As visitors approach her cage, Angel the cockatoo asks them a simple question: “Want some coffee?”
Angel is just one of the many animals Gabriel Ligon houses at his Barn Hill Preserve 45 minutes north of Baton Rouge, where a group of about 15 animal science majors at the University volunteer. The preserve currently houses 14 animals, including rescued parrots, a kinkajou (honey bear) named Guapo, a red kangaroo joey named Roux, pixie frogs, a hedgehog, a sugar glider and geckos.
Ligon, the director and founder of Barn Hill Preserve, said he came up with the idea for the preserve about a year and a half ago. Ligon is currently taking a semester off from the University where he was pursuing a degree in animal science.
“I’ve been interested in animals since I was a kid,” he said.
Ligon’s interest carried over into college, where he was the education coordinator for the largest wildlife sanctuary in the state for a year and also worked with wildlife in Costa Rica.
The program in Costa Rica “set a fire” in Ligon. He said he knew upon his return he wanted to get the ball rolling on Barn Hill Preserve.
His next step was to acquire some land within driving distance of Baton Rouge. He purchased an acre of land from his grandfather in Ethel and built the two-story barn where he utilizes the bottom floor as a home for animals and the top floor as his own residence.
Ligon then acquired animals he thought were going to be interesting to the public.
Volunteer coordinator for Barn Hill Preserve Katherine Sternitzke joined Ligon in his quest to educate after working as a volunteer coordinator for another wildlife sanctuary. Sternitzke said her most interesting experience working at Barn Hill was the opportunity to work with Roux.
“That’s not something many people get to see,” she said. Sternitzke also said she has a special bond with Guapo, who will often follow her around.
Ligon and his group of student volunteers aim to educate the public on wildlife and provide the animals with a safe place to live.
Program coordinator for Barn Hill Hannah Paul said she immediately signed on when she heard of the idea for the preserve.
Paul said she enjoys sharing information about animals with other people and also enjoys interacting with animals people normally wouldn’t encounter.
Two months ago, Barn Hill began its first educational programs. They have since had at least one program a week, with programs almost every weekend.
One way the preserve provides educational programs is to visit local schools. At the schools, Ligon and the volunteers are able to teach the students about the diversity of the animals. Ligon said he enjoys visiting older students in high schools where he is able to explain in more depth the biology of each animal.
In addition to educating, Ligon and his volunteers sell pictures with the animals, T-shirts and educational toys to the students, which help to keep the preserve running.
Ligon has big plans for the future of the preserve. He said by fall, he hopes it will be set up and ready for field trips. He is building more cages for the animals and hopes to construct an education center on the grounds as well as a pumpkin patch.
“The next animal is going to be a high-content wolf-dog,” he said, an animal he explained that was almost the same as a pure-bred wolf.
Ligon said he would love to add some diversity to his group of volunteers. He said students with majors like marketing and business who are interested in public speaking would be a good fit.
He said he hopes the preserve will obtain a non-profit status by the end of the summer, leading to the potential for grants. He also said there are plans to obtain more rescue animals to add to the preserve. Ligon is also a state licensed wildlife rehabilitator and said he hopes to use this skill to assist some injured animals on their return to the wild.
Ligon said the preserve is always looking for new volunteers, material for the buildings and fruit for the animals.
“I’ve been interested in animals since I was a kid.”
