For
romantics
Unbridled dance of wild deer
Guste Vaseryte
Who wouldn't like to see horned deer early in the
morning appearing among tree branches or highlighted by the first sunrays and watch the
herd of these beauties galloping through the forest in the tingling silence? You need not
go far to see such wild beauty. Families of several hundred deer and elks graze freely,
pheasants and peacocks grow and hatch in a huge fenced territory near the sea. The guests
visiting that place or spending their leisure time there can hardly find the words to
describe the beauty and peacefulness of this wonderful spot.
Deer of the Caucasus mountains feel well
on the Baltic seacoast
The 215 ha territory of the deer farm of the agriculture
company Aglaura is guarded with a high fence. The farm was established about a decade ago
in the regional seacoast park, in the forest outside the village of Karkle. There are
several herds of mountain deer, a family of elks, goats and a mule grazing on the farm
territory.
Pheasants, decorative ducks, geese, hens of rare species, peacocks and wild turkeys are
living in the aviary near the building where a small hotel will be opened soon. For the
pheasants it is the first season. The family of forty birds has already started to breed -
in the incubator made from a freezer future chicks are hatched from pheasant eggs.
Owner of the park, head of the Corporation of Industry and Finance of Western Lithuania
Antanas Bosas often comes to see the park residents, to stay in the nature and to help the
workers taking care of the farm. The well-known businessman A.Bosas, who spends a great
part of his leisure in the deer farm, often comes here to have rest, to ride on a
horseback, sometimes he cuts down and lops off trees, visits and inspects the animals and
feeds them from his own hands.
"We want to preserve a piece of wild nature and this spot of wild animals. We do not
meddle with their lives, the deer fight with each other and for the does, they dance love
dances, bellow and drop antlers. We do not interfere even when foxes sneak through the
fence and kill little cubs, afterwards we find only their skeletons. We only help natural
selection and every year shoot down old deer", - tells A.Bosas.
The deer are the greatest pride of the safari park. About a decade ago a herd of 80 deer
was brought from Caucasus mountains in Chechnya, it has grown into several large herds by
now. A grazing herd makes a stunning impression -several hundred deer quietly nibbling the
grass. The elks hardly ever come in the open, they prefer to stay in the moist birch
groves.
A divine oasis of wild nature
Aldona Staponkiene, a famous Klaipedian, leader of a large
corporation and member of many social and political organizations, a frequent visitor of
the deer farm tells about it with inspiration and cannot find enough words to describe the
feelings and the beauty she experiences there:
"I cannot help going there, I spend almost all my weekends in the deer farm, both on
sunny days and when it snows. It looks especially beautiful during short summer nights. In
the mist of early morning when deer horns appear among trees or bushes, the beauty takes
your breath away", - tells director general of the Corporation of Industry and
Finance of Western Lithuania with eyes shining with joy.
She says she does not sleep during such nights, she waits to see the deer and the first
sunrays and only after the dawn she returns home for rest.
"Walking in the forest in winter is also fun, it sis so silent, calm and safe around,
you meet a herd or two on your way. Sometimes one can hear the leader of the herd
whistling. Have you ever heard the sound? It is an extraordinary feeling. Feeling an
approaching human, it whistles and warns others, so the whole herd leaps away!" -
Aldona admires the perfection of nature and its creatures. The woman's impressions about
the deer farm are literary pouring out. "And how noble are the eyes of a deer! It is
such a big and kind animal. Meeting so many angry people in the streets, you long for such
kindness, and you feel much safer in the forest than in a crowd", - recalls the woman
who has fed deer from her hands.
It is the peace and silence that bring her the greatest joy in the deer farm. After a
stroll in the forest surrounded by animals, she wonders to the seaside which is in just a
few minutes walk from the park.
"Walking there I find many small pebbles with little holes in them, you can always
find them there. All my pockets are full of them, sometimes I find amber as well", -
she pulls out from her jacket pocket the precious findings that make her glad. Aldona says
she is a frequent visitor of that "divine spot". "If I do not appear twice
a week, the hosts ask me if I am not sick. This place in the vicinity of the city is
catching and fascinating. It is a spot not spoiled by civilization, I cannot imagine my
recreation without it", - says the active woman who finds best relaxation after her
intense working day here, on the deer farm.
"A lot of rare birds also dwell here, but those mighty animals with huge antlers and
the elegance of their royal movements are really charming. It is amazing that you can walk
here in solitude and feel quite safe, it seems that nobody would dare do you any harm in
such a place", - says A.Staponkiene attached to this shelter of wild nature.
After a walk in the park and by the sea the guests can warm themselves at the campfire,
take a rest in the small hotel which will expand in the future. Aldona says she likes to
sit near the fireplace and dream, listening to the crackling of wood and waiting for
another wonderful day with wild animals.
"I do not know any other place like this and I would never exchange Klaipeda to any
other city because then I would not be able come and visit the deer at any time", -
dreamily smiles the director general of the Corporation.
Time melts
Edgaras Valcackas from Vilnius also spends a lot of his
leisure time, days and evenings in the deer farm admiring the wild animals and waiting for
a suitable photo shot.
The man who comes to the seaside with his family says, that he discovered the deer farm
two years ago.
"I learned about it from local Karkle inhabitants. The first visit was just a short
excursion, but it was enough to make me come back and bring my dearest people here over
and over again", - the man recalls his first visits to Karkle.
Whenever he has the feeling that grey stonewalls of the city begin to oppress him, he
tries to find some days off to come to this corner of wild nature.
"It makes no difference to me if it is sunny, or rain is knocking on the roof, or the
fields are already covered with snow. Because for me the deer farm is first of all a
unique sport full of serenity. I know I will always find here the mighty sound of the sea
waves, clear and fresh air and, or course, the deer", - tells the visitor from
Vilnius about his beloved leisure spot.
He is also short of words when he wants to express the feelings overwhelming him when the
first beams of the rising sun touch elegant crowns of deer antlers, when he hears a sharp
whistle of a deer
breaking the silence, or the echo of the fights between mighty males in the forest.
"Every time right after arrival I direct my first glance to the deer - it is like a
silent greeting: hello, how are you? I always find many things changed since my last
visit. In the autumn I find the verdure of the trees gone, the leaves fallen, and the deer
fur thicker and darker. The little cubs became stronger, and the older deer feel
especially strong and mighty - their heads are decorated with many-branched crowns",
- the nature lover shares his impressions. "I walk through the fields or in the
forest, watch them, and forget everything in the world. Sometimes I come upon a herd lying
down and warming themselves in the last rays of the autumn sun. I do not want to disturb
their rest and go round. Sometimes branches crackle near by and an elk, the king of the
woods, appears walking slowly and, full of dignity, turns to the backwoods. His female
friend comes out from the forest as well and follows him. Suddenly I realize that I have a
camera in my hands. Alas, the moment is gone…"
Fascinated by the wild beauty, Edgaras waits for a long time hoping that the animals will
return back, but it starts getting dark, they never appear, and he has to walk back.
He says that returning to the hotel he feels slightly tired but happy, because he still
has two days ahead before he leaves.
"Measuring the vast areas by my steps, I do not even notice how "the day after
tomorrow" comes. I do not want to leave this beautiful place, but deeply in my heart
I have a confidence that soon I will come here again. Coming back to Vilnius I feel full
of strength and energy, and in my thoughts I sincerely thank all the people who have
created and foster this corner of paradise", - Edgaras has a lot of warm words to say
about the hosts of the park.
It is not the end yet
The territory was earlier used for military purposes, so a
lot needed to be done to put it in order and make it look like wild nature.
"A lot still needs to be cleaned and removed before we finish arranging a safari
park. We have organized several collective work days for the corporation workers. We still
need to lay some small roads, so that visitors could drive in their cars, ride bicycles
and watch the wild animals", - says A.Bosas.
Over 1 million litas was invested in this territory and it is not the end yet, I want to
create an attractive recreation spot where one can admire wild nature", - plans the
host.
So far the deer farm accepts only small groups from schools and kindergartens. The nearest
plans are to finish the hotel arranging in it 15-16 rooms. Baths are being equipped, old
small roads repaired.
A.Bosas says that life goes on here in full swing and something is constantly is in the
process of renewal. Three new species of pheasants have been brought, peacocks parade
their colourful trains. After special pens are ready, ostriches and aurochs will be
brought here, some rare species of deer will arrive from an Estonian zoo.
For the convenience of the guests the farm offers aviaries for dogs, children playground,
billiards and ping-pong. riding on horseback and rent of bicycles. As an special
entertainment, A. Bosas also plans to offer selective hunt, the catch would be handled in
the slaughterhouse of the farm.
"We will strive to make this place available to Lithuanian people and guests from
abroad", - says the owner of the unique spot. |
