
When you look into these wild eyes,

what do you see?

I see,

wild hearts,

untamed,

yearning to be free.

These mountain lions were photographed at The Big Bear Alpine Zoo in Big Bear Lake California.

Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a rescue and rehabilitation facility that provides injured, orphaned and imprinted wild animals a safe haven, either temporarily as they heal, or permanently if they are unable to survive in the wild. 90% of the animals brought to the facility are released back into the wild.

There are 160 animals in the facility currently, comprising 60 different species. There is a golden eagle with one eye, a bear with three legs, a grizzly that was scheduled for euthanasia at Yellowstone, animals that were kept as pets and abandoned when they become too much to handle, and many more animals with sad histories.
A new zoo is under construction that will offer more spacious accommodation with glass enclosures. The zoo is owned by The Big Bear Department of Parks and Recreation and is staffed by county employees (Source: Big Bear Alpine Zoo).
Cheers to you from the gorgeous cats at The Big Bear Alpine Zoo~
For more information check out:
Beautiful, as usual!
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I don’t know what it is about your photography that has something mesmerizing about it. Obviously, I’m not the only one who thinks that. Cheers and very happy belated New Year, Cindy! xx
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Great photos! You can really se the wildness in their eyes.
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These photos have a believable lifelike feel about them.
They are fantastic.
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You are very kind and most appreciated. Thank you.
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You are most welcome Cindy.
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❤
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All beautiful photos.
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Honored. Thank you & Happy Friday!
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Lovely Kitten! Lol…
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This is one kitty-kitty you may not want to call to you!!!
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It is only sweet on the picture. 🙂
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Mesmerizing.
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Grazie mille!
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Vielen dank!
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Great shots Cindy! Cougars are the only animal I haven’t seen and photographed. Vancouver island has the greatest population of Cougars on this earth and I have never ran across a single one.
Why do they keep this one in there anyways?
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“Vancouver island has the greatest population of Cougars on this earth and I have never ran across a single one.”
I had no idea!!! I was always getting more careful there when I came upon tons of fresh bear scat, I wasn’t factoring in mountain lions, laughing.
California had a bunch too when I was a kid, but I would only see their cached deer kills, always knowing they were watching me, while I could not even see them.
They are impressive, much like birds, in that are good at evading humans.
A juvenile just attacked a biker in Colorado. He strangled it by hand.
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well,they are a ambush predator so they normally do not expose themselves but your right,they most often are observing you.
Yes,heard about that Colorado incident. If you thought that was interesting your going to love this
http://www.badassoftheweek.com/akeley.html
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I noticed your further comment and agree with you. Some tall tales here I would imagine.
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this article is not totally accurate Cindy.I just noticed that it says he threw the Leopard over his shoulder and walked back to camp.He did not do that.The Leopard was brought back to camp by other men from the camp and put on the bed near him.
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Thanks for the heads up. Your bears are going to be waking up soon!
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In 4 to 6 weeks?
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Would love to be there….
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Wild and wonderful…I hope this wild untamed heart can run forever free again at some point!
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I think Wolfie would work to set him free. There were wolves here to. They howled with the coyotes.
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Wolfie certainly would! And joined in the howl with the coyotes🙂👍
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We all will! ❤
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👍😅
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scared but a little cute!
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❤
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This seems to be more like an animal hospital than a zoo. They say that 90% of all the animals brought to them for rehabilitation are successfully released back into their native environment. That is good to hear.
Excellent pictures, as usual, Cindy.
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It is good isn’t it, and it has been in operation since the 1950’s apparently, although I never knew of it until now.
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Love those expressive eyes in your beautiful shots…and happy there is a rehab place like this/
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It is the best possible option when there are no others.
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your lenses are great to have been able to capture this wild beauty! she is gorgeous and she has got beautiful furs.
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Thanks so much and I am happy you enjoyed!
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Bonjour ou bonsoir mon amie et belle CINDY

Je regarde le ciel et je pense tout en m’évadant

Et je m’envole dans le plus grand silence
Voir un monde meilleur sans guerre ou tout le monde se donne la main
Voir toutes les personnes du monde ce sourire, sans aucun ne soit être déçu
Des jours à ma fenêtre
Je regarde les enfants courir,sauter,s’amuser
sans que la maladie viennent les toucher
Je regarde aussi les couples
Ou l’amour de deux personnes sans qu’elles soient jugées
ne peuvent se mentir
Aimer toujours aimer quoi de plus beau
Sans le dire on peux le démontrer par la parole ,par un cadeau autres
Sur ces mots
Je passe te souhaiter une bonne journée ou fin de soirée
Gros bisous
Bernard
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Merci beaucoup mon ami Bernard!
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Very beautifully! 🙂
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A wonderful cat…
beautiful pictures, because the lion is alive.
greetings
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Whoa. You get it! Thank you.
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Wild Eyes though but Beautiful.
Fond Regards
Shiva
🌷💞
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Yes, thank you, wild is beautiful!
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It was good reading this
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It was even better reading your comment ❤
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Beautiful! I love the first close up picture.
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They are just so completely beautiful aren’t they.
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Yes. They are beautiful! 💕
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❤ ❤
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Ahhhhh, so kind of you and so appreciated too! Thank you ❤
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I lived in Big Bear for a very short time as I am physically unable to cope with the cold, but I remember that rescue sanctuary very well. It is a great location and the animals seem to be very well cared for. I love the wild creatures, especially wild donkeys. I very much keep up on those and occasionally go to Reche Canyon to see them. Last time I was up there, a bunch of them in different locations decided to cross the road, and I was so frightened that they would get hit. Yes, we now have a donkey sanctuary in this area thanks to Bob Barker, but there are still donkeys getting hit in the roads because there are no fences to keep them on one side or the other. They are actually very gentle (generally speaking) creatures. One time we pulled into an off-the-road area where there were a bunch of donkeys, and right away a mother, father, and their two children, a younger boy and an older girl donkey came to show off their children. They approached the car, and mom pushed the little boy up to the car. I petted his face gently and then she pushed the older little girl up to us, and I petted her face, and then they looked kindly at us and turned about and went their way. If I ever had the opportunity and a good supportive piece of land, I would have a couple of them in my yard. They are quite good at being good guard animals too. They will bray loudly if someone approaches their property when they live in a specific area. I knew people in Deming, New Mexico who had a ranch, and the donkeys lived there. If anyone came near the property, they would bray loudly, especially at night. Geese too are good that way.
Thank you for the lovely post.
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I have wanted donkeys for eons. We have plenty of room for them at The Holler and they are wonderful at chasing off coyotes. I love their temperaments too. Your story about the wild donkey family introducing their children to you is quite moving. Wild animals are often inaptly named aren’t they. Maybe humans are actually the wilder ones in the final analysis. I hope you get some donkeys ❤ ❤
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Beautiful photos…in those eyes I see wisdom and nobility, intelligence and respect. They are truly superior animals
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I couldn’t possibly agree with you more! Be well Francisco.
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