My family and I recently stayed at Kalahari resort in Sandusky, Ohio. It was a nice hotel but there was one major problem- the animals. They had a small zoo which featured 2 zebras, 2 giraffes, multiple goats, a donkey, a warthog, multiple kangaroos, some horses, a camel, some snakes, birds, 3 porcupine and an ostrich. The cages were too small. The animals didn’t have any shade. There were no toys or enrichment activities. The ground was dirt, the zebras didn’t have any grass to graze on. Even though these animals are only here part of the year they need better environments.

Another problem is the fact that they exploit young animals to turn a profit, mainly tiger and lion cubs. They claim that the money raised goes towards feline conservation, however, one organization they donate to is the Zoological Association of America (ZAA) which is a fringe group with weak standards that endorses poorly run roadside zoos, traveling zoos, and private menageries and promotes the private ownership of exotic pets as well as the commercialization of wildlife. Despite threats to public safety and animal welfare, ZAA standards allow public contact with dangerous wild animals.

I emailed the company with my concerns and they forwarded said email to Wild Acres Ranch- Safari Adventures which owns the cubs. The man who emailed me, Bill Coburn, claims that none of the animals are man-handled. He went on to say that the cubs are monitored 24/7 by a staff of keepers, veterinarians, wild life directors, neonatal care specialists etc. He said that the animals are not exploited, but actually in a 15 week training program to prepare them for exhibit acclimation. They will be returned to their original zoo or relocated to one of over 150 accredited zoos nationwide. He restated that none of the cubs are exploited, but are well adjusted and ready to go to their next level of training and exhibit. I have emailed back asking for further information on “exhibit acclimation.” He did not explain why the cubs are being taken from their mother’s at such an early age.

I did some investigating into Bill Coburn and Wild Acres Ranch- Safari Adventures and found that since 2005 Wild Acres Ranch has been cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for (1):

• Using an unvaccinated 3½-week-old tiger cub for more than 50 photos with the public in a three day period at Kalahari Resort. The inspector wrote, “Frequent exposure of young and immature unvaccinated cubs to the public is detrimental to their health and wellbeing.”

• Failure to provide transportation records for which the inspector wrote, “This facility uses small exotic animals such as tiger, lion and bear cubs for photo [sessions] and then when they are no longer cubs they are sold and transported.”

• Housing a 6-week-old tiger cub in an enclosure with a cement floor and only a plastic dog kennel as shelter from the sun. At the time of inspection, the temperature of the cement was 110 degrees and the inside of the plastic kennel was 97 degrees. The inspector wrote, “More shelter must be provided to allow for cooler living conditions and to avoid overheating or discomfort and possible death of such a young animal.”

• Failure to provide adequate veterinary care to a 6-week-old tiger when it could not be determined if the cub had been appropriately vaccinated

• Housing numerous bear cubs in transport enclosures inside a garage that also contained a gas grill, gasoline, a lawn mower and a car. The inspector wrote, “[T]hese items […] could be dangerous to them because of fumes.”

• Failure to provide adequate space to three water buffalo who were held in a transport trailer that was not large enough. The inspector wrote, “[T]here is not enough adequate freedom of movement which could cause injury to the animals during transport.”

• Repeated failure to be available for inspection

• Improper food storage and failure to dispose of expired drugs

• Inadequate perimeter fence

• Failure to properly mark carriers used to transport lion cubs

• Failure to maintain acquisition records

Bill Coburn, operator of Wild Acres Ranch and Safari Adventures, uses tiger, lion, and bear cubs for public handling and has African lions and black bears slaughtered to sell their meat. Coburn has also been cited by the USDA for numerous serious violations of the Animal Welfare Act.(1)

We need to tell the hotel to stop supporting this animal abuse!

What can you do to help?

1. Sign this petition

2. Email the hotel here: http://www.kalahariresorts.com/ohio/contact-us

3.Fill out this form: http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/51389/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=13822

4. Watch and share this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POls0Pn9ho0

(1)    U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, December 6, 2011, April 4, 2011, March 1, 2010, November 4, 2008, June 28, 2007, June 27, 2007, May 30, 2007, January 11, 2007, and December 14, 2005.