A young woman named Kristen Kerr, who was born and raised in an animal sanctuary, has decided to make it her mission in life to care for wild animals in Africa.
The 21-year-old even decided to home-school starting from 10 years of age because she missed the animals while at school. And time has made her passion grow stronger.
Watch to meet Kristen Kerr and her love for wild animals.
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Video credit: Rumble
Kristen now works full-time at another sanctuary that had opened in 2016 and has already helped nurse a dozen wild animals back to full health. Whether it’s cheetahs and hyenas or meerkats and zebras, Kristen equally sees all of them as creatures to be cared for.
Kristen said: “My dad Barry, 54 raises lions and other big cats he has taught me everything I know.
“We rescued three of our current cheetahs from a breeding farm, where the owner got into financial problems and lost his farm, one of which was pregnant, so I raised the cubs from birth.
“Most of the time, members of the public bring the animals to us if they feel they’re in danger or we rescue them, the mongooses were found in a drain following a flood.
“My house is ten yards away from the cheetah enclosure, so they are the first thing I see in the morning which is great.
“I moved to Johannesburg in September 2018 as I am still young and I thought I should at least try and experience the corporate world.
“But it wasn’t for me, I found people were always competing with one another like who has the best car, etc. and I just wanted to be back where I belong with the animals.
“By January, I returned to the sanctuary and it was the best feeling in the world.
“It has become part of my daily routine to interact with animals whether they are big or small, it is all I have ever known.
“Half of the time I forget that the cheetahs are wild – I consider them to be more like house cats.
“It may sound crazy, but I feel like I can talk to the animals but without saying a word.
“It is all about body language, they read yours as much as you read theirs.
“I have raised three cheetahs since cubs, and they are like my family – I know they would protect me as much as I protect them.
“They are totally harmless; I lie on the floor with them and kiss their faces and sometimes even sleep in the enclosure with them.
“I look after seven more cheetahs, one of which is wild, I am in the process of building a respectful relationship with him.
“One rule that I stick by is never forcing the animals to be my friend, I show that I am not going to hurt them and slowly getting closer every day to gain their trust.
“It usually takes a month to build their trust but if I ever overstep the mark, the cheetah jumps up and slaps his paws on the ground which means that is enough.
“I have never been hurt by the animals, but I am sure if they ever did hurt me, then it is likely to be my own fault.
“The first big cats I ever met were two three-month-old lions when I was 11 and I still remember the wave of joy that went through my body.
“It is a surreal experience and I am lucky enough to live it every single day.”
Two Serval cats and three mongooses are currently under the care of Kristen. She adds that the Lion King gave hyenas an undeserved bad rap because they are actually ‘remarkable animals.’
After graduating in 2017, she moved to the city but eventually found city life quite draining so she moved back to the sanctuary after only three months. Aside from missing the wild animals, she also missed her pet rabbits, rats, cats, and dog.
She adds: “I hated every day in the office, sitting behind a computer was not for me.
“I prefer feeding the big cats and getting my hands dirty in the enclosures – I also educate volunteers about the animals and show them exactly how amazing they are.
“I have loved animals ever since a baby – when I was younger, kids used to cruelly pick baby birds out of the nests and leave them to die but I would save them.
“The first animal I ever raised was a squirrel who had been orphaned when I was six and I nursed him back to good health before setting him free.
“I also looked after a duiker who had been sprayed in the eye by a cobra – even though the animal was completely wild, she felt safe and didn’t run away until she felt better again.
“I don’t regret raising animals, they are all my best friends.”
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