R LAZY J Wildlife Ranch R Lazy J Wildlife Ranch

Arizona Docent

Arizona Docent

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
R Lazy J Wildlife Ranch is the newest zoological park in the state of Arizona. I believe it opened some time in 2018? It is located in Eager, a rural community on the eastern edge of the state near the New Mexico border (halfway between the state's northern and southern borders). Visitors go on a guided tour which is conducted every two hours (reservations recommended but not required if space is still available). It is run by a married couple; according to the website the husband has worked in ranching his entire life and the wife has worked in "the zoo industry" most of her adult life (which zoos it does not say).

Details are sketchy and a complete species list is unavailable, but it appears to consist of large hoofstock fields and a small walk-thru area. The former houses domestic water buffalo, domestic watusi cattle, addax, scimitar horned oryx, and perhaps other antelope. The walk-thru contains a budgie feeding aviary, ring-tailed lemur, sloth (presumably two toed), wallaby, perhaps a few other small mammals, and (the one that caught my eye) clouded leopards.

Website here: R Lazy J Ranch | Safari Zoo Arizona - Things to do in Pinetop AZ
 
According to Facebook, an addax was born a month ago.
According to a friend of mine who works at another zoo, they have two cheetahs. It is odd there is no mention of this on their website or Facebook page (that I could find).
 
This place seems to have a lot of odd things - you should try to visit and see what this place is about.
 
birdsandbats said:
This place seems to have a lot of odd things - you should try to visit and see what this place is about.
Click to expand...
They are located on the outside edge of a large mountain range known as the White Mountains which is a popular vacation destination. Even though I have lived in Arizona for a quarter of a century I have never been to the White Mountains. So yes the discovery of this place with cheetahs and clouded leopards will give me a good excuse to finally visit the area, hopefully in late Spring or early Summer.
 
This place is owned by the same people that own Roer's Zoofari in Reston, VA - see my photos in that media album to get an idea of the quality of this place. As I said in another thread, they don't have any cheetahs, which I confirmed with the zoo; the ones in photos live in VA. There is a lot of transfer between the two places and they don't do a great job keeping the social media separate. Keepers aren't even told animals are being transferred some of the time. They definitely have 2 clouded leopards that are 2-3 years old, as well as some fishing cats. They should also have warthog, lowland anoa, and at least one oryx species, based on exhibits that were completely empty in VA.
 
@TinoPup Appreciate your input and I am particularly intrigued by fishing cats. Unfortunately I tried sending an email to the info address they list and they never replied. Not a very good impression for a potential first time visitor.
 
Arizona Docent said:
@TinoPup Appreciate your input and I am particularly intrigued by fishing cats. Unfortunately I tried sending an email to the info address they list and they never replied. Not a very good impression for a potential first time visitor.
Click to expand...

They respond to facebook messages. The age of social media, unfortunately!
 
TinoPup said:
They respond to facebook messages. The age of social media, unfortunately!
Click to expand...
Well if they are going to post an info email address on their website they should at least check that email occasionally. This is beyond unprofessional and gives me no desire to visit.
 
drill said:
Source? Picture?
Click to expand...

Their instagram. R Lazy J Wildlife Ranch on Instagram: “Meet one of our new resident Cuscus. The common ground Cuscus is native to Indonesia. This unique marsupial is similar to our North…”


Arizona Docent said:
Well if they are going to post an info email address on their website they should at least check that email occasionally. This is beyond unprofessional and gives me no desire to visit.
Click to expand...

I agree, but we're talking about owners that say they have "cheata" so..
 
birdsandbats said:
On Timbavati Wildlife Park's website it says they have McAws. :p
Click to expand...

:D I've come across a few like that! But this guy consistently spelled it that way, on his own personal twitter and those for his businesses, until he clearly had someone take over for him :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top