Start up

[Cody Raney]

What state would be the best to start a wildlife park? Warm enough for animals like Elephants and Ostriches but cool enough for Yaks. I know that Wildlife Safari in Oregon is open year-round. I hope to open a zoo and safari park one day and I thought as long as the snow wasn't too heavy, and I had warm shelters for the animals to get out of the weather if they wanted everything would be fine. I figured Hippos would have to have an indoor exhibit during the colder months, same with Crocodilians.

 

[Mr. Bobcat]

That's quite an ambitious dream. It will cost millions to get started.

 

[Cody Raney]

That's quite an ambitious dream. It will cost millions to get started.

If I do this intelligently and start small, everything should be fine.

 

[Mr. Bobcat]

If I do this intelligently and start small, everything should be fine.

I certainly wish you success.
When I was a younger man, I dreamed the same dream. It didn't work out for me, but I hope you have more success than I had.

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

If I do this intelligently and start small, everything should be fine.

And you intend to do this, how? Unless you're set to inherent a large amount of land or money (Preferably both!) you're still going to face quite the uphill battle.

Regardless: You're best states to start in would probably be either Florida, North Carolina, or Texas.

All three states are: Relatively warm in climate, have expansive land for sale outside of urban developments, and lax exotic animal ownership laws.

Naturally, those factors also have made them attractive to people with similar ideas to yours, so you'd be facing some stiff competition. Especially if you're not careful to avoid stepping on anyone's toes by setting up shop in an area that doesn't already have a zoological facility of some sort.

Take into account local conditions and climate with regards to what animals you should display once you have a land base. I would recommend tropical or subtropical species for Florida, more temperate species for North Carolina, and dryland or desert species for South or West Texas.

 

[Cody Raney]

I certainly wish you success.
When I was a younger man, I dreamed the same dream. It didn't work out for me, but I hope you have more success than I had.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Income has to come from somewhere other than the gate for a private institution to thrive. Some manage through wealthy donors, and some private zoos are based largely around animal sales to other institutions and private individuals.

Some of the most successful private zoos are specialists as well, such as Sylvan Heights (NC), Iguanaland (FL), and Reptilandia (TX).

There are some notable "nicer" private zoos with wider collections that are worth looking at for details on how they made it successfully. Wildlife World (AZ), Brights (TN), Wild Florida (FL), Giraffe Ranch (FL), Safari Wilderness (FL), and Tanganyika Wildlife Park (KS) come to the top of my mind. Most are based around ungulates and some have white rhino. White rhino are far more available, easier to obtain, and easier to keep/manage than elephants, FWIW.