIG CAT RESCUE!

May 7, 2022
110
Zanesville Massacre 18 tigers 17 lions 3 cougars gunned down  King of the Jungle jeg empty
News World

Zanesville Massacre 18 tigers 17 lions 3 cougars gunned down

October 20, 2021
10.3k
Vanessa Hudgens Shame  King of the Jungle jeg empty
Cat Laws

Cub Petting Shame

September 12, 2021
6.1k
Snow Leopard  King of the Jungle jeg empty
News @ BCR

Save Snow Leopards

April 17, 2021
6.2k
Big Cat Rescue does bobcat rehab and release of native, Florida bobcats.  King of the Jungle jeg empty
Articles by BCR

GoFree

March 29, 2020
2.7k
Next Post

Last night's event

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Recent Articles

  • Insitu2021 January 17, 2023
  • Smell my beans! Priya tiger at Big Cat Rescue. January 13, 2023
  • Want! Kekoa and Makani rehab bobcats at Big Cat Rescue. January 13, 2023

Recent Comments

  • Deb Quimby on Jinx
  • Deb Quimby on Donate
  • Jane E. Ericson on Donate
  • Dawn Sheers on Jinx
  • Deb Quimby on Get Involved

Save Big Cats

Donate to Big Cat Rescue

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

More from Big Cats

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV

Insitu2021

January 17, 2023
Smell my beans! Priya tiger at Big Cat Rescue.  King of the Jungle jeg empty

Smell my beans! Priya tiger at Big Cat Rescue.

January 13, 2023
Want! Kekoa and Makani rehab bobcats at Big Cat Rescue.  King of the Jungle jeg empty

Want! Kekoa and Makani rehab bobcats at Big Cat Rescue.

January 13, 2023

© Copyright 2023 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • About BCR
  • Videos
  • Big Cat Facts
  • Cub Facts
  • Our Cat Stories
  • Sanctuary Cats
  • Shop and Save Cats
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Abuse Issues
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2023 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist