Lambert is half African lion, half blanket burrito.
At least, that’s how the staff at In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue and Educational Center see this big cat. Even if he’s considered the king of the animal kingdom, Lambert is more of a baby than a hunter. He has a set of things he couldn’t live without and one of those is his blanket.
He eats with it, plays in it, and sleeps in it.
Lambert is pretty much a lot of us on a chilly planless weekend.
Lambert first came to the facility around June 2014. According to The Dodo, a private owner purchased Lambert after their kids wanted to have their own “Lion King”. Not knowing any better and with money to spend, the dad got his kids Lambert.
But alas, being private citizens, Lambert quickly became a handful for them. They had no choice but to surrender him to the Global Federation of Animals Sanctuaries, which in turn endorsed him to In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue.
Lambert tried to adjust to his new environment as best he could but he always seemed anxious, especially when raining.
Remembering the kind of environment he once lived in, the staff devised a plan.
“I started thinking, ‘Okay, he’s used to being in a house, he’s used to sleeping in the bed with grandpa.’ So I got him a blanket, went into the enclosure, and put the blanket in one of the corners. He curled up on that blanket and he went right to sleep. Ever since then, I always give him a blanket.” Vicky Keahey, founder of the organization told The Dodo.
For almost two years since then, Lambert slept with his blanket every night.
Staff at the facility knew at that point that he will never be separated from his favorite thing.
As he got bigger, his blankets did so as well. And even if the staff tried to keep his blanket in his den enclosure, Lambert just can’t live without it. He sometimes drags it out into the playground. And while he never takes it with him swimming, he always keeps his blanket close by.
This dependency, however, is an effect of a bigger problem.
Wild animals that are kept under private ownership are usually declawed and defanged. These changes will make them safer around people who are not trained to handle them.
Without fangs or claws, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for animals like Lambert to return to their natural habitat.
The exotic animal trade has been going on for a long time and is still a growing business.
Animals traded this way are often used as pets, medicine, or as raw material sources such as ivory.
This is what Keahey and her organization wanted to teach people,
Animals are meant to be in the wild, not in someone else’s backyard where they’ll be thrown out once they become too much.
Fortunately for Lambert, he has a forever home where he can spend the rest of his life with his blanket. And even after receiving whipped cream and toys for his birthday, he still prefers the one thing he loves the most.
Watch how this big cat turns into a cuddly burrito whenever he gets his blanket.
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