Arizona Docent, did you find this to be a place worth visiting? Would you recommend it even though it isn't AZA? I am very leery of non-AZA facilities.
If you knew how many conservation projects they support, any uneasiness you have would instantly vanish. In fact the entire purpose of this facility is to support field conservation projects. The founder, who I consider a friend, recently came back from Brazil where he was personally assisting a wild jaguar study.
Although they only breed on a limited basis, they provide valuable additions to the bloodlines. Their two female jaguars (both of which have reproduced) were directly imported from Latin America - I think it was Guatemala but I could be wrong. Likewise the jaguarundis were an import. They also occasionally take in rescues, as is the case with their two bobcats who were found orphaned inside an old washing machine in a silver mine here in Arizona (hence their names "Maytag" and "Whirlpool").
I stand behind this facility 100% and I can guarantee they donate a much higher percentage of their income to conservation than any AZA facility.
