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So there is a very large sanctuary for wild animals, including tigers, leopards, bears, etc. in Keenesburg, Colorado that has to close. At the moment they're attempting to raise moeny to feed the animals while they seek to relocate them. Any they can't relocate, or when they run out of funds, will be euthanized.
I think a lot of non-profits, especially animal sanctuaries, are fairly poorly run in terms of financial security. What do you know about viable sanctuaries? What about options for animals? Good/bad legislation on animals? Ways to raise money?
Posts: 471 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Something that is necessarily long term, like an animal sanctuary, should preferably not let the survival of its charges depend on it living fund-raising drive to fund-raising drive. It should either have paid a zoo or other animal sanctuary in a deal to take its animals in case of failure (also giving the partner a financial incentive to help the animal sanctuary stay in business) or have its essential operations funded on interest from a large donation.
The former in particular is something non-profits tend to do badly; making deals to cover risks and contingencies.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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In the interest of wildlife preservation, and the endagered nature of some of those animals, can't the Colorado state government jump in with some help?
I'm getting flashbacks to when the Detroit Zoo almost closed.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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Well, the sanctuary manager/ owner (Pat Craig) has stated that there is a surplus of animals and that zoos can't take them in. I believe there was also legislation passed in Colorado which allows established sanctuaries to continue to exist, but no new sanctuaries to be created. Apparently the number of sanctuaries capable of taking in big cats in particular is very limited, and many states have statues against new ones being formed, or against those which take in bears or big cats.
One thing I wonder about is why the sanctuary didn't stop taking new animals in until it had established itself financially . . . thus allowing at least the critters that were already there to have a permanent safe haven. Not that I would have an easy time standing by if I knew about an underfed lion in someone's garage . . .
And I guess this reluctance to accept new animals is really what these animals are now up against. Posts: 471 | Registered: Jul 2005
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