Our Big Wild Family

The German philosopher Immanuel Kant said: “you can tell the heart of a man by how he treats animals”: the Berti family always apply this philosophy, they are: Rudi Berti, Mirca Negrini and their daughter Elisa. Together, along with dozens of dedicated volunteers, they dedicate their lives to the recovery of wild and exotic animals, this is the confirmation that their hearts are made of gold.

“Our Big Wild Family” portrays the stories and daily life of this great family that everyday, from sunrise to sunset and often during the night, enthusiastically and with devotion take care of approximately 300 animals housed on Mount Adone, a few kilometeres from Bologna. Its in the Tuscan Emilian region, and the centre was founded in 1989 as a “Wildlife Rescue Centre”.

Exotic animals are welcomed here, after being seized by the judicial authorities (lions, tigers and chimpanzees are amongst the list). There are around 600 indigenous wild animals often road accident victims or those in difficulties after treatment consistent with their condition; they are returned back to the wild. Different veterinarians who work both at the centre and in their own specialised clinics care for the animals often with particular methods such as acupuncture or homoeopathy.

The dedication of the young volunteers, with the great commitment of the Berti family and the involvement of many people even out of context, gives the viewer moments of great emotion and inspire a feeling of deep admiration for those who have made their lives a real mission being at the service of animals.