Animals 'Own' Argentine Sanctuary
2020-02-05
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1Animals rule the countryside at the "Animal Paradise" sanctuary, 75 kilometers outside Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires.
2The sanctuary is a labor of love - something being operated for pleasure, not for profit.
3Gabriela Bezeric and Armando Scoppa have been heading the center for over 25 years.
4They rescue animals that would otherwise have been killed for meat.
5Around 850 animals live in the sanctuary.
6These "residents" include ducks, pigs and horses.
7The sanctuary is also home to llamas and capybaras - large mammals native to South America.
8Bezeric hopes one day to expand the Animal Paradise.
9"I always say that I am going to save all the animals that are at risk of death," she told the Reuters news agency.
10Bezeric and Scoppa, who are a married couple, support animal rights.
11Their ideas stand out in a country where meat consumption is central to the culture and to the economy.
12Yamila Buboff volunteers at the sanctuary.
13"The Animal Paradise is the product of the work of two visionaries who a long time ago believed in giving a second chance to animals, mostly those destined for consumption," she said.
14"So that they can be treated as the sentient beings they are and not just as a plate of food."
15An economic crisis has held up some of the couple's plans for expansion.
16They are now looking for financial supporters.
17"The important thing is that our 'Paradise' can keep going," said Bezeric.
18"Everything I do is for the animals and I want to continue so that this remains for them."
19As he fed "Wolf", one of the sanctuary's horses, Scoppa said that he sometimes worried about the future.
20He and Bezeric are now in their 70s.
21"There are no heirs here, the animals are the only ones to inherit it," he said.
22"The animals own the place."
23I'm John Russell.
1Animals rule the countryside at the "Animal Paradise" sanctuary, 75 kilometers outside Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires. 2The sanctuary is a labor of love - something being operated for pleasure, not for profit. 3Gabriela Bezeric and Armando Scoppa have been heading the center for over 25 years. They rescue animals that would otherwise have been killed for meat. 4Around 850 animals live in the sanctuary. These "residents" include ducks, pigs and horses. The sanctuary is also home to llamas and capybaras - large mammals native to South America. 5Bezeric hopes one day to expand the Animal Paradise. 6"I always say that I am going to save all the animals that are at risk of death," she told the Reuters news agency. 7Bezeric and Scoppa, who are a married couple, support animal rights. Their ideas stand out in a country where meat consumption is central to the culture and to the economy. 8Yamila Buboff volunteers at the sanctuary. 9"The Animal Paradise is the product of the work of two visionaries who a long time ago believed in giving a second chance to animals, mostly those destined for consumption," she said. "So that they can be treated as the sentient beings they are and not just as a plate of food." 10An economic crisis has held up some of the couple's plans for expansion. They are now looking for financial supporters. 11"The important thing is that our 'Paradise' can keep going," said Bezeric. "Everything I do is for the animals and I want to continue so that this remains for them." 12As he fed "Wolf", one of the sanctuary's horses, Scoppa said that he sometimes worried about the future. He and Bezeric are now in their 70s. 13"There are no heirs here, the animals are the only ones to inherit it," he said. "The animals own the place." 14I'm John Russell. 15Horacio Soria and Juan Bustamante reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 16_______________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18sanctuary - n. a place where someone or something is protected or given shelter 19consumption - n. the act of using up or eating something 20visionary - n. a person who has clear ideas about what should happen or be done in the future 21sentient - adj. able to feel, see, hear, smell, or taste 22heir - n. a person who has the legal right to receive the property of someone who dies 23We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.