A wild animal preserve in eastern Ohio recently made news regarding its escaped animal population. Several large wild animals including African lions, Bengal tigers, grizzly bears, leopards, black bears and wolves were kept at an animal preserve in Zanesville. Heavily armed police officers and sheriff's deputies were forced to kill as many as 50 animals who were released from outdoor cages before their owner committed suicide.
The animal preserve is just one of many throughout the U.S. that house exotic animals not native to the United States. Here is a look at some prominent wildlife parks and sanctuaries across the country.
Big Cat Rescue
Big Cat Rescue touts itself as the largest accredited big cat sanctuary in the world. Located outside of Tampa, Fla., the staff offers tours for $29 each at 3 p.m. on weekdays, and 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on weekends. Donations to Big Cat Rescue are tax deductible. Animals in the sanctuary include lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, mountain lions and lynxes.
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Located in Orlando, Fla., Disney's Animal Kingdom Park is an exotic animal sanctuary to the commercialized extreme. Visitors can ride a vehicle through a safari-like adventure and see herds of zebras, prides of lions and tall giraffes in their natural habitat of a savanna-like environment. The park is 100 acres and includes rhinos, hippopotamuses, crocodiles and ostriches as well.
Save the Chimps
Because of Florida's warm climate, many animal sanctuaries exist in the Sunshine State. Save the Chimps is billed as the largest sanctuary in the United States for chimpanzees. Over 250 of the animals roam freely on over a dozen man-made islands in Florida. Structures are hurricane proof to ensure the animals don't escape during severe weather.
International Exotic Animal Sanctuary
The International Exotic Animal Sanctuary is in Boyd, Texas. As of September, the property cares for 52 felines and 15 bears. Cougars, leopards, jaguars, lions, tigers and bears are just some of the many species housed in central Texas. Like other sanctuaries, the IEAS is non-profit and gives tours for a fee.
Animal Ark
Animal Ark is a complex near Reno, Nev., with daily tours from April 1 to Oct. 31. The organization prides itself on using green sources of energy such as solar panels for power production. Animals on the property vary. They include wolves, white tigers, cheetahs, kestrels, great horned owls, black bears and badgers. The Discovery Channel featured the sanctuary's cheetahs for running close to 70 mph.
Elephant Sanctuary
The Elephant Sanctuary is on 2,700 acres in Hohenwald, Tenn. It was founded in 1995 and touts itself as the largest such sanctuary in North America exclusively for elephants. There are 24 animals on the property where they live out their lives in peace. The sanctuary has three webcams for people to enjoy watching elephants roaming freely throughout the sanctuary. Owners state it costs $125,000 per year to operate the facility.
William Browning is a research librarian.
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