international exotic animal sanctuary

Having lived in the area for a long time, I am wondering why we never visited this animal sanctuary before now. Our group of adults and preteens found the 2 hour walking tour to be very interesting & enjoyable. The intern who served as our guide seemed to know a great deal about the animals, how they are cared for, and about their individual personalities & habits. We enjoyed getting a close look at many different animals who live in the sanctuary. Of course a few were acting "shy" and hard to view. That is to be expected when dealing with living creatures and we saw plenty to make up for the ones that preferred to stay in hiding. Our group enjoyed getting to go into the Nutrition Area where our guide explained how and what they animals are fed every day. Most of the walking is done on gravel pathways and up and down a few little hills so plan footwear accordingly. On the day we visited, some of the pathways were a little muddy. Be prepared to stay with your tour group. Parents and especially those with younger kids, should know that all participants expected to stay on the path and are not allowed to get too close to the animal enclosures for the entire tour. The minimum tour age is 7.

Closest I have ever been to big cats. Saab lots of animals. The intern did a great job. I would recommend for anyone who enjoys zoos. I prefer as visit here rather than a stereotypical zoo.

Pros: The animal sanctuary has a variety of exotic animals that can be seen up close. It is AZA certified, which means they uphold the toughest standards set by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). For example: the healthcare and dietary needs for every animal in the sanctuary is supervised by an on-site veterninarian; misting systems are placed in the holding pens as well as pools and some man made river systems for cooling off the animals; large well constructed habitats that provide safety, privacy, and enrichment for the animals as well as safety for the visitors and personnel. Professional, friendly, and knowledgeable staff.Cons: Be prepared to walk on graveled pathways and some uphill walking; it takes about 2 hours to complete the tour. I am not complaining about the walk, but for seniors and those with walking disabilities, the walk may be challenging. Be prepared for the hot summer days; there are some shaded areas, but, when you combine the heat, sun, and walk, it can take a toll. Opinion and Recommendations: We really enjoyed this animal sanctuary. We have been to several animal sanctuaries in Texas, and this one gave the impression that they really care for their animals, personnel and visitors. With safety in mind, this animal sanctuary does not allow children under the age of 7 to enter, due to liability insurance; as well as no pets allowed nor pets allowed to stay in vehicles. Things to bring with you: bottled water, camera, sunscreen, hat, money (suggested, entry donation of $20/adult and $10/children; some visitors give more or less), and good walking shoes (no sandles). Important instructions when touring the sanctuary: everyone, especially children, must be able to follow the rules about keeping safe distance from the habitats, no crouching when taking photos, and everyone must remain with the group. The International Exotic Animal Sanctuary is not a self-guided zoo, in fact, it is not a zoo at all, it is a non-profit animal sanctuary for displaced animals who have been neglected, abused, mistreated, abandoned, and confiscated. The tour consist of a staff member guiding you throughout the animal habitats as well as a stop at the sanctuary nutrition center; remember to follow the rules. I highly recommend that you visit this animal sanctuary, if you are in the area.

I took my son , a huge animal enthusiast , to this park , our intern guide a young lady from minnesota did a whale of a job although her name has escaped me at this point. numerous bears and big cats as well as a few other species . Get to see them up close and they seem content and not restless like many caged animals . It seems a worthwhile place to spend a couple hours and to fund as a "pet" (pun intended) charity - no fee just donations solicited . well done folks thank you.

We visited the International exotic animal sactuary in Boyd, Texas last week. The place is on the side of the road, so you have to be looking for it, or you past it by. The only time during the week to visit is at 11:00 AM. This is not a zoo, it is set up as a santuary for rescued animals. You meet your guide in the front gift shop. Then you get a 2-3 hour walking tour of the animals. There are tigers, lions, bobcats, black and brown bears and other exotic animals to see. The enclosures are large spaces for the animals, but you get to see them closer than most zoos. Three young black bears came up to the fence when we walked by, even though they live in a 5 acre area. Bring a bottle of water with you, and good walking shoes. The tour makes a nice day of seeing some wonderful animals. If you can stop by Go Go Gumbo in Boyd for some great gumbo and cajun food.

Reserve your spot on line for the 11:00 am tour. Your friendly and knowledgeable intern guide has a wealth of information about each animal, from the scientific to their quirky likes and dislikes. Be sure to check out the sancturary's web site to get the most out of your visit. This is not a tour for very little kids, those that cannot stand or walk for at least an hour, and those that cannot obey rules. The lovely benches you will see along the way are not for your use. The guides are quite serious about staying on the pathways, not resting against the guard rails, and keeping up with your group. You will not get to feed, touch, make strange noises, or otherwise get personal with the cats. If one decides to leap toward you, you will understand.You might not get to see some of the animals because they may be asleep in their 'houses' or otherwise hiding. But there are awesome things that you might see: bears and cats playing in their pools, cats snoozing on their backs, bears standing up (oh my, they are big) and scratching themselves against the bars, and sister cats washing each other. Ron the lion likes to roar, and many of the cats will sniff noisily when you approach, and 'chuff'.The kitchen tour is very interesting. Here you will learn the logistics about feeding and taking care of the animals, plus some of their preferred treats. Be sure to see the food pan the jaguar took a bite of. Once a week is 'bone day', when the animals are not fed to simulate the irregular feeding patterns in the wild. Feeding and medicating the animals is a complicated process, and you will learn some cats have made a sport of trying to outwit the staff.Check out the other reviewers for more helpful information. Be sure to dress appropriately because it can get blistering hot and there are no water fountains or places to rest. The pathways are washed out in some places, quite steep in others, and the loose gravel can cause a bad fall in a heart beat.For those with mobility issues, I would say this property is not handicapped accessible. They have an ATV, but you would have transfer issues. Plus, the paths you would travel on are rugged. The gift shop has adorable stuffed animals, note cards, etc. and one bathroom (not handicapped accessible). We weren't offered an opportunity to use a bathroom on the tour.Things to keep in mind: wear a hat and shoes for hiking, take water, use sunscreen and bug spray, and bring your camera! Pack a snack or fresh fruit to tide you over to your next stop.

This place is Heart warming! A hidden treasure! Neat place to visit and see all kinds of exotic animals. (the animals are saved no telling what circumstances, some are donated)

Very nice and off the beaten path.Home to so many different types of cats and other species.Wonderul web site too!

Loved the small tours and the detailed explanations from our guide about each of the animals on the property. I was amazed by the amount of personnel,work and funds required to keep the sanctuary operating on a daily basis.

My husband and I have been here several times over the years; we always bring out of town guests because it is not only a spectacular tour, but we like to support their efforts. Although many of the animals come with sad stories, it is wonderful to see how happy they are now (most of them anyway...). You will get much closer to the animals than you will at a zoo, and you will come away with a better feeling about captive animals than you might at a zoo. Here, the animals are given as much attention as they wish, never go hungry, and are respected as the wild creatures that they are. That's not to say that you won't occasionally see an owner inside the enclosure of the pet that they are boarding; not all animals were abandoned or seized. These are magnificent animals and it is well worth the drive to see them and to support this worthy cause.

What a treasure in Rhome, TX! These folks are all about the animals and their well-being. This sanctuary offers a wonderful tour. My family of 6 was guided by Chrissy, an intern, for over an hour. She was so knowledgeable about the animals, and took the time to answer our many many questions. We most appreciated how the sanctuary is run, its mission, and especially how content the big cats are. This is worth the trip from Fort Worth or Dallas as a half day trip!

The Exotic Feline Sanctuary in Boyd Texas is a truly unique experience for every true wild animal lover out there, but definitely not for litlte kids. Founded in 1988 in the vast expanse of nothingness that West Texas prides itself on, the Sanctuary gives a permanent retirement home for abused and abandoned wild cats, including bobcats, cougars, jaguars, servals, leopards, lions, tigers, and even bears (oh my!). These gorgeous creatures are given fairly spacious environments and balanced diets as well as medical attention and careful study by wildlife interns and conservationists.Each of the current 67 feline residents have an interesting name and a story (usually sad) about how they came to sanctuary. A few are retirees, but most were the abandoned pet of some incredibly stupid black market buyer who thought it would be cool to raise a Siberian Tiger in their apartment (yes, that really does happen). Some were rescued from hurricane Ike and Katrina (remember the newstory of the Lion housed in the Baptist Church in Crystal Beach on Bolivar Peninsula during IKE? The waters rose too fast for the owner to get Shackle off the island. He waded through the pre-hurricane surge and got the lion to the church just before the hurricane hit. That mini-zoo was wiped off the map, so now Shackle lives in Boyd). The cats have AAZK approved cages (seriously reinforced according to their strength and jumping power). And you cannot get closer than 6 feet to the cage. But otherwise, they are staring right at you from a few feet away. Tours are given by the interns on a reservation basis only. The fascinating tour includes the kitchens with the feeding / medication calendars (with the # of tons of meat per kitty) , and the walkable area. The sanctuary is actually huge, but many of the acres are restricted for complete solitude for the bears, who need the wider range and for temporary lodgers.Tours focus on conservation and wild behavior (theirs, and especially yours around them). This is their home, so it is the humans that have to modify their behavior around the wild animals (no crouching, no running, no hats, no waving arms, no pets, no kids under 7, etc). If you agitate a kitty, it is you that gets tossed, not them. All of these restrictions actually enhance the tour, because it reinforces the wildness of these creatures and helps you understand that they are not simply a pretty photo op as the zoos make them seem.A $20 per person donation is requested, but once you find out how much the kitties eat, you probably might consider donating more.This sanctuary is one of the precious few feline conservation areas in the World and Texans should feel very proud that it is in our back yard.