Article and Photos by Marty Proctor, South Lake Tablet
Chase Rescue Sanctuary in Webster is on a mission to improve the lives of abused, abandoned, or unwanted exotic animals. They work primarily with primates (lemurs, cotton-top tamarin monkeys, marmosets), large birds, sloths and tortoises. This incredible Webster-based animal sanctuary has begun Lemur and Friends interactive tours, Painting with Primates events, and Lemur Yoga programs. A Sloth Meditation program is planned to begin in April. These programs present a unique opportunity to directly interact with these amazing wild animals.
What makes this sanctuary unique is the clear love and care that these rescued animals are getting. The care shows in the animals’ happy and interactive attitudes. No animals are grabbed, pushed into open arms or otherwise forced to behave in a manner not of their choosing. “The animals are free to interact with our guests on their own terms,” stated volunteer tour guide Dianna Lamolli. “My son Aaren is here too. The animals really get to you.” This care-based approach is rare in the realm of in-person or up-close wildlife experiences.
The majority of the volunteers and visitors are from Clermont and south Lake county. There are also many snowbird and college student volunteers that swell the volunteer ranks during the spring and summer seasons. South Lake and other visitors are welcome for tours and events with prior appointment.
On the Lemur and Friends interactive tours, you join the lemurs and other animals inside their barn homes and 3-acre open-air, electra-net habitat within the 10-acre sanctuary. During the tour, you have the opportunity to watch the different species interact. Inside the open habitats, the lemurs may jump from tree to tree and sometimes on you. The tortoises (including 200 pound plus Sully) wander around you freely and mingle with white-tailed deer, Patagonian cavies, and the troop of ring-tailed lemurs running loose for exercise on this day. The king of the roost is a little white rabbit. She seems to be friends with all but is clearly respected by even the biggest of the animals. Has the rabbit Caerbannog from Monty Python retired here?
Spread throughout the 10-acre refuge, there are marmosets (the world’s smallest monkey species), cotton-top tamarin monkeys, a brown lemur, two-toed sloths, ring-tailed lemurs, red-ruffed lemurs, kangaroo, antelopes, and a smattering of those huge African spurred “sulcata” tortoises. These animal groups are carefully selected, matched, and introduced to ensure they are compatible. The enclosures are large, creative, and offer a wide range of activities specific to the inhabitants. Most of the larger enclosures have sky trails that lead to the larger, open habitats. The largest is 3 acres with Florida native trees and plants as well as toys and tools to amuse and entertain the free-roaming animals.
Never forget, these are wild animals. Wild animals are rarely suitable for pets at home, especially critically endangered animals. These animals are often highly destructive due to their high-energy natural behavior. Some like the tortoise and parrots live 60 or more years. That is tremendous, some say impossible, commitment to loving and caring for a pet throughout its ever-changing life cycle.
It is sad to hear the story of young lemur pups forcibly removed from their parents just after birth for the animal trade. Neither the pup nor the parents recover from this repeated abuse. ”Through education, we can increase awareness and can discourage the primate pet and breeding trades” Nina Vassallo, Sanctuary owner stated. “We can also shed light on the plight of primates in danger of extinction.” Chase Rescue Sanctuary is dedicated to improving the lives of these abused, abandoned, or former breeding stock pets.
The proceeds from the Sanctuary’s programs are used to fund the care, feeding and housing of these exotic animals. Most of the workers and the tour guides are volunteers. The Sanctuary continues to grow both in community awareness and facilities. Guide Dianna pointed out the “Meditation Center” which is under construction. Owner Nina Vassallo describes it like this, “we have created a 1400 sq ft climate controlled tropical sloth habitat to allow the public to see and meditate around these incredible beings while learning about the importance of protecting their privacy and their rainforest habitat.” When the program starts later this year, “we will be introducing small groups of 10 or less into this new space with the sloths. The ability to host a wide variety of events will help ensure that the sanctuary continues into the future.”
“The animals and people pull you in,” interjected Casey Fredette a keeper who travels from Crystal River to work at the Sanctuary. “My wife volunteers too, working on the mission with threatened and endangered species. The work also includes creating bio-diversity and genetic diversity among the most endangered of the animals.”
Contact info: Chase Animal Rescue Sanctuary, Webster, Fl 33597. Phone number is 352-988-8014. Email contact is through info@chasesanctuary.org
Schedule any tour, group visit, or program attendance in advance at this site: https://www.chasesanctuary.org/store/
Their website is https://www.chasesanctuary.org/ where donation and volunteer opportunities are explained. The Chase Rescue Sanctuary is a non-profit 501-(c)(3) charitable organization and all donations are tax deductible.
