Sometimes those of us living in the big city don’t get to interact with flora and fauna very much. That’s why I was so excited when I was offered a trip by Subaru to check out Ambika Conroy’s cruelty-free angora rabbit “Fur Farm” in New York’s Catskills mountains. I had been wanting to meet Ambika and her adorable fluffy bunnies for ages and I figured my 5-year old, Petey, would relish the encounter as well. What I didn’t realize is that the good folks at Subaru plotted an exciting surprise twist to our animal adventure—after the bunny farm, they sent us to the New York Wolf Conservation Center to meet some wild New York wolves! Watch the above video to see Petey’s “conversation” with the wolves of South Salem, New York!
NY Wolf Conservation Center
The New York Wolf Conservation Center is less than 1 hour’s drive from Manhattan in South Salem, NY (in Westchester County). The center was founded by animal lover Hélène Grimaud back in 1999. This private, not-for-profit environmental education organization has made it its mission to promote wolf conservation by rehabilitating, breeding and releasing wild wolves into protected areas, as well teaching the public about wolves, their relationship to the environment, and the human role in protecting their future. The sanctuary offers an array of activities that are open to the public year-round, including educational talks, hikes, movie nights, and even “meet and greets” with some of the wolves on site.
Ambika’s Bunny Fur Farm
Ambika Conroy has always loved animals, and after years of globe-trotting she planted herself in upstate New York and started caring for rescued animals brought to her by the community. She found herself spending hours creating all sorts of housing, feeding methods and food formulas to keep the little creatures alive and then would release them back into the wild. Soon after, almost all of her creative endeavors revolved around animals and in 2002, she got her first angora rabbit. The love for her new furry friend inspired her to create kinder and more compassionate versions of winter weather wear and she began making “friendly fur” coats, hats, scarves and stoles by brushing her pet angora bunnies. Now, 11 years later, Ambika has an ever-growing farm with 13 English and Satin angora rabbits, merino sheep, two angora goats, chickens and a dog and a cat.
Ambika Conroy sells her beautiful bunny fur knitwear online, but you can also meet her adorable fuzzy critters in the flesh at her farm up in Woodridge, NY. The farm is located in the Catskills region, near Ellenville, about a 2 hour drive from Manhattan. Ambika rents her farm cottage in B&B style on Airbnb, as well as a beautiful geodesic dome, a trailer, and a music recording studio – so you can host a whole farm retreat weekend up at Ambika’s place if you want to!
+ Ambika’s Compassionate Bunny Fur Farm
This adventure was proudly made possible by Subaru. Find yours today.
