*Originally published in 2019
Updated on September 23, 2024:
Lions, tigers, bears, wolves, and more roam freely at this Keenesburg rescue.
Sing it with me: "Oh, give me a home, where the lion roams, and the bear and the leopard play." Believe it or not, on the rural, rolling grasslands located 30 miles north of Denver, these animals, as well as other large carnivores, actually do all those things thanks to a one-of-a-kind animal sanctuary.
The Wild Animal Sanctuary (TWAS) in Keenesburg offers 1,300 acres of refuge for large carnivores that were abused, abandoned, illegally kept or were victims of other horrible conditions.
"A shocking statistic about America’s Captive Wildlife Crisis; the illicit exotic animal trade is the third-largest source of illegal profits in the world today, just after illegal drugs and weapons! In the U.S. alone, there are an estimated 30,000 captive large carnivores living outside the zoo system. There are 4,000 Tigers living as 'pets' in private homes in just the state of Texas – which is more Tigers than exist in the wild throughout the world," shares the sanctuary.
The sanctuary began in the Boulder area in 1980 but moved to the plains due to development. Since then, it has been able to create large-acreage habitats for rescued animals to live as comfortably and naturally as possible with others of their kind.
Currently, the site hosts around 500 large carnivores and serves as an educational facility you can visit any day.
Visit the Wild Animal Sanctuary and Traverse the Elevated Walkway
Courtesy of The Wild Animal Sanctuary
The experience at the sanctuary is not to be missed. Unlike a zoo, the animals live in large, open habitats where they can freely come and go. You'll get to see these beautiful beasts in a more natural setting, and they are often in the same areas together. A 1.5-mile elevated walkway will take you above several habitats where you can see these amazing animals doing their thing.
"The vast majority of visitors to The Wild Animal Sanctuary come to experience an incredibly serene setting where prides of African lions roam freely and tigers, wolves, bears, and other large carnivores also live and coexist peacefully," says the sanctuary.
In addition, there are more typical enclosures for animals in transition to the facility, a Tiger Roundhouse, and an enclosed Education Center that will help you learn more about captive animals, the rescue, and how you can help.
A few tips for visiting the sanctuary:
- Plan on 3 to 6 hours to get through the entire sanctuary, so try to arrive no later than 4 hours before closing times.
- Entry is cut off 2 hours before closing. All visitors must exit the park immediately upon closing.
- When the weather is hot, it's best not to come during mid-day, as the animals seek shade as much as you do. If you want a unique experience at the height of summer, check out the Wild Nights program for an experience that is cool in all ways!
- Call before coming out on days with inclement weather.
- Dogs and other animals, including service dogs, are prohibited due to wild animal behavior.
- You are welcome to bring your picnic food, or there is a cafe on site.
Outside of the Keenesburg facility, the Wild Animal Sanctuary is comprised of a 10,000-acre Refuge in Springfield, Colorado, a 41-acre site in Boyd, Texas, and a 23,000-acre Wild Horse Refuge in Craig, Colorado.
