by Kimberly Gunning
Less than an hour’s drive from Denver, you could be walking among the Great Cats of the world any day of the week. The Wild Animal Sanctuary near Keenesburg is home to over 290 rescued animals including tigers, lions, black bears, grizzly bears, leopards, wolves and camel.
The Wild Animal Sanctuary (TWAS) is the largest refuge in the country, covering 720 acres of land. It is a state and federally-licensed zoological facility and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Each rescued animal has a name and a story, like Diesel and Kamal. These two tigers were confiscated as cubs by the Baton Rouge Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). They were living inside of crates in a man’s car who charged money for photos with the tigers.
Either Diesel or Kamal enjoying the hot summer day in the pool.
Many of the rescue stories are heartbreaking. Some animals came from zoos or preserves around the country that had run out of money, while others had been kept as pets or by animal hoarders, mistreated as circus exhibits, used by taxidermists, breeders and photographers.
According to The Wild Animal Sanctuary’s website:
“Illicit exotic animal trade is the third largest source of illegal profits in the world today, just after illegal drugs and weapons! In the U.S. alone, there are an estimated 30,000 captive large carnivores living outside the zoo system. There are 4,000 tigers living as “pets” in private homes in just the state of Texas – more tigers than exist in the wild throughout the world.”
Executive Director Pat Craig established the center in 1980, originally based on his family farm outside of Boulder. When the land was not enough, the sanctuary moved to Lyons for eight years, followed by its current location near Keenesburg.
The sanctuary prohibits stopping along the road to take photos, so this is my drive and snap photo effort.
Aside from several miles down a dirt road to the refuge, the drive from Denver is painless and relatively short. The last quarter mile to the sanctuary entrance passes right by one of the bear enclosures.
Separated only by a fence, about 20 bears roam freely in the area with the ability to come about 10 feet from the passing cars.
The larger sectioned areas of the refuge are for those animals of the same species who have adapted to their living quarters and their new families. They share a much more natural habitat, and are able to roam further away from the visitor’s center.
Several of the sanctuary's tigers interacting with each other in the smaller enclosures.
Until the animals are ready for this freedom, they are split up individually or in pairs in smaller enclosures next to one another. They are close enough to interact and get to know each other, while carefully monitored by TWAS staff.
The visitor’s center entrance/exit is through the gift shop. Once out of the shop, there is a long overlook bridge for viewers to walk across and observe the animals below. At the end is a larger viewing area with a snack bar. The education center is about halfway down the bridge where visitors can watch videos about the sanctuary and the Captive Wildlife Crisis. Additionally, there is a viewing area above the gift shop looking out towards the bear, tiger and lion sections further away.
For those who love tigers (this girl), the experience is incredible. There were 12 to 15 tigers split up in smaller quarters right below the first half of the bridge. The other animals were further away, less visible and less noticeably active while I was there.
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It was interesting to see the tigers interact with each other through the fences. If their interactions become more friendly, they will eventually be joined together and then released into a larger and more comfortable enclosure. Since they are not able to be put back into the wild, this is their permanent home, and TWAS staff strive to make it as natural as possible.
The three objectives to the mission at TWAS are:
1. To rescue abused, abandoned, illegally kept or exploited, large carnivores
2. To create a wonderful life for them
3. To educate visitors about the Captive Wildlife Crisis and what can be done to help
TWAS is a great place to visit for all ages, and can be a photographer’s heaven. My one disappointment was the length of the walkway bridge. I had been expecting to be able to go out further over the habitats. However, TWAS is expanding the “Mile Into The Wild” walkway, given donations continue to come in. The mile-long walkway is expected to be completed at the end of 2011. You can bet I will be returning!
Summer hours for the sanctuary are 9 a.m. to sunset, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the winter months. Entrance is $10 per person and most areas are wheelchair accessible.
For more information, visit The Wild Animal Sanctuary website. Or better yet, take a trip there yourself!
