rewild
[ree-wahyld]
- to introduce (animals or plants) to their original habitat or to a habitat similar to their natural one: proposals to rewild elephants to the American plains.
- to return (land) to a more natural state: rewilding an unpopulated island for use as an animal preserve.
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“Do we
really have to let them go?” Sarah whined.
“You
know we do.” Phil answered as he got out of the van.
“But…but
they’re so sweet and nice and gentle.”
She
looked towards the back of the van, where a large cage rested. The occupants of the cage raised their heads
and looked at her.
“Sarah,
they’re wild animals. They’re gentle now
because they’re young. But once they get
older…”
Sarah let
out a pathetic little whimper and looked at her co-worker with wide eyes.
“Oh don’t
give me that look.” Phil said as he rolled his eyes. “Remember, these aren’t dogs, they’re wolves. Wild born wolves.”
“I know
that. But still.”
“Get out
of the van, Sarah. Let’s get these two out
into the woods.”
“I don’t
want to.”
“My god,
woman, you’re 32 years old. Stop acting
like a spoiled child.”
Sarah’s expression
hardened and she glared at Phil for daring to mention her age. Sure, there were no other people around, but
it was the principle of the thing. He
chose to ignore her ire and headed to the back of the van, opening the doors to
get access to the wolves’ cage. The
animals turned from Sarah to the open door.
One of them stood and began to pace.
“We can’t
let them go.” Sarah said. She unbuckled
her seatbelt and jumped out of the van. “They’re
too gentle and sweet. Besides, by now,
we’re pretty much their pack. They need
us.”
“No they
don’t. They’ll either make a new pack or
join an existing one. And they’re gentle
now because they’re in the beta mindset.
What happens when one of them decides he wants to be the alpha? They won’t seem so gentle then.”
“But…but…”
“No
buts. You know this has to happen. The best thing you can do right now is come
out here and help me. See them off as
they head back into the wild, which you know as well as I do is where they
belong.”
Sarah
huffed and muttered and whined the entire time, but she joined Phil at the
cage. Each of them grabbed a side of it
and together they got it out of the van.
The positioned the door towards the nearby forest.
Tears
started to well up in Sarah’s eyes as Phil opened the cage door. The two young wolves dashed out of the cage. They stopped and sniffed at the trees before
heading in. One of the animals slowly approached
Sarah and Phil and sniffed them for a moment.
Sarah held out her hand to the animal.
It sniffed the offered limb and licked it lightly. A quick bark from the other wolf, and both
dashed off, quickly disappearing into the trees.
Phil patted
Sarah on the back. “You know we did the
right thing.”
“I know.”
Sarah said with watery eyes. “I just…”
“I know,
I know. Tell you what, when we get back
we’ll talk to some of the others at the shelter. Maybe we can get a dog there.”
“Really?”
“Yes,
really.”
Sarah
sniffed and wiped her eyes. “I’d like
that.”
****************
Remember, wild animals might seem as cute and friendly as their domesticated cousins, but that only lasts until the animal decides it's time for a change. Then they might not be so great to have around.
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