Safari West facts for kids
| Location | Sonoma County, California, United States |
|---|---|
| Land area | 400 acres (160 ha) |
| Coordinates | 38°33′26″N 122°41′45″W / 38.5571°N 122.6959°W |
| No. of animals | over 1000 |
| No. of species | 98 |
| Memberships | AZA |
Safari West is a huge wildlife park in Sonoma County, California, USA. It covers 400 acres and is home to many amazing animals. You can find it about 12 miles north of Santa Rosa, California.
Contents
Discovering Safari West's Wild Animals
Safari West focuses on animals from Africa. Imagine seeing towering giraffes, powerful rhinoceros, and huge cape buffalo. You can also spot unique watusi cattle with their giant horns, graceful antelope, and speedy cheetahs. Look out for striped zebras, clever hyenas, and playful primates. Plus, there are many different kinds of birds!
Protecting Animals: Research and Breeding Programs
Safari West isn't just a place to see animals; it's also a place where they work hard to protect them. The park does important research and teaches people about wildlife. They also have special programs to help animals have healthy babies. They even exchange animals with other zoos and parks to keep the animal families strong and diverse. Some animals living at Safari West are even extinct in the wild, meaning they no longer exist in their natural habitats.
The Story Behind Safari West
Safari West is one of only six private wildlife parks in the United States that is officially recognized for its high standards of animal care. It's a unique place where you can see wild animals and even stay overnight!
How Safari West Began
The park was started by a man named Peter Lang. In the early 1970s, Peter began keeping wild animals on his father's cattle ranch in Beverly Hills, California. His father, Otto Lang, was a famous ski instructor and film producer. Otto worked on many movies and TV shows, including some that featured animals, like "Daktari." Peter was inspired by his father's work with animal actors, like Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion and Judy the Chimp.
Moving to a New Home
In 1989, Peter Lang sold the ranch in Beverly Hills. He then moved his animal park to its current location near Santa Rosa, California. This new spot used to be a sheep ranch. In 1993, Peter opened Safari West for children's tours. Later, he added overnight lodging in safari tents, exciting safari tours, and even a restaurant. By 2017, Safari West was home to over 1,000 animals, representing about 98 different species!
A Heroic Act: Saving the Animals from Fire
On October 8, 2017, a big wildfire called the Tubbs Fire threatened Safari West. Peter Lang, who was 76 years old at the time, bravely fought the flames all by himself for 10 hours. He used only garden hoses to protect his beloved animals. Thanks to his incredible courage, not a single animal was harmed in the fire.
