Field Trip ~ BIG CATS!...

It's March 1st, and a simply delightful day for a field trip to visit one of the country's largest wildlife sanctuaries here in Colorado. We made a spontaneous trip to meet JP's sisters and family for a self-guided tour of the grounds. I didn't realize this refuge was so close to home, so we drove out to Hudson to support the admirable efforts to save abandoned and abused wild cats, bears, and other beautiful creatures.

The refuge is called The Wild Animal Sanctuary, and they have a series of suspended bridges, platforms and lookout towers where you can look out and below at over 100 cats, including lions, tigers, spotted and black leopards and mountain lions. I took some photos to share with my friends in blogland, so enjoy!

~ Johanna

* Ahhh, I only ~wish~ I could curl up and snuggle with these furry creatures, but I think I will just leave that to my imagination!..... Time for a cat nap.....

* This is a great overhead zoom I got!.... Looks like I was standing directly over this sleeping beauty, but a bridge kept us apart.....


* Wow!....Big lazy lions were sun-bathing in a distant field.... Their composure reminds me of our domesticated cat companions.....


* A zoom on this lazy lion......


* A tiger laps up water on our warmest day of the year so far......


* Look at the exotic patterns on this dark-colored tiger..... wow!


* A lioness relaxes next to her large bathtub.... she looks so gentle....(from a distance)


* A colony of blackbirds perching in this old, crooked tree caught my eye as we were leaving the grounds.... I'm drawn to natural compositions such as this.....

As always, I have birds and cats on the brain :)