Wildlife Safari

Wildlife Safari
Map
43°08′30″N 123°25′35″W / 43.1417°N 123.4265°W / 43.1417; -123.4265
Date openedOctober 1972 (October 1972)
Location1790 Safari Road
Winston, Oregon, U.S.
Land area615 acres (249 ha)[1]
No. of animalsOver 600[2]
No. of speciesOver 100[2]
Memberships
Websitewildlifesafari.net

Wildlife Safari is a drive-through safari and zoological park in Winston, Oregon, United States. The park’s main draw is the 615-acre (249 ha) pastures and field enclosures visitors drive their vehicles through, enabling many up-close animal encounters and photo opportunities. These field exhibits, divided into regions such as Africa, Asia and the Americas, mainly feature the park’s ungulate herds and larger hoofed mammals (including rhinos, hippos, giraffes and elephants), as well as larger species of birds, including cranes and ratites. Visitors also drive past naturalistic exhibits featuring black and brown bears, cheetahs, lions and tigers.

Wildlife Safari has a visitors’ area in its Safari Village, which contains the park’s retail, dining, and customer service amenities. The Safari Village (unlike the main drive-through safari) is free to visit. The area includes a petting zoo, seasonal camel rides, reptile exhibits, aviaries, animal interactions, as well as walking trails featuring numerous exhibits of the park's smaller species. Wildlife Safari currently maintains Oregon state’s only captive African elephants and maned wolves (as of 2021).[citation needed]

The safari has been a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1986,[5] one of the only privately-owned zoological establishments in the AZA, and one of only three such animal attractions in the state.[6] In 2021, it received a certification from the Zoological Association of America.[4]

History

Frank Hart, a frequent visitor to Africa, created the safari park, which opened in October 1972 as World Wildlife Safari, on a 600-acre (240 ha) site.[7] "World" was dropped from the name on June 9, 1974, at the request of the unrelated, non-profit World Wildlife Fund, to avoid confusion.[8] Wildlife Safari became a non-profit organization in 1980, and is overseen by the Safari Game Search Foundation.[9]

Animals

Africa

The Americas

Asia

Other facilities

The Safari Village includes a narrow gauge railroad, Safari Grill Event Center, Cheryl Ford Center, Safari Grill, and Gift Shop. The village area is a traditional zoo setting with smaller exhibits of animals worldwide. The newest feature of the Safari Village is the Wells Fargo Australian Walkabout exhibit. The Australian Walkabout immerses the guest into Australia allowing guests to go in with the wallaroos, black swans, emu, and the Budgie Aviary.

Conservation

Wildlife Safari has a well-established cheetah breeding program which, as of July 2021, has produced 231 cubs. In cooperation with the AZA's Species Survival Plan, the cubs are sent to other accredited zoos across the United States.[10][11][12][13]

At least one animal rights organization endorses Wildlife Safari for its animal-focused conditions and care.[14]

Criticism

Wildlife Safari has come under criticism in the past for its treatment of elephants, with California-based animal protection organization In Defense of Animals placing it among the ten worst zoos for elephants for twelve consecutive years from 2004 to 2014;[15] in particular, the organization alleges that the zoo uses bullhooks to force the elephants to perform tricks, most notably washing tourists' cars.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Wildlife Safari". wildlifesafari.net. Wildlife Safari. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Animals on Safari". wildlifesafari.net. Wildlife Safari. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  3. ^ "Currently Accredited Zoos and Aquariums". aza.org. AZA. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Zoological Association of America - Accredited Facilities". zaa.org. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
  5. ^ "Introduction to Park". wildlifesafari.net. Wildlife Safari. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  6. ^ Muldoon, Katy (July 20, 2010). "Zoo and aquarium inspectors scrutinize Oregon Attractions". The Oregonian. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  7. ^ Federman, Stan (August 12, 1973). "Wildlife Safari jaunt difficult trek". The Sunday Oregonian. p. 29.
  8. ^ "Farewell World" (photo and caption only). The Oregonian, June 9, 1974, "SunDAY" section, p. 20.
  9. ^ "Wildlife Safari". spectacularoregon.com. Spectacular Oregon!. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  10. ^ "Cheetah Breeding Program". wildlifesafari.net. Wildlife Safari. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  11. ^ McKee, Chris. "2 cheetah cubs born at Wildlife Safari". kmtr.com. Newport Television LLC. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  12. ^ Alexis. "Two Cheetah Cubs Born at Oregon Wildlife Park". tigertailfoods.com. Tiger Tail Foods. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  13. ^ "2 Cheetah Cubs Born at Wildlife Safari". wn.com. WorldNews. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  14. ^ Samantha Ellis (November 7, 2011). "Animal Attractions To Avoid". Global Animal. Retrieved 2012-02-17. ...instead visit a wildlife reserve that focuses first and foremost on the welfare of the animals under their care, and on rehabilitating threatened and endangered species. If you are in Oregon, try visiting the Wildlife Safari in Winston. Wildlife Safari is a drive-through safari where the animals are free and the visitors are enclosed. The park is dedicated to helping save rare and endangered species worldwide. Wildlife Safari is an AZA-accredited non-profit wildlife park dedicated to education, conservation, and research.
  15. ^ Offenbacher, Claude. "Animal Rights Group Takes On Wildlife Safari". KLCC. No. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  16. ^ Alberts, Elizabeth Claire (13 January 2017). "Elephants Forced To Wash Tourists' Cars At 'Cruel' Zoo". The Dodo. Retrieved 15 March 2021.