When Life Gives You Lemurs: How Saving Animals Saved Me

A story of the tender power of animals to heal broken humans.

Tim Husband was born into a Jehovah's Witness family who spent their weekends delivering God's Word. Struggling to fit into this orthodox community, he found refuge in the bush, collecting and caring for injured animals.

At fourteen, Tim was thrown out of home by his father and the church elders. He was taken in by the owner of the local zoo, and in exchange for a bed and food, Tim spent the next ten years caring for the wild animals. Patiently observing these exotic creatures gave Tim his first true sense of belonging as well as the courage to navigate healing the wounds from his traumatic childhood inside a strict religious community. He also found he had a talent for enriching the lives of the animals he spent time with, by redesigning their habitats closer to those found in nature.

Tim is one of a handful of international specialists known for their expertise in animal care. He has directed, designed and curated at some of the best-known zoos in the world, building a reputation as an exotic animal whisperer.

Deborah Kane has written scripts for children's television and short films as well as plays for theatre. She has worked for the communications director for the Australian Human Rights Commission.