Sierra Safari Zoo Sierra Safari Zoo Closes For Good

Another roadside menagerie bites the dust. I described this place as a "nasty little zoo" when I visited in 2015 and it was full of tiny, chain-link cages that were awful for the inhabitants. I uploaded approximately 40 photos into the ZooChat gallery in 2015 shortly after my solitary visit if people want to see what the zoo looked like. I'm happy to see it closed!
 
Good to see another horrible-looking roadside zoo cease existing. 2024 zoo closures so far:

1. SeaQuest Littleton
2. Sierra Safari Zoo

Nevada seems to be a pretty terrible state for zoo nerds. The modestly-sized Mandalay Bay Aquarium is the only AZA-accredited facility in the whole state and there isn't even really any traditional zoos left. The unaccredited Animal Ark (Reno) and Lion Habitat Ranch (Henderson) are both the closest that would count, both of which claim to be sanctuaries for abused exotics - the first one looks decent but the second one looks really crummy. Maybe Springs Preserve could count as a true zoo, but the collection is very small and only native and not the main focus so its really a stretch..... Nevada is also home to the first SeaQuest, another black eye.

Its surely better to have no zoos than terrible ones, but for a state with over 3 million people and a continually growing city with a major tourist base its pretty pathetic how barren Nevada is in the zoological area. Up there with Arkansas.
 
SusScrofa said:
The unaccredited Animal Ark (Reno) and Lion Habitat Ranch (Henderson) are both the closest that would count, both of which claim to be sanctuaries for abused exotics - the first one looks decent but the second one looks really crummy.
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There's also Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary, just south of Mill City. Don't know where Mill City is? It's west of Winnemucca, east of Lovelock. Roughly midway between the two. "City" is a definite stretch for the place, considering it doesn't seem to consist of anything more more than a truck stop and an RV park.

Weird location aside, Safe Haven actually seems like a quality place?

They're accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, plus interestingly enough, the AZA has placed a couple of cheetahs with them! Their names are Babs and Umusa.

It's open every day of the week, and tours for the general public are scheduled to run at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM. Schools and photographers can schedule tours for their own purposes. Private tours hosted by the founder can also be scheduled, although the price is a bit steep at $190 per person.

The animal collection appears to consist of a bunch of bobcats, a trio of cougars, a pack of coyotes, a pair of red foxes, a lion couple, some tigers, two black bears, the previously mentioned cheetahs, several servals, three caracals, two macaws, two desert tortoises, and a Maine Coon housecat.

As is typical for animal sanctuaries, the animals were all previously exotic pets or retirees from the entertainment industry. Although the AZA placing not just one, but two cheetahs with them likely means that this place is of a higher caliber than usual for privately-owned sanctuaries.

Here's the website: Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary – A Home For Wildlife

I assume that the remote location is the only thing that keeps more people from knowing about this place.
 
Wisp O' Mist said:
There's also Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary, just south of Mill City. Don't know where Mill City is? It's west of Winnemucca, east of Lovelock. Roughly midway between the two. "City" is a definite stretch for the place, considering it doesn't seem to consist of anything more more than a truck stop and an RV park.

Weird location aside, Safe Haven actually seems like a quality place?

They're accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, plus interestingly enough, the AZA has placed a couple of cheetahs with them! Their names are Babs and Umusa.

It's open every day of the week, and tours for the general public are scheduled to run at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM. Schools and photographers can schedule tours for their own purposes. Private tours hosted by the founder can also be scheduled, although the price is a bit steep at $190 per person.

The animal collection appears to consist of a bunch of bobcats, a trio of cougars, a pack of coyotes, a pair of red foxes, a lion couple, some tigers, two black bears, the previously mentioned cheetahs, several servals, three caracals, two macaws, two desert tortoises, and a Maine Coon housecat.

As is typical for animal sanctuaries, the animals were all previously exotic pets or retirees from the entertainment industry. Although the AZA placing not just one, but two cheetahs with them likely means that this place is of a higher caliber than usual for privately-owned sanctuaries.

Here's the website: Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary – A Home For Wildlife

I assume that the remote location is the only thing that keeps more people from knowing about this place.
Click to expand...

I've heard of Safe Haven, and it does seem like a decent place. But I don't count it as a traditional zoo because it can only be viewed via tours and not self-guided. Same with Camel Safari.
 
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