Posted on 10/11/2017 11:58:33 PM PDT by Califreak
Peter Lang had a heart-wrenching choice — save his house in the fire-ravaged hills above Santa Rosa or protect the more than 1,000 animals trapped at his wildlife preserve, Safari West.
The 77-year-old owner of the 400-acre facility on Porter Creek Road didn’t give it much thought.
As the flames approached, Lang ushered his wife, employees and 30 overnight guests off the hill, grabbed a garden hose and began dousing hot spots threatening his collection of primarily African species, including cheetahs, giraffes and rhinoceroses.
When dawn broke, they were all alive but Lang’s home was destroyed.
“I did not lose a single animal,” he said Tuesday as he walked the grounds, dense smoke still shrouding pens and other outbuildings. “It is amazing.”
(Excerpt) Read more at pressdemocrat.com ...
He’s lucky he didn’t get roasted.
but I applaud his guts to do what he did.
I know that I wouldn’t have.
My firm had our company picnic @ Safari West in Summer 2016; really neat place with amazing animals, a huge aviary, knowledgable friendly staff who seem pretty happy about what they do, super-cool double-decker safari bus tours through the lovely Sonoma County preserve landscape. Great day-trip and you’ll enjoy close-up views of the flamingos, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, and many other non-native animals. I recommend it to any Freeper that might want to visit this really neat place and support Safari West.
P.S. I’d also say that while definitely kid-friendly, Safari West does not have that cheezy, “BUY STUFF” theme-park vibe. The vibe I got was very down-to-earth and more about educating guests about the animals than selling you junk once you enter the grounds.
Not like 1,000 exotic species are worth tons more than a house....or anything. /s
Yeah, one is insured and easily replaced. The other is probably impossible to recreate whether it’s insured or not. Great reporting.
I’m going if they reopen.
I never knew it was there.
Yeah that was extremely brave.
He seems like good people.
Yes, God bless him.
I’m sure many of those souls were ones he knew well and loved. Must have been a terrifying night. There are many good people. Not many both good and brave enough to risk his life for souls like these. Hope he gets massive support and publicity and can rebuild.
My brother-in-law made the papers by trying to save a calf that had gone onto the ice on the pond, and broken thru. BIL tied a rope to his tractor and went out onto the ice. But somehow the knot didn’t hold, and . . .
I second this recommendation. We were lucky enough to do corporate outing there too as well as a family overnight outing. The sounds of the mostly African animals during the night are amazing. Almost like being in a real African safari.
I hope you do, it is quite enjoyable. We have gone a couple of times overnight for our anniversary. The tents are very nice, we were lucky enough to get one overlooking the giraffe enclosure. We were there in September, the animals were close in because they feed them at certain locations since the grazing is poor at that time. They brought a cheetah into the breakfast building.
No one would leave 1,000 exotic animals that are probably worth a total of tens of millions to die compared to a house that is likely insured.
It’s common sense. Not really heroic imho.
IMHO A 77 year-old man who, in some fear for his own safety (as evidenced by the fact that he sent his wife and family away), chooses to ensure the safety of animals is his charge at the cost of his home, is acting the hero.
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