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The Wilds offers many educational opportunities for students through programs such as educational day camps and a variety of camping/volunteer programs. Visitors to the Wilds are given a 90-minute tour of the grounds. Your guide will provide interesting facts about the animals and will discuss their part in the conservation work of the Wilds. A “behind the scenes tour” is also available.
On May 23rd this year, Drs. Sue and Tom treated the staff of East Hilliard Veterinary Services to a visit to the Wilds. We had a behind the scenes tour guided by Dr. Rae Gandolf, one of the veterinarians there. She gave us a tour of the animal care facilities, including the veterinary hospital and hoofstock and rhino research centers. We were unable to visit the giraffe facility because they had just acquired a new giraffe and had her in quarantine at the time we were there. As you can see, we got “up close and personal” with a Southern White Rhino
 Seated: Stacey Poskarbiewicz, McKay Blue, Erin Bell with son, Matt, Kim Sparks (husband Arlon was behind the camera) Stephanie Pepper with daughter, Madison. Standing: Dr. Chris Kabalan with son, Nicky, Kay Price, Rita Miller, Beth Watercutter, Jacob Watercutter, Andy Bennett, Lisa Bennett, Greg Latham, and Melissa Mawhinney. Missing from photo: Drs. Tom and Sue Klein (had to leave early). We would definitely recommend a visit to the Wilds by anyone interested in animals and their survival for the future. The Wilds is located in Cumberland, Ohio (southeast of Zanesville), about 1½ hours from Hilliard. Visit their website at www.thewilds.org to learn more about this facility and to get directions.
There are currently 45 different breeds of rabbit recognized by The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) and as many as 60 breeds of domestic rabbit worldwide. One of the most popular pet rabbits is the Dutch rabbit. The Dutch is one of the oldest known breeds. Originating in Holland, it grew rapidly in popularity after being introduced to England in 1864. The Dutch rarely weighs more than five pounds and (as is always true in rabbits) the females, or does, are larger than the male, called bucks. The Dutch comes in a variety of colors including: black, blue, steel gray, tortoise, and chocolate. The distinguishing feature of the Dutch’s coat pattern is a white blaze up the nose, which narrows, to a point at the base of the ears, and white on the chest and torso with a distinct line between the white and the color areas. Another popular breed is the Netherland Dwarf. It is believed that this breed originated sometime before 1940, after an accidental breeding between a Polish rabbit and a small wild rabbit in the Netherlands. Rabbit fanciers brought them to England in 1948, and they were recognized by the ARBA in 1969. This breed has the most classified color varieties, a total of 32. The Netherland Dwarf is the smallest of all purebred rabbits, weighing 2 – 2.5 pounds. The Angora rabbit is also a very popular breed. There are actually four Angora breeds. The English Angora weighs 5-7.5 pounds, the French Angora, 7.5-10.5 pounds, the Giant Angora, 9.5 pounds and up, and the Satin Angora, 6.5-9.5 pounds. These rabbits are popular as pets and for competition, but they are also used for their wool. Their long flowing coats are harvested three to four times a year, through either shearing or plucking, and their wool is then spun into yarn. Clothing made from Angora wool is very soft and is seven times warmer than sheep’s wool. This long luxurious coat must be groomed regularly – twice weekly is recommended – to control matting. Again, these are gentle, quiet animals and make great companions.
Body Condition Score Weight Management Champions We have seven new weight loss champions to highlight!
Moxie Plisko’s owner sent us these before and after photos and wrote this great story:
Early this year Dakota Tuller started on the weight management program at 101.3 pounds and a BCS of 7.5. At his last weigh-in he was down to a much healthier 86 pounds! A great job!!
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July 2004
The Wilds was established in 1986 when The International Center for the Preservation of Wild Animals (ICPWA) received a gift of 9,154 acres of land from the Central Ohio Coal Company, a subsidiary of the American Electric Power Company. This land had been reclaimed after being used for many years for strip-mining. Since then, with funding from public and private organizations, governmental agencies, educational institutions, and individuals, the Wilds has grown into a world-renowned facility. Several animal management facilities were constructed and various habitats were established for the animals. A visitor center, gift shop, and cafeteria were all built to welcome visitors to the Wilds.
At the Wilds they are working to reduce the worldwide loss of species and habitat by developing solutions for the management of sustainable wildlife populations through scientific research. They offer advanced training to professionals in the fields of animal management, veterinary medicine, conservation biology, restoration biology, genetics and reproduction, and other fields of science.
from Africa. (By the way, the name White Rhino does not refer to the color of the animal. It is derived from an Afrikaan word, whit, which means wide-mouthed animal.) After lunch, we took the Wilds Safari tour and got to see a wide variety of animals in their “native” habitat. Many of them were so close to the bus that we could have reached out and touched them. Of course, that’s not allowed due to the wild nature of these animals. In fact, when the bus pulled up just a foot or so away from a Bactrian Camel, our guide double-checked to make sure the windows were closed. The camels have a history of spitting at the buses. The Przewalski horse herd is one of very few in the world. 
They went extinct in the wild around 1968. In the early 1990’s a reintroduction program began in their native country, and today there is a small Przewalski horse herd roaming the steppes of Mongolia.
Rabbit Breeds 
figured it would be really difficult, especially with winter right around the corner. Apartment living didn’t seem too conducive to weight-loss either. I was pleasantly surprised when we had our first weigh-in and Moxie had lost 7 lbs. 
The plan was much easier than anticipated and for us, it included finding the right food, taking daily walks or having 20 minute play sessions chasing tennis balls. Now that spring is here, we go to Bark Park (
Chloe Babai started her weight management program in January this year. Her current family acquired her as an 11 year old. She was on glucosamines to help with joint pain. At her first visit to us last fall, the doctor put her on pain control medication. Her owner reported some improvement with the new medications, but she still seemed painful. Her veterinarian suggested a weight loss program since excess weight worsens joint problems. She began our weight management program at 104.7 pounds and after six months was down to 96.4 pounds – much closer to her ideal weight. Her owner reports Chloe is more comfortable since she achieved her weight loss goal. Congratulations to Chloe and her family!!
Madison was an active dog but she also enjoyed eating. Last fall, at 80 pounds, her veterinarian considered her overweight and recommended that she start a weight management program. Through a concerted effort by her owners to make sure her calorie intake was as the doctor directed, and lots of exercise, Madison went down to 73.5 pounds at her last weigh-in. This was in her goal range, and she graduated from the program. We understand the work that goes into such a successful program and we applaud Madison and her family!!
When Maggie Reilly Wright came in for her annual exam in January of this year, we found that she had gained ten pounds since her annual visit in ’03. She had a history of hip dysplasia, and increased weight greatly complicates that condition. At 83.3 pounds, the veterinarian signed her up for the weight management program. At her last weigh-in she was down to 74.7 pounds, and the doctor said she has achieved a good weight and could graduate from the program. Her owners tell us that Maggie definitely is more comfortable at the lower weight. 
Maggie and her family all deserve a pat on the back. Congratulations!!
Cole and Daniel Ferris began the weight management program last summer. Cole was having a lot of joint problems. X-rays showed that he had hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis. Pain control medication was prescribed along with the weight loss program. At the beginning of the program, Cole weighed 33.6 pounds. 
Today he is a slim and trim 23.9 pounds and his owner says he is a different dog. That is truly a great job! Cole lost about nearly a third of his body weight! Daniel was moderately overweight, going from 13.8 pounds down to 12.5 pounds – a 9% loss. Congratulations to the Ferris family for a job very well done!