A tour of Colorado’s Wild Animal Sanctuary

In an ambitious plan to emulate open wild spaces for over 600 rescued animals, The Wild Animal Sanctuary has accumulated 789 acres of land in Keenesburg, Colorado, building tailored habitats across the landscape for lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards, wolves, bears, alpacas, ostriches, foxes, coyotes, and other species in need.

Ranging from 5 to 25-acres, they feature underground dens, swimming ponds, shade shelters and play structures… and each is specifically created for the species that calls it home.

In the Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom video above, host Stephanie Arne learns about these open habitat designs, as well as to their 1.5 mile (2.4 kilometer) long elevated walkway, a Guinness World Record-setting pedestrian footbridge that provides views of the animals without stressing them. From their site:

Here at The Wild Animal Sanctuary, we knew we would never open to the public unless we could find a way to avoid these stressors. Luckily, early on we discovered that large carnivores (and most other animals) do not consider air or sky to be territory, so if people are on elevated platforms or walkways they will not be considered a threat.

With this game-changing revelation, we knew the only way we could ever be open to the public for educational purposes would be through creating an elevated viewing system.​.. Our guests now have access to many of our large acreage habitats and can sense how the animals below do not feel pressured.

This 2018 Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom video shares what it took to create the sanctuary’s signature feature:

Watch more rescue, sanctuary, and conservation videos:
• Larro’s Rescue by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
• Rhino Keepers for a Day
• Inside a Baby Sloth Orphanage and Rescue Center
• Kangaroo Dundee and his baby kangaroos
• Baby Bat Burritos at the Australian Bat Clinic
• Raccoon Baby Rescue, Rehydration, and Reunion