A $1.25 million donation has been given to the sanctuary and will be used for an amphitheater at the sanctuaries planned new location, which is currently being built but needs around $8 mil in funding for completion.
I visited Busch Sanctuary at their new location that opened up in late 2023.
The original location was one of my favorite nature center-type zoos I've visited, so I was hoping the new place would be an even greater improvement, but I honestly kind of felt it was disappointing.
The old location felt like you were entering a world of nature, it was basically in middle of the woods and had a hiking trail where you could see birds and alligators. The new location is comparatively very sterile and out in the open with no trail. The habitats for the mammals are probably bigger at the new location but I don't think they're necessarily better. They're just really bare and open. The exhibits at the old location felt, I dunno, more natural? The raptor exhibits are worse imo. They're now small, ugly corn crib cages which are also hard to view the birds in. They have a small reptile house now instead of terrariums in an outdoor wall but the new house is tiny and the crowds were insane so I couldn't even get much of a view of the animals inside with so many people stuffed into the little room. The collection is mostly the same but some of the birds are off-display as more enclosures are being built. One new species I saw a Loggerhead Shrike which is rare in captivity.
I still think Busch Sanctuary is a nice place to visit if in the area, its free after all and they are doing great work rescuing injured animals. But I kind of wish the new location was more like the older one.
The original location was one of my favorite nature center-type zoos I've visited, so I was hoping the new place would be an even greater improvement, but I honestly kind of felt it was disappointing.
Having just seen your photos in the gallery, and having visited the previous site in 2013, I would agree with everything you say here. The old place was a gorgeous site to display rescued wildlife and the natural landscape elevated what were still very basic enclosures both from an animal and human point of view. This just looks so - barren. I understand they won't have had spare cash to landscape too much but the place just looks sterile and lifeless. A shame.
I see from the link above that the idea of the move was to increase capacity - hopefully that's worth what's been lost.
On February 6th, it was reported that the sanctuary finished building the new Discovery Center in late December 2023, as well as finished building new ponds in the North American river otter and American black bear exhibits.
On September 25th, it was announced that the sanctuary acquired a (1.0) purple gallinule from the Wild Bird Fund in New York which was subsequently released back into the wild.
On July 5th, the sanctuary announced they acquired a (0.1) Virginia opossum named Rihanna on April 30th after she was deemed non-releaseable due to most of its tail missing.
On September 29th, it was announced that the sanctuary acquired 12 birds (of various species) from the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary in Florida, after their facility was destroyed by Hurricane Helene.
On October 25th, the sanctuary announced they rehabilitated and released another purple gallinule, a clapper rail, an American white ibis, and a yellow-bellied slider back into the wild.
On November 1st, the sanctuary announced, among other news, they rehabilitated 4,872 animals from 262 species in 2024, including 2 white-tailed deer which was subsequently transferred to Creature Safe Place in Florida for further rehabilitation.
On December 1st, the sanctuary announced they are constructing a new raptor flight cage for rehabilitated patients before their eventual release which will be completed sometime in 2025.
On October 30th, the sanctuary announced that a (1.0) white-tailed deer named Nubs passed away due to a decline in health caused by an intestinal obstruction.
On September 29th, it was announced that the sanctuary acquired 12 birds (of various species) from the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary in Florida, after their facility was destroyed by Hurricane Helene.
On December 31st, the sanctuary announced they will be constructing a new pond inside the Florida panther exhibit which was completed in late January 2025.
On January 16th, 2025, the sanctuary announced they temporarily acquired several birds of various species from Peace River Wildlife Center in Florida in late 2024 which were transferred back to the facility.
On May 19th, the sanctuary announced they acquired a (1.0) common grackle, as well as an eastern screech owl and a bridled tern which are all now on exhibit.
We are so grateful to McArthur Golf Club in Hobe Sound for calling us to rescue this bald eagle who needed our help. The eagle... | By Busch Wildlife Sanctuary | Facebook
https://buschwildlife.networkforgood.com/projects/74099-wildlife-rescue-rehab-and-environmental-education | Busch Wildlife Sanctuary | The Worship Initiative Instrumentals · Peace (Instrumental)