Wildheart Animal Sanctuary facts for kids
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| Location | Sandown, Isle of Wight, England |
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| Coordinates | 50°39′39″N 1°08′22″W / 50.6609°N 1.1394°W |
| Major exhibits | Tigers, Lions, Lemurs, Monkeys and other exotic animals |
| Website | http://www.isleofwightzoo.com/ |
The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary is a special place for animals on the Isle of Wight in England. It used to be called the Isle of Wight Zoo and Sandown Zoo. This sanctuary is built inside an old fort right on the coast in Sandown.
It started as a private zoo but became a charity in 2017. This means it now focuses on helping animals in need. The sanctuary is especially known for its amazing big cats and animals from Madagascar. It also helps with important breeding programs for endangered animals, like the black-and-white ruffed lemur.
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History of the Sanctuary
The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary first opened in the 1950s as Sandown Zoo. By the 1970s, it was not in good shape. Some even called it "The Slum Zoo of Britain."
But things changed in 1976 when a new owner, Jack Corney, took over. He worked hard to rebuild the zoo. He turned it into a safe home for big cats and monkeys. After Jack passed away in 2003, his daughter Charlotte continued his work.
In 2017, Charlotte created the Wildheart Trust. This made the Isle of Wight Zoo a registered charity. Being a charity means they can get donations to help more animals. In 2021, the zoo officially changed its name to the Wildheart Sanctuary.
Meet the Animals
The Wildheart Sanctuary is home to many different animals. They focus on big cats and animals from Madagascar.
Big Cats at the Sanctuary
The sanctuary cares for six amazing tigers and four African lions. They recently rescued five tigers who needed a new home after being in a circus in southern Spain.
The sanctuary has special enclosures for these big cats. These areas are designed to look like their natural homes. They have glass panels so visitors can get a great view. They also include ponds and natural plants.
The sanctuary also recently welcomed three Eurasian lynx. These wild cats are known for their short tails and tufted ears.
Primates from Madagascar and Beyond
The sanctuary has a special area for animals from Madagascar. This section is mostly home to different kinds of lemurs. You can see ring-tailed, black-and-white ruffed, red ruffed, black, white-fronted brown, and mongoose lemurs. Many of these lemurs have had babies at the sanctuary. This is part of special European programs to help protect these animals.
You can also find other types of monkeys here. These include spider monkeys, capuchins, vervet monkeys, and common marmosets.
Helping Animals Around the World
The Wildheart Sanctuary does more than just care for animals on the Isle of Wight. They also help fund two important projects to protect animals in the wild.
One project helps protect tigers in India. It is called 'Local Advocacy for Tiger Conservation in Bhadra-Kudremukh Tiger Landscape'. The sanctuary fully supports this project. In 2011, this project even won an award for being the Best Conservation Project!
The second project helps animals in Madagascar. The sanctuary gives money every year to the Madagascar Fauna Group. This group helps teach people new ways to farm that do not harm the environment. This is important because some old farming methods can destroy animal homes.
The Sanctuary on TV
The Wildheart Sanctuary has even been on television! An ITV Meridian show called Tiger Island was filmed there. The show gave viewers a look at what life is like at the zoo. It showed how staff make fun toys for the animals and design new homes for them. A film was also made to show a behind-the-scenes look at the sanctuary.
