Recently, Rancho dos Gnomos rescued a baby tapir from traffickers who were going to sell it on the black market. The video of their rescue shows how happy the little tapir is to be free and among friends. His rescuers name him Bicho (meaning “little animal” in Portuguese). Watching this tiny creature zipping around his new home, playing with his surrogate mommies and daddies – all volunteers at Rancho dos Gnomos – is incredibly heartwarming.
Tapirs are gentle creatures that resemble small deer or hippopotamuses; they are endangered species due to poaching and habitat destruction. This video serves as a reminder that there is hope for these animals and gives us all something wonderful to feel good about!
In the video, Will is taken outside into a nature reserve. He walks on the grass and smells the flowers. He feels the sun on his face and hears all of the sounds of nature. At first, he is very hesitant to touch anything or get too close to any animals because he is scared that they will hurt him. However, as he spends more time in this new environment, William begins to relax and enjoy himself. By the end of the video, William has touched a rabbit, played with some puppies and even gone for a swim!
His father, who uploaded the video to YouTube, wrote: “This was a very special day for Will. After spending his entire life in a cage, he took his first steps into dirt and grass. This was a healing experience for him.”
He eagerly explored his new surroundings and repeatedly expressed his delight at being able to frolic in the open fields. He even rolled around in the dirt, reveling in the sensations of fresh air and sunlight on his skin. It was wonderful for Will to finally be free from all of his worries and concerns – he could simply enjoy life without any restraints.
Rancho dos Gnomos is a sanctuary for circus animals that were released in 2006. Will was one of the many animals taken there. He spent his time enjoying life with new friends, until he passed away in 2011.
