by Sara Tourtelotte
In this post we wanted to introduce and acknowledge in memoriam a special supporter of our herd of Bactrian camels, Dani Walthall (pronounced Da-nee). Dani passed away last October, but her legacy with camels worldwide will live on.
Because of her intense devotion to camels, I lovingly referred to Dani as “Lover of the Tylopoda” (meaning “calloused foot”) and “Patron Saint of All Camels.” Dani’s sole passion in life was camels. She traveled the world connecting to camel communities in Mongolia, the Sinai Peninsula, Australia, and all over the US, engaging people and camels, participating in camel treks and attending training seminars. She was a major patron who actively supported many camel people and organizations worldwide, including the Wild Camel Protection Foundation.
Dani discovered our camels after the Valley Fire when a friend showed her an article with a photo of firefighters hanging out with the camels. Dani was amazed to learn there was a herd of camels only a few hours from where she was living. She immediately reached out and soon after came to visit.
Dani had a striking connection with the camels. She intuitively understood what Fear-No-More Zoo is all about—that all beings are equal, and part of one great, diverse, sacred culture. She was very relaxed and able to move among the herd in a sensitive and respectful manner, and it was obvious how much she loved the camels! Her attraction to our camels had a unique quality of happiness.
After that initial visit, all our relationships grew, human and camel. Dani became my friend and my connection to the broader camel world, which was invaluable for my continuing camel education. Dani continued to visit periodically, came to every retreat, and became a generous patron to our camels.
Dani took the news of her illness with her usual calm and grace. Her biggest regret was that she wouldn’t be able to travel to India for a camel trek to the Pushkar festival and then participate in gifting the camels to a village in need.
I will be forever grateful for our connection to Dani and how we shared a special love of camels. It was a beautiful thing to witness her connection with our herd, she said our camels were the “happiest camels in the world” which is an incredible endorsement given that she would know!
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We are grateful for your support of Fear-No-More Zoo! All of the money donated to Fear-No-More Zoo goes toward our ongoing, basic expenses which directly supports the animals. These include hay, grain for treats and training, special supplies, salt and minerals, hoof trimming, veterinary care, infrastructure, repairs, and continuing education for staff. In the future we hope to raise monies to upgrade our facilities and infrastructure to better host visitors.
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