Wildlife Safari is a drive-through safari and zoological park in Winston, Oregon, United States. The park’s main draw is the 615-acre (249 ha) pastures and field enclosures visitors drive their vehicles through, enabling many up-close animal encounters and photo opportunities. These field exhibits, divided into regions such as Africa, Asia and the Americas, mainly feature the park’s ungulate herds and larger hoofed mammals (including rhinos, hippos, giraffes and elephants), as well as larger species of birds, including cranes and ratites. Visitors also drive past naturalistic exhibits featuring black and brown bears, cheetahs, lions and tigers.
Wildlife Safari has a visitors’ area in its free Safari Village, which contains the park’s retail, dining, and customer service amenities. The area includes a petting zoo, seasonal camel rides, reptile exhibits, aviaries, animal interactions, as well as walking trails featuring numerous exhibits of the park's smaller species. Wildlife Safari currently maintains Oregon state’s only captive African elephants and maned wolves (as of 2021).[citation needed]
The safari has been a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 1986,[5] one of the only privately-owned zoological establishments in the AZA, and one of only three such animal attractions in the state.[6] In 2021, it received a certification from the Zoological Association of America.[4]
History
Frank Hart, a frequent visitor to Africa, created the safari park, which opened in October 1972 as World Wildlife Safari, on a 600-acre (240 ha) site.[7] "World" was dropped from the name on June 9, 1974, at the request of the unrelated, non-profit World Wildlife Fund, to avoid confusion.[8] Wildlife Safari became a non-profit organization in 1980, and is overseen by the Safari Game Search Foundation.[9]
Animals
Africa
- African bush elephant (Loxodonta a. africana) — not drive-through
- Ankole-Watusi cattle (Bos taurus)
- Burchell’s zebra (Equus quagga burchellii)
- Common eland (Taurotragus oryx)
- Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius)
- Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata)
- River hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) — not drive-through
- Scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) — not drive-through
- South African ostrich (Struthio camelus)
- Southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium s. simum)
- White-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)
The Americas
- American black bear (Ursus americanus) — not drive-through
- Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia)
- Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) — not drive-through
- Guanaco (Lama guanicoe)
- Plains bison (B. bison bison)
- Roosevelt elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti)
- Western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata)
Asia
- Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra)
- Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
- Fallow deer (Dama dama)
- Greater rhea (Rhea americana)
- Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus)
- Sika (Cervus nippon)
- White-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys)
- White-naped crane (Antigone vipio)
- Yak (Bos grunniens)
Other facilities
The Safari Village includes a narrow gauge railroad, Safari Grill Event Center, Cheryl Ford Center, Safari Grill, and Gift Shop. The village area is a traditional zoo setting with smaller exhibits of animals worldwide. The newest feature of the Safari Village is the Wells Fargo Australian Walkabout exhibit. The Australian Walkabout immerses the guest into Australia allowing guests to go in with the wallaroos, black swans, emu, and the Budgie Aviary.
Conservation
Wildlife Safari has a well-established cheetah breeding program which, as of July 2021, has produced 231 cubs. In cooperation with the AZA's Species Survival Plan, the cubs are sent to other accredited zoos across the United States.[10][11][12][13]
At least one animal rights organization endorses Wildlife Safari for its animal-focused conditions and care.[14]
References
- ^ "Wildlife Safari". wildlifesafari.net. Wildlife Safari. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
- ^ a b "Animals on Safari". wildlifesafari.net. Wildlife Safari. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
- ^ "Currently Accredited Zoos and Aquariums". aza.org. AZA. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
- ^ a b "Zoological Association of America - Accredited Facilities". zaa.org. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ "Introduction to Park". wildlifesafari.net. Wildlife Safari. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
- ^ Muldoon, Katy (July 20, 2010). "Zoo and aquarium inspectors scrutinize Oregon Attractions". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
- ^ Federman, Stan (August 12, 1973). "Wildlife Safari jaunt difficult trek". The Sunday Oregonian. p. 29.
- ^ "Farewell World" (photo and caption only). The Oregonian, June 9, 1974, "SunDAY" section, p. 20.
- ^ "Wildlife Safari". spectacularoregon.com. Spectacular Oregon!. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
- ^ "Cheetah Breeding Program". wildlifesafari.net. Wildlife Safari. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
- ^ McKee, Chris. "2 cheetah cubs born at Wildlife Safari". kmtr.com. Newport Television LLC. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
- ^ Alexis. "Two Cheetah Cubs Born at Oregon Wildlife Park". tigertailfoods.com. Tiger Tail Foods. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
- ^ "2 Cheetah Cubs Born at Wildlife Safari". wn.com. WorldNews. September 9, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
- ^ Samantha Ellis (November 7, 2011). "Animal Attractions To Avoid". Global Animal. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
...instead visit a wildlife reserve that focuses first and foremost on the welfare of the animals under their care, and on rehabilitating threatened and endangered species. If you are in Oregon, try visiting the Wildlife Safari in Winston. Wildlife Safari is a drive-through safari where the animals are free and the visitors are enclosed. The park is dedicated to helping save rare and endangered species worldwide. Wildlife Safari is an AZA-accredited non-profit wildlife park dedicated to education, conservation, and research.