Established in 1980, The nonprofit Wild Animal Sanctuary near Keenesburg (30 miles NE of Denver) is thriving today and still growing. Executive Director Pat Craig is the founder and has plans to open a new visitor center about the size of a football field by late Spring 2016, thanks to many generous donors. Set on 720 acres, the sanctuary has about 70 acres left for new animal habitats. Over 140 dedicated volunteers help staff the sanctuary annually. Besides all the different breeds of felines and other carnivores, the sanctuary includes alpacas, horses, and ostriches that total over 400 wild animals.
Some feel this sanctuary is like a zoo, but it really isn’t. According to Ambassador Program Director Kent Drotar, this sanctuary is just that, a sanctuary for captive wild animals. They recently reverted back to donations instead of charging gate admission to better maintain the sanctuary. Kent said asking for donations has increased revenue, as it costs thousands to feed the animals and maintain the sanctuary every week. People can donate as little as $17 per month to adopt an animal and take a stake in the welfare of the sanctuary. They have pricing to meet any budget.
About 200K tourists and donors from across the country visit the sanctuary each year. Many donors have adopted their favorite animal, and each animal has a profile provided in the quarterly newsletters. The sanctuary retrieves captive wild animals from across the planet, which are in need of a better home. Many of the captive wild animals come from private owners. Pat and his staff built the 40 foot high scenic Mile in the Wild Walkway extending from the current visitor center to the middle of the compound. By late next Spring, the walkway should extend another mile to the new Welcome Center. The new Welcome Center will include a snack shop, education center, gift shop, and guest relations area for individuals and groups to visit.
One part of the sanctuary’s mission is to educate the public on captive wildlife. They have a colorful jeep and 30 foot trailer called the “Education Caravan” for visiting small groups and schools in Colorado. The caravan educates the public about the sanctuary and the wild animals. Inside are photos and videos for the public to see besides a presentation given by the staff. Groups can contact the sanctuary to see the caravan or visit the sanctuary all year except major
holidays.
You will find the sanctuary quite different from a zoo and an interesting place most people may never experience in their lifetime. For more information or to make a donation, please visit their website at www.wildanimalsanctuary.org or call 303-536-0118.
Photo: (l-r) Director Kent Drotar, Dee Gonzales, and Dustin Hill