Paul Pondella and his partner Colette Duvall are committed to opening the hearts of our children to the beauty of the creatures we know as wild wolves. "Children are the pioneers and guardians of our future and if armed with the truth, we know they will certainly bring peace and harmony to our planet forever," said Duvall.
Born for Animal Rescue
Paul Pondella has been rescuing animals his whole life. "As a child, I would rescue every wild bird, squirrel, cat and dog and take them to my neighbor who was a veterinarian," said Pondella. He became certified in CPR, and quickly became known for his first-aid ability with animals. In the 1990s, this ability called him to rescue an orphaned wolf pup. Her name was Panda. He spent years learning to train wild animals professionally for film and TV. He and Duvall have three wolf dog hybrids, Shadow, Allie and Takoda.
Educational Program Birthed from a Miracle
The educational program, the Shadowland Foundation, was birthed in 2008 by Duvall and Pondella. It is named after their Alaskan Timber Wolf, four-year old Shadow, a cancer survivor. "She is our miracle," said Pondella, "gentle and a lover of children."
Bringing the Wilderness to the City
Defenders of the Wildlife, heroes and heroines of animal conservation for decades write "Our work with landowners and communities is reducing conflicts between wolves and humans and increasing general tolerance for wolves across the landscape."
The Shadowland Foundation supports the wild animal conservation fight by bringing the wilderness up close and personal to the children in the heart of the city.
Face-to-Face with Wildlife
The Shadowland Program is an interactive, educational program where the participants learn everything about these glorious creatures and their history; and they have the opportunity to meet Shadow, Allie and Takoda face-to-face. Pondella and Duvall and their staff bring the wolves to schools, organizational events, corporate settings and private homes.
At a recent event at Foundations School Community in Van Nuys, California, Director Sheri Werner wrote,
"All of our kindergarten through eighth grade students were enthralled and deeply moved by the gentleness, beauty and intelligence of the wolves. Being able to interact with the wolves was a unique and awesome experience for our students."
Endangered Species No More
In an article by Jason Parent, he writes, "Competing forces now hold the Mexican wolf's future in their hands. Will conservationists prevail, or will the Mexican wolf be just another forgotten casualty of egocentric human cohabitation?"
In an article by Dawn M. Smith, she writes, "... the status of the wolf in the Northern Rockies remains a concern as the animosity toward the species there has not eased. On the positive side, the states must maintain minimum population levels or the wolves will be put back on the Endangered Species List by the Fish and Wildlife Service."
"The wolf is a keystone species," said Duvall, "whose absence from the environment would be devastating. It is our children who will make the difference. We want to dispel the scary myths surrounding wolves. Shadow, Alaska and Takoda, our ambassadors can completely change the world view from the dreaded wolf to the sacred friend."
The Shadowland Foundation is currently a 501(c) 3 Not-For Profit Corporation pending.
Sources:
Read more at Suite101: The Mexican Gray Wolf, an Endangered Subspecies: With Few Remaining, Can New Laws Solidify this Gray Wolf's Future?
Read more at Suite101: Gray Wolves Partly Removed From Endangered List: Controversial Decision Reopens Debate On Predator Species Management
Rita Andriello - Rita is a writer, spiritual practitioner and a teacher. She was born in New York City, and says she was raised on pasta and Italian opera. ...
