Lions and tigers and lemurs…oh heck yea!
June 18, 2012
About two and a half hours north of Orlando (depending on how reliable your GPS is), tucked away off a dirt road is a residence much unlike the horse farms it neighbors. The multiple ‘Beware Of’ signs that do not reference dogs, but rather much larger animals, are the first indications that this homestead is a bit out of the ordinary. And unless you made the trip up the driveway and through the gates, you’d probably think those were just some novelty signs, until perhaps you heard a sporadic roar.
8185 Forest Hills Road is home to three Bengal tigers (two orange and one white), a Siberian tiger, an African lioness, an Asian black leopard, two mountain lions, lemurs, macaws, alligators, Malaysian squirrels, kinkajous — and that’s not even the whole roster. And they all live in Carl Bovard’s backyard in Melrose, Florida. Each animal with ample space, mental stimulation, social interaction and a nutrient-rich diet. It’s what you might expect to find at a well-funded independent zoo, but this is no zoo, this is Single Vision Inc.
One of our newest clients here at The Arkin Agency, Single Vision, is a non-profit focused on educating people about the dangers of extinction and the plight of endangered animals all over the world. A few of us had the amazing opportunity to visit Carl and one of his dedicated volunteers, Dilyn Jackson, at Single Vision and experience first-hand the amazing relationship they have forged between human and animal.
Single Vision began when Carl, a former zoo keeper, animal trainer and wildlife educator, took in his first two baby Bengal tigers, Amira and Bali. Bali was born with vision problems, and Carl could relate, having lost part of his vision in a motorcycle accident. From there, the family (and Carl’s backyard) grew. Carl set out on a mission to show people how majestic and vital these wild creatures are, and how threatened they have become.
Through tours of the facility, educational programs and special appearances, the Single Vision animal ambassadors are giving a face to the endangered species crisis. People care about what they know about, which is why education is the first step to saving the habitats and lives of endangered wildlife. Our goal at The Studios is to help Carl, Dilyn and all the Single Vision volunteers share their message with a wider audience and attract people to this extraordinary hidden haven.
One of the key features that sets Single Vision apart from other wildlife facilities is an interspecies play session that occurs every evening. All the big cats, some of which would have never encountered each other in the wild, all come together to play and chase and lounge around in a spacious enclosure. Often Carl can be found right in the middle of it all, throwing a ball for Nala the lion or giving Sita the leopard a scratch behind the ears. Yea, it’s as cool as we’re describing. Probably cooler.
While we couldn’t get in the enclosures with the big cats (it’s illegal to allow the public to interact with big cats over 40 lbs), we did get to pal around with some of the tinier Single Vision residents — feeding grapes to the lemurs while they perched on our backs and letting the Malaysian squirrels crawl all over us. And we did pet a few tigers through the gates, with Carl’s permission of course. Trust us, you haven’t lived until you’ve touched the paw of a white tiger (magic!).
We encourage everyone to visit Single Vision, but if you can’t make it to Florida, you can view tons of photos and videos of the animals and make a donation on their current website: singlevisioninc.org.