BLOOMFIELD, Wis. (AP) - Jay Christie hardly flinched when a 7-foot, blue-necked ostrich ambled behind him and pecked at the button on the shoulder of his khaki shirt.
The moon-eyed creature native to Africa was more interested in getting treats from tourists than torturing Christie, The Gazette (https://bit.ly/2dLSwRu ) reported.
Early last week, the sole owner of an adventurous endeavor in Walworth County showed off his safari park, which opened Aug. 27.
“I have always had a passion for animals,” Christie said, riding in an open tractor-drawn wagon among roaming wildlife.
The park in the village of Bloomfield, about 5 miles southeast of downtown Lake Geneva, is an ambition come true.
As a boy, Christie already had two goals. He wanted to be a zookeeper. Then he wanted to be in charge of a wildlife park.
He fulfilled the first after more than 16 years in charge of the Racine Zoo.
Now, at 48, he is living out the second among 75 acres of rolling fields with mature trees and wetlands off Litchfield Road.
So far, the quiet open space has 20 species of animals from all continents except Antarctica. Christie bought them from zoos and private breeders and wants to have at least two of each with most species.
Among them are more birds, including emus, rheas and black-crowned African cranes.
The camels were scheduled to arrive last week and will join other large herbivores, including American bison, Grant’s zebras and Ankole-Watusi cattle.
The small antelope that bounce across the open fields are blackbucks. They used to be common across almost all of India. But like so many animals, growing human and livestock populations have displaced them.
Christie sees his park as a place to learn about animals, including conservation efforts to save them.
One of those animals is the scimitar-horned oryx, named for its magnificently curved horns. Once, the animal ranged across most of North Africa. But it was hunted for its meat and hide to the brink of extinction.
“It was quite widespread 200 years ago,” Christie said. “But it was exterminated after the introduction of 4-wheel drives and automatic weapons.”
For a long time, the only remaining animals were in captivity. Recently, some were released back into the wild in Chad.
Because of his concern about dwindling wildlife, Christie pledged to “always devote a percentage of our budget to conservation in the wild.”
He also talks to visitors about heritage animals, which are domesticated livestock in danger of disappearing.
His dream eventually will include 100 species and heated shelter.
For the time being, warm-climate wildlife will return to the zoos where they came from when the fall season ends.
Christie supports wildlife parks because animals have much more room to roam than in a zoo. In addition, guests riding in open wagons can get close to them.
Employee Maggie Madden, the director of science and education, said getting near wild creatures helps visitors have personal connections with them.
“We’re here so people appreciate the animals,” she said. “The closer we can get them to the animals, the more they will care.”
Madden worked at both the Racine and Milwaukee zoos but could not pass up the chance to be part of the safari park, which does not have predators such as lions, tigers and bears.
The next closest wildlife park is in southern Illinois, she said.
Christie lives at the site in a house that, until recently, had no electricity or running water.
“We had to take care of the animals’ needs first,” he explained.
The farmhouse is covered with a grass roof and wooden slats to appear more like a home in Kenya than one in rural Wisconsin.
Christie has been privileged to travel on safaris around the world, and he led wildlife-watching safaris in Kenya.
“In the end, what motivated me to do this was my love for the planet and the idea of letting people see into my world,” he said. “I want to share my passion of living things with those who do not have the budget to go to East Africa. I want to give them the thrill that comes with spotting animals in free range.”
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Information from: The Janesville Gazette, https://www.gazetteextra.com
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