The Lady Who Opened Her Home to Animals
To host a domesticated animal, like a dog or cat at home is natural, but to host wild animals like raccoons, foxes, reptiles, snakes, crocodiles, and bats, allowing them to play with her children at home is an exceptional thing, practiced by Egyptian Mrs. Manal Eissa who believes that “love is the basic language in dealing with animals, for they do not take the initiative to harm. They just defend themselves from whoever intends to harm them”. Manal was nicknamed fearless, in reference to her courage, a title she acquired even before hosting her predatory animals. She was the first Egyptian woman to participate in the world of motor racing, overcoming a lot of men. "I have loved adventure ever since I was young, and took part in a car race without my family's knowledge. It was a surprise to them when they saw me being interviewed on television after my win" she says.
At a later stage, Manal started to raise wild animals, and did not abandon them even when she moved from her home in Cairo, to El Gouna, after the 2011 revolution. "Every period of my life was characterized by a certain activity; Western and Latin dance for five years, mountain climbing, hiking, and much more. As for my relationship with animals, it began in childhood, when I was keen to visit them at the Zoo every Friday with my father, to play and feed them. She explains that the hobby evolved. "When I grew up, I began owning animals like cats and dogs, foxes, snakes, crocodiles, lizards, monkeys, bats and some exotic reptiles. I was much devoted to collecting information about all animals and each one's nature and life. I became a wild life rescuer."
At a later stage, Manal started to raise wild animals, and did not abandon them even when she moved from her home in Cairo, to El Gouna, after the 2011 revolution. "Every period of my life was characterized by a certain activity; Western and Latin dance for five years, mountain climbing, hiking, and much more. As for my relationship with animals, it began in childhood, when I was keen to visit them at the Zoo every Friday with my father, to play and feed them. She explains that the hobby evolved. "When I grew up, I began owning animals like cats and dogs, foxes, snakes, crocodiles, lizards, monkeys, bats and some exotic reptiles. I was much devoted to collecting information about all animals and each one's nature and life. I became a wild life rescuer."
There are a lot of domestic animal rescuers and a lot of shelters, but in Egypt there are no Wild Life shelters, so I started my own rescue shelter at home. When I got to know of a newborn animal sold in the Friday market in central Cairo, I would rush to get it and care for it. This is what happened with my raccoon, fox and bats. I spent days feeding them until they were safe. My love of these beings and my witnessing their ill-treatment by humans prompted me to open my house for them to live with me and my children It is fortunate that my children share these feelings and are not afraid. They play with snakes, lizards and any other animals. They grew up to be compassionate. Animals feel their love and never hurt them".
A lot of people, especially in El Gouna suggest that she transforms her love and care of animals to an environmental or touristic project, especially as she resides in this resort town: "I did not think about this and if I did it will be the first Wild Animal rescue in Egypt, but not a Zoo. I may surprise myself in the future. For the time being, I am planning a TV program to raise awareness about animals, for our community and children" she said, "to teach us humans to deal with them and not to show feelings of hatred towards these helpless creatures for no reason other than mistaken inherited ideas and beliefs. I am still thinking of how to finance this idea and implement it".
This article was inspired and translated from alhayat.com
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