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Where guests are captive,

and animals roam free!

by pamela r. gibson
provided by Wildlife Safari

ver forty-eight years ago, wildlife hunter turned conserva-
tionist, Frank Hart, purchased property in Winston, Oregon.
Hart realized that many of the wild animal populations were
Odwindling around the world due to poaching, hunting, and loss
of habitat. His vision was to create a wildlife park that would help rare and
endangered animals through conservation and education efforts. Wildlife
Safari, established as the only drive-through animal park in Oregon hosting
over 200,000 yearly guests. The park received the esteemed accreditation
from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for its superior standards of
animal care—an honor bestowed on less than ten percent of national zoos.

With effective and ongoing efforts to conserve animals through breed-
ing and education programs, Wildlife Safari embraces continued success,
particularly within the cheetah populations. As one of ten cheetah breed-
ing and research centers in North America, the results of the program
have been the births of 220 cheetah cubs since the park’s inception. They
work closely with other national zoos and breeding centers to encourage
conservation of these big cats, including cross-fostering for at-risk cubs.
Twenty-two cheetahs currently reside at Wildlife Safari as the park contin-
ues to fight against further cheetah decline.

The cheetah, a large cat weighing up to 120 pounds and native to Africa
and Central Iran, is one of the park ambassadors. These nomadic cats are
solitary beings with males typically living with only three or four other
males in groups called coalitions. Able to run at speeds up to 75-miles-
per hour, they are the considered the fastest documented land animal. The
females live alone unless they are mating, with resultant litters of up to five
cubs. The importance of conservation efforts through breeding and educa-
tion programs such as this one provides hope for animals facing worldwide
extinction.

While no compass is required for this self-guided tour, visitors can follow
roads as they snake through habitats of rolling hills, plains, and wetlands on
part of the 600 acres of land. The expansive property creates a backdrop
strikingly familiar to parts of Africa. The nearly 600 exotic and native ani-
mals roam untrammeled in the habitat sections of Africa, Asia, and North
America, and require over 15,000 pounds of food daily. Many animals are
camouflaged, blending into the background while others may pose in clear
view and even cross your path. So be sure to tuck your binoculars in your
bush jacket to watch for zebra, ostrich, or even wildebeest encounters.

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