Starting a zoo.

[AWWC]

Hello,

First time using this forum, so bear with me.

I am a long time animal enthusiast that has most of my experience with wolves and other canine for the past 15 years now.

The premise of the zoo will be a "Wolf & Wildlife Center" starting off I want to focus on animals native to North America (That is where we are located) Education workshops, photography tours, etc. Small scale achievable goals. Phase two would require an upgrade in property and funding. The goal is a place where the public can come and have the typical zoo experience. A big part of it will be wolf conservation and preservation, but we want the largest portion to be native animals that people wouldn't typically see. Keep in mind more Exotic animals aren't off the table down the road.

Second to the wolf work, I want to highlight "Canines around the world". This is my personal comfort zone. I've dealt with wolves the most, followed by coyotes, dingo's, jackals, etc.

I guess my questions are:

• Have you ever started a zoo from the ground up?
  If so any advise is appreciated.
• Where do people acquire animals when they are not through AZA channels in the US?
  Any canine ( or any ) contacts appreciated

Thank you for you time and help.

Cheers,

Jesse

 

[15399]

There is a very small number of members on here (@Batto and @MRJ) who have started zoos. There's at least ten times that number of members who have started threads similar to this one with grand ideas for new zoos that never come to fruition, and as such there is a lot of skepticism on this forum of any threads such as this one. That said, the plan outlined here seems a lot more realistic in scope than many of the other ideas proposed here.

Even so, most of the people on here are not zoo professionals, and instead zoo enthusiasts who like to visit zoos in their free time, so this may not be the best place to find answers to questions around animal acquisition, etc. A few members on here may be able to provide some advice, but most of us (myself included) aren't qualified to answer those questions. I wish you good luck though, and if you go through with your plan to start a new zoo I'm sure many of us would like to hear updates along the way!

 

[AWWC]

There is a very small number of members on here (@Batto and @MRJ) who have started zoos. There's at least ten times that number of members who have started threads similar to this one with grand ideas for new zoos that never come to fruition, and as such there is a lot of skepticism on this forum of any threads such as this one. That said, the plan outlined here seems a lot more realistic in scope than many of the other ideas proposed here.

Even so, most of the people on here are not zoo professionals, and instead zoo enthusiasts who like to visit zoos in their free time, so this may not be the best place to find answers to questions around animal acquisition, etc. A few members on here may be able to provide some advice, but most of us (myself included) aren't qualified to answer those questions. I wish you good luck though, and if you go through with your plan to start a new zoo I'm sure many of us would like to hear updates along the way!

Thank you Neil! I will give those two a follow and see what they have posted about.

I appreciate the "... seems a lot more realistic" most of my friends and family look at me like a 3 headed beast when I tell them. It's definitely something I have always wanted to do since a child, so i can appreciate the big dreamers too. I have a business plan laid out to better visually see the road ahead. Each step is to get closer to the next phase, fingers crossed.

I have contacts within the US for some of the animals I would like to acquire, but the gene pool is so small here in certain circles, I'm hoping I can find the right contacts in regards to importing and so forth without being duped.

Thanks for chiming in!

 

[Strathmorezoo]

Hello,

First time using this forum, so bear with me.

I am a long time animal enthusiast that has most of my experience with wolves and other canine for the past 15 years now.

The premise of the zoo will be a "Wolf & Wildlife Center" starting off I want to focus on animals native to North America (That is where we are located) Education workshops, photography tours, etc. Small scale achievable goals. Phase two would require an upgrade in property and funding. The goal is a place where the public can come and have the typical zoo experience. A big part of it will be wolf conservation and preservation, but we want the largest portion to be native animals that people wouldn't typically see. Keep in mind more Exotic animals aren't off the table down the road.

Second to the wolf work, I want to highlight "Canines around the world". This is my personal comfort zone. I've dealt with wolves the most, followed by coyotes, dingo's, jackals, etc.

I guess my questions are:

• Have you ever started a zoo from the ground up?
  If so any advise is appreciated.
• Where do people acquire animals when they are not through AZA channels in the US?
  Any canine ( or any ) contacts appreciated

Thank you for you time and help.

Cheers,

Jesse

I only own a small private collection which I started nearly 8 years ago, nothing as grand as what you envisage. I also have worked nearly all of my adult life with exotics so we have something in common, so be careful what you wish for. Working 7 days a week 365 days a year and on call 24 hours a day.Oh and kissing goodbye to most of your social life and silly ideas of holidays I won't go into detail of the running of such an establishment as I think that you will probably have a good idea of what it entails.
I have tried to show the reality, I know it sounds negative BUT if this is really your dream, then GO FOR IT and I wish you all the very best and all the luck in the world because believe me there are going to be times when you will need it

 

[DCzootripper]

Im thinking about starting a zoo when I'm older, probably the best Idea would be to have a zoo that re-homes animals that used to be exotic pets (E.G Fenn Bell zoo.) If you did this, Peta would be on your side as well, as long as you made good sized enclosures.

 

[Batto]

Peta would be on your side as well, as long as you made good sized enclosures.

PETA will never be on your side. The ultimate goal of this organization is no animal husbandry at all - and making profit along the way.
Do not mingle with fanatics.

I can confirm @Strathmorezoo 's statement. And I would add that having an additional steady source of income to support the zoo if something unexpected (like a global pandemic) happens makes things a lot easier.

As previously stated, there already exist several threads about this, like
Owning a zoo
Starting Your Own Zoo

 

[GaryA]

PETA nutjobs would want all the animals either put down or released, even if captive-bred and no suitable habitat.

Never dance with The Devil in the pale moonlight.

 

[Strathmorezoo]

PETA will never be on your side. The ultimate goal of this organization is no animal husbandry at all - and making profit along the way.
Do not mingle with fanatics.

I can confirm @Strathmorezoo 's statement. And I would add that having an additional steady source of income to support the zoo if something unexpected (like a global pandemic) happens makes things a lot easier.

As previously stated, there already exist several threads about this, like
Owning a zoo
Starting Your Own Zoo

Interesting points, I can add two more. During the pandemic foodstuffs such as fruit became scarce due to allowing so much items at one time. Travelled far and wide to get as much as I could.
Also the hike in energy prices especially during winter months months became almost unsustainable. Both of these problems were incredibly worrying