Know The Condition And Give Careful Attention

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Centre is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Alaskan wildlife. This Centre annually takes in hundreds of orphaned and injured wildlife and provides them with the necessary care until they are fit to reenter the wild. If it is not possible to release them, then the Centre becomes their permanent home. Fortunately, nearly all of the animals are successfully reintroduced into their natural habitat once they reach an age of independence or healing.

Here are some pictures I took of the animals that are currently being cared for at the Centre.

A Bull Moose

Moose Calves

Bull Elk Bugling At A Female Cow

Bull Elk Agitated Because Of An Annoying Spectator
(and it wasn't me)

Black Bears Having Breakfast

A Very Young Fawn

Lynx

Muskox

This Wildlife Conservation Centre is located on a haven of 170 acres just outside of the city of Anchorage, at the entrance to Portage Valley. Here are two pictures I took of the landscape before viewing the animals.

It was interesting to discover that since 2003, this Centre has had an integral part in the recovery program of the wood bison in Alaska. For many decades, the wood bison in Alaska have been extinct. So in November 2003, a herd of wild wood bison were transported from the Yukon Territory in Canada (yeah, Canada!) and in 2005, for the first time in over a hundred years, wood bison calves were born in the state of Alaska. In a few years, the Centre plans on releasing them into the wild.

The wood bison is the largest land animal in North America, and the wilds of Alaska will soon once again be home to these massive animals — the only habitat for them in all of the United States.

In Proverbs, the Bible tells man that they need to know for certain the condition of their flocks and to give careful attention to their herds.

"Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,

give careful attention to your herds."

Proverbs 27:23 (NIV)

All animals are given to us by God to respect and care for. Unfortunately, man has not always done this. Thank goodness for conservation centres like this who do!