Black Beauty Ranch Plans Second Outing

The world famous ranch in Murchison, TX is run by The Fund For Animals (fundforanimals.org), an animal protection organization founded in 1967. The ranch was started in 1979 by author Cleveland Amory, supplying expertise with animals at its facilities and fighting for protection of the creatures in and out of the U.S. involving unwanted and abused domestic and exotic animals. Amory loved burros and one of the resident ones is named after him.

They say most burros are born in a rainstorm.

Last summer the facility underwent major construction and renovations which included saving three bobcats living at the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch. No longer living their lives as exotic pets, they are said to be having fun in their new home.

Primate habitats also got a new look two summers ago and work was done on a new chimp area to give the three ranch resident chimpanzees more space to run around.

The staff welcomes donations of equipment, feed, materials, and anything else you’d like to give.

You can adopt a burro on the website listed above. Burros come from Southern California parks and the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management is responsible for saving their lives according to The Fund.

Burros are rescued occasionally from government agencies, according to The Fund’s website. Rules are that you adopt two burros at a time to prevent loneliness.

The first of numerous groups of burros were welcomed not too long ago coming from Death Valley and Mojave National Parks as a result of a partnership between the government.

In a press release from the site, Michael Markarian, president of The Fund, said: “The federal agencies should be commended for allowing these Mojave and Death Valley burros to be humanely adopted rather than killed.”

The first transaction recorded of the ranch was 85 acres to house burros from the Grand Canyon National Park. For the animals it is their last home and final peace. Guided tours are available at the ranch.

One camel that was featured on cable TV before her rescue is Omar who used to be in the exotic animal trade as a baby but has been making the ranch her home the past few years. Two more camels joined him last summer, also rescued but from a family.

An alligator snapping turtle is also a resident at the ranch and is seen as archaic today. Baby Huey, who is roughly 80 years old, moved to its new home in 2001 after living in another area in Texas for several years and being taken to the ranch by a long line of fans.

Enshrined on the entrance gate are these words: “I have nothing to fear; and here my story ends. My troubles are all over, and I am at home.”

For more information, email David Howard at KinderHarborsAnimalSanctuary@gmail.com or call 214-547-9507.