COLOMBIA: School teacher Ana Julia Torres sets up shelter for abandoned and disabled animals, many of which were rescued from drug lords, circuses and wildlife traffickers

Record ID: 1540679

  • Title: COLOMBIA: School teacher Ana Julia Torres sets up shelter for abandoned and disabled animals, many of which were rescued from drug lords, circuses and wildlife traffickers
  • Date: 22nd October 2011
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OWNER AND FOUNDER OF VILLA LORENA ANIMAL SHELTER, ANA JULIA TORRES, SAYING: "Villa Lorena is a wonderful place that loves, protects, defends and respects the animals because the animals that are here, most of them ended here because of animal cruelty. Here we have animals that are missing body parts, that are blind or have injured eyes, missing eyes, handicapped and we even have animals that have been raped by humans. We can see here all the beautiful things that were given to us by God and we can also see how human beings have hurt them." JAGUAR LIMPING IN A CAGE JAGUAR EATING MEAT TORRES PLAYING WITH A CHIMP THAT WAS FOUND IN THE BACK OF A TRAILER OF AN ABANDONED CIRCUS TORRES GIVING JUICE TO THE CHIMP CHIMP DRINKING JUICE TORRES FEEDING FRUITS TO MONKEYS MONKEY WITH AN INJURY CAUSED BY TIGHT LEASH IT USED TO WEAR MONKEY'S WOUND (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OWNER AND FOUNDER OF VILLA LORENA ANIMAL SHELTER, ANA JULIA TORRES, SAYING: "I would love to continue doing the same thing, with the same problems, with the same struggle but also with the same satisfaction of seeing their recovery. To see a dying animal arriving here and being able to help it recover������� After that my reward comes through the hugs I receive from monkeys, parrots listening to me, ostriches opening their wings, the lion hugging me, the tigers licking me; I touch all of them and that is my reward, that acknowledgement of a job done by those wonderful animals is priceless. This can't be purchased with any money in the world and I feel the satisfaction of having done something great for some even greater beings." LION RESTING LION'S FACE LION JUMPING AND HUGGING TORRES THROUGH THE CAGE'S BARS TORRES KISSING AND HUGGING LION CAGES VARIOUS OF COUGAR MISSING A LEG INSIDE CAGE
  • Embargoed: 5th November 2011 20:31
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Colombia, Colombia
  • Country: Colombia
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Environment,People
  • Reuters ID: LVA1YXIQ9LUUIJSIZ4NDQEWOF0NY
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: In a humble sanctuary in the city of Cali, school teacher Ana Julia Julia Torres has renewed hope for hundreds of animals like a mentally ill lion and a handicapped jaguar who used to belong to drug lords in Colombia.
    Of the 800 animals who live in the refuge, many were seized by police from the luxurious estates of drug barons like that of late trafficker Pablo Escobar.
    Others, like this old camel who turned blind, were abandoned by circuses or seized from animal trafficking rings.
    Dozens of flamingos who were drugged and packed into suitcases to be transported from country to country also roam Torres' sanctuary next to peacocks and a king vulture who had one of its eyes torn out.
    Torres said she dedicates her life and monthly payment to help animals recover from the abuses they suffered from their previous owners.
    "Villa Lorena is a wonderful place that loves, protects, defends and respects the animals because the animals that are here, most of them ended here because of animal cruelty. Here we have animals that are missing body parts, that are blind or have injured eyes, missing eyes, handicapped and we even have animals that have been raped by humans. We can see here all the beautiful things that were given to us by God and we can also see how human beings have hurt them," she said.
    But running the place is no easy task and Torres does it largely on her own, relying on some money donations and leftover food from neighbouring farms.
    Jaguars, tigers and pumas can also be found in the 15-year-old refuge that often receives groups of young students from the school where Torres lectures.
    She never turns down animals, no matter how close to death they might be. In fact, burying animals is not uncommon since many suffer from health issues caused by drugs or physical abuses.
    Some monkeys limp and others have injuries caused by tight leashes they used to wear.
    Torres said her debts, which are not few, will not keep her from expanding the sanctuary.
    "I would love to continue doing the same thing, with the same problems, with the same struggle but also with the same satisfaction of seeing their recovery. To see a dying animal arriving here and being able to help it recover������� After that my reward comes through the hugs I receive from monkeys, parrots listening to me, ostriches opening their wings, the lion hugging me, the tigers licking me; I touch all of them and that is my reward, that acknowledgement of a job done by those wonderful animals is priceless. This can't be purchased with any money in the world and I feel the satisfaction of having done something great for some even greater beings," she said.
    The reward Torres describes becomes clear when she receives a warm hug from a lion named Jupiter, who was seized from a circus where he was underfed.
    While the animals struggle to recover from their injuries, Torres continues her battle to keep the place running with mounting bills and repeated letters from government officials turning down her requests for public financial aid.
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