Wildlife WayStation facts for kids
| Date opened | 1976 |
|---|---|
| Location | Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County, United States |
| Land area | 160 acres (65 ha) |
| No. of animals | 400 |
The Wildlife WayStation was a special place in Sylmar, California. It was a large animal sanctuary that covered 160 acres. This sanctuary was located in the northern part of Los Angeles County, inside the Angeles National Forest.
Its main goal was to rescue and help wild and exotic animals. Martine Colette, who loved animals, started the WayStation in 1976. It was a charity that helped many animals over the years. Martine Colette stopped being in charge in May 2019.
Contents
History of the Sanctuary
Martine Colette created the Wildlife WayStation in 1976. She wanted it to be a safe home for wild and exotic animals. She even lived on the property herself!
The sanctuary cared for many different animals. These included large animals like big cats and bears. At one time, it was home to the biggest group of chimpanzees in the Western United States. The plan was to help animals get better and then release them. However, many animals stayed at the WayStation for their whole lives.
Challenges and Rescues
In 1992, the sanctuary faced a big problem. A sickness called distemper spread. This disease usually affects dogs, but it also spread to the big cats. The sanctuary had been helping many sick raccoons and skunks. Sadly, 18 big cats died during this time. The sanctuary had to close for almost a year.
In September 1995, the WayStation helped with a big rescue. Some large cats had escaped from a place called Ligertown in Idaho. The WayStation rescued 27 lions and ligers. These animals were found in very dirty pens and tunnels. Many of them were not healthy. The rescued animals were taken to the WayStation and given good care.
The Wildlife WayStation thought about moving in 2007. They wanted to build a new, smaller place. It would be about 80 acres and outside the Angeles National Forest.
Fires and Closure
The sanctuary was in a mountain area. This meant it was sometimes in danger from forest fires. In August 2009, a forest fire in the Angeles National Forest got close. Many animals had to be moved to safety.
Another fire, called the Creek Fire, affected the sanctuary in December 2017. Parts of the facility were burned. Animals had to be moved again to keep them safe.
In 2019, officials announced that the Wildlife WayStation would be closing. The property was put up for sale in October of that year.
Animals at the WayStation
The Wildlife WayStation was home to about 400 wild and exotic animals. These included many different kinds of animals. Some of them were lions, tigers, leopards, mountain lions, jaguars, and bobcats. They also cared for bears, primates, deer, coyotes, and wolves.
Many of these animals came to the WayStation because their owners could no longer care for them. Sometimes, people bought exotic pets but then realized they couldn't handle them. These animals were often abandoned or given to the WayStation. When they arrived, they were often not in good health. The veterinarians and staff at the WayStation worked hard to care for them.
In the Media
The Wildlife WayStation was featured in some movies and TV shows.
Martine Colette, who founded the sanctuary, appeared in the movie White Dog. Part of this film was even shot at the WayStation!
The sanctuary was also the main topic of an episode of the TV show Marcel's Quantum Kitchen. The episode was called "Walk on the Wild Side". It aired on the SyFy channel.
