If you had asked me a couple of weeks ago, I would have confidently told you there is no zoo in Charleston. Then a few days ago I encountered a friend in the bank. She said she had a tip for this column. I listened. Immediately I jumped on my bike and rode off to confirm her tip. In fact, there is a zoo in Charleston...and it’s located on Daniel Island!
Being a private zoo I wasn’t sure how I would be received. But I was warmly welcomed and in minutes I was standing in front of the cage of Rhoden, a wild animal named after Rhoden Island just across Ralston Creek from our Island. True this zoo has only one animal, but I know of no numeric requirement of wild animals to qualify for the label of zoo.
Rhoden is an albino squirrel, about eighteen months old, with poor eyesight as do albinos of whatever species, and missing a toe on a rear leg. He was found as a baby on the northern end of our Island, apparently abandoned by his mother and vulnerable to all kinds of predators. Remembering how a bald eagle solved the pigeon problem associated with my courtyard bird feeder, I shuddered just a bit at the prospects of Rhoden making it on his own in the wild.
Rhoden was delivered to Jan Malloy, Assistant to Matt Sloan and the D.I. Company’s Human Resources Manager. Jan was the right choice because she is also a Board member of Keepers of the Wild, Inc., an animal rescue group. Annually about 30 wild animals of all kinds are rescued from our Island and relocated as we slowly crowd them out of their homes.
With care Rhoden has flourished. Today he lives in a 2’ X 4’ and almost 7’ high cage with four glass walls and a wire mesh ceiling. The furnishings within the cage cater to all Rhoden’s critter comforts. A network of tree limbs fill the center of the cage. There is a squirrel house. The wire mesh ceiling accommodates Rhoden’s upside-down exercises. And of course there is an ample supply of squirrel food and nuts for treats plus fresh water.
Rhoden lives in an assisted living setting because his physical limitations preclude releasing him back into the wild. But this is not a pet. Rhoden is and always will be a wild animal with teeth and claws and all the survival instincts. Is this a zoo? What are the qualifying conditions for a zoo? An environment that replicates the wild animal’s natural setting, food, fresh water, medical care and allied critter comforts are all at Rhoden’s beck and call. This is a petite, boutique zoo offering assisted living for a handicapped wild animal.
As a private zoo, there are no posted visiting hours. Besides, Rhoden spooks easily if confronted by anyone other than Jan, who treats him with motherly affection but also caution. Squirrels have sharp teeth. Witness the cloth doll that lies pretty well shredded in the bottom of the cage.
Did I mention the location of this zoo? Rhoden’s glass cage is located on the second floor of the NBSC building and in the midst of the offices of the Daniel Island Co. What other office complex do you know that is adorned with its own mini-zoo featuring a handicapped wild animal alive today because it was rescued?