Lions, Tigers, + Bears: Live Where?
America and the world have a captive wildlife crisis. As many as 30,000 captive great cats, Bears, Wolves and other large carnivores are living in substandard conditions throughout the U.S. In fact, after illegal drugs and weapons, the exotic animal trade is the third largest source of illicit profits in America—and the world—today. Did you know?
This Year, You Can Help Set Them Free
The Wild Animal Sanctuary is all about saving the victims of this crisis. We crisscross the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central and South America and the rest of the world rescuing captive exotic and endangered large carnivores that have been abused, abandoned, exploited or illegally kept. Now, you can help:
Wild Land For Wildlife: A Better Solution
The Wild Animal Refuge is an extension of land acquired to give wild animals freedom, dignity, and more natural living conditions. You can help give wildlife a new life by purchasing an acre or more of this land. TWAS is located in southern Colorado, and initiates animal rescue operations around the world.
In support of shifting humanity and wild animals out of such unhealthy conditions for both, Rebecca’s Gardens is excited to be helping keep lions, tigers, and bears wild by donating to the purchase of new land. In addition to sponsoring animals at the local Sanctuary, in 2020 we became a Founding Member for the new Refuge, by supporting the acquisition of 1 acre of reserved forested land. This habitat offers a vast and healthy ecosystem where rescued animals can enjoy a more natural forever home. Since animals bred in captivity cannot be successfully returned to the wild, this offers the most natural wild setting they could ask for.
With tens of thousands of animals still suffering within the Captive Wildlife Crisis around the world today - the need for more space is greater than ever! With your contribution, here’s what you’ll be giving them…
The Wild Animal Refuge Offers
9,004 Acres of contiguous deeded land, as well as another 680 acres of leased land
Located in Las Animas & Baca Counties near the town of Springfield, CO
Amazing natural landscape including Rocks, Trees, Hills, Canyons, Buttes, Bluffs and Water
Endless room for one hundred, two hundred and three hundred acre habitats
Extension of The Wild Animal Sanctuary located near Keenesburg, CO
The Wild Animal Sanctuary
Our Mission
To prevent and alleviate cruelty to animals which are abandoned or were subject to deprivation or neglect, by providing care and boarding.
To rescue and provide life-long homes for large, exotic and endangered captive wild animals and to educate the public about the causes of and solutions to the world’s Captive Wildlife Crisis.
We rescue animals from dreadful circumstances and bringing them back to the wide open space of large acreage habitats where they have plenty of freedom, exceptional diets and proper veterinary care for as long as they live.
We have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles to more than 45 states, many multiple times, on rescue missions, and into Mexico, Panama, Bolivia, Uruguay, South Korea, Saipan, Lebanon, Argentina and many other countries over the years.
Our goal is to give them a life of dignity and respect and to make their life as it would be if they could choose. TWAS also works tirelessly to educate humans about the causes of, and solutions to, the Captive Wildlife Crisis.
The Sanctuary travels across America and into foreign countries around the world to rescue animals that are suffering.
Each rescued animal is rehabilitated and released into large natural habitats with others of their own kind.
Their remarkable recoveries lead to a life filled with friendship, love, freedom and joy!
Please Join Us and Change More Lives Today!
Who We Are
For the past 40 years, TWAS has responded to more than 1,000 requests from private citizens and government agencies to rescue animals from across the United States and other countries. Our resident animals were abandoned, abused, kept illegally or were victims or other terrible situations. Most were the pets of private citizens, but were confiscated by law enforcement officials for being in illegal or abusive situations. Others were surplus animals from zoos and other wildlife facilities, where they faced euthanasia due to over-breeding, overcrowding or closure due to inadequate finances.
Our 600+ residents include Tigers, African Lions, Black Bears, Grizzly Bears, Mountain Lions, Leopards, Wolves, Hyenas, African Servals, Bobcats, Foxes, Lynx, Coyotes, Coati Mundi, Kangaroos, Wallabies, Raccoon, Ostriches, Emu, Camels, Alpacas, Yaks, Horses, Donkeys and rescued dogs and cats.
Over the past 40 years, The Wild Animal Sanctuary has grown to become the largest carnivore sanctuary in the world. Not only by the number of animals we have rescued and currently care for... but also through the size and scope of our operations.
The Sanctuary’s educational facility located near Keenesburg, CO is built on 789 acres of beautiful open grassland, the kind typically found on the plains of Colorado. This site currently hosts over 550 Lions, Tigers, Bears, Wolves and other rescued animals and is open to the public for educational purposes.
Our New Wildlife Refuge located near Springfield, Colorado contains 9,684 acres of forested land that also offers, endless hills, buttes, bluffs, valleys and grasslands for current and future rescues. The Refuge was acquired in early 2018 so the mission of The Wild Animal Sanctuary could continue.
