The Wilds

The Wilds is one of the largest and most innovative wildlife conservation centers in the world. Located on nearly 10,000 acres in southeast Ohio, it is home to rare and endangered species from around the world living in natural, open-range habitat, as well as home to hundreds of indigenous species. http://www.thewilds.org/

I wanted to like The Wilds more than I did. I was frustrated with their effort to hide their political agenda while on the guided tour. I applaud them for the work they do but was disappointed that they used propaganda (at minimum the dumbing down element) in the tour script. For example, When we were getting ready to pass through the double gated area into (drumroll please) THE WILD we were told the animals were not in a cage - we were in the cage in the form of the bus. Huh? Why then the double gate with a perimeter and another set of fences. Why were natural enemies seperated? OF COURSE this is a set of cages. It is necessary - I agree with it - but WHY are they trying to convince me this isn't a cage?? They could not admit that these animals were domesticated even though there was a three generation group of rhinos born in captivity. Do truly wild animals live in a barn four months of the year? Are truly wild animals fed by a "man in a yellow hat?" Please tell me the truth: this is a zoo. It is however, unique and respects animals. They are doing important and serious work. TELL ME ABOUT THAT! Tell me what the problems are, what the challenges are, etc. Please acknowledge that the animals ARE being used but they are being used with respect and treated with dignity for the purpose of perserving them and strengthening the blood line. Please admit that my concerns are your concerns; what happens to these animals when they are removed from their truly natural habitat and placed in this safe environment? I did speak with a guide about animal behavior studies and they had answers - interesting observations. BUT, these were never spoken about publicly. Any questions that were considered to be challenging were answered with a nonanswer and the guide quickly moved on to another topic. The guides were ALWAYS pleasant but it was obvious they wanted to remain non-controversial. The tour would have been better if more honest and forthright. Their political agenda is an important one. The surface story didn't give people credit for wanting to know the real story.