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I’d seen the signs for Lion Country Safari on the way home from the airport, but the concept seemed so far-fetched, I didn’t consider it could truly be a safari with lions, and had doubts about animal welfare so far from their natural habitats.
But as the New Girl, I asked long-time Lion Country spokesperson Haley McCann to show me around. I had so many questions: What happens to the pride of lions when a hurricane hits Palm Beach? Is it true that Larry Ellison now owns Lion Country, which turns out to be the first cage-free animal park in America? And how do they create a safari in South Florida, including happy animals?
Haley gave me a private tour — even letting me roll down the windows to lock eyes with rhinos, giraffes, and antelope (windows up for the lions, of course). I learned a lot about why this is different from a typical zoo.
Lion Country Safari is 15 miles inland in Loxahatchee, situated on 250 acres. It opened in 1967, modeled after the African safari experience, starting with lions; it now has almost 90 species. You drive through in your car to see some of the largest groups of rhinos, zebras, and lions in the country, separated into natural social groups. The park is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, meaning it meets high standards for animal care and conservation.
Here are some of the fun facts I learned on safari:
Some of the species are in danger of extinction, and this park serves as a backup plan.
Since the early 2000s, they don't have elephants, as they were relocated to Dallas to join a more productive breeding herd.
Jane Goodall visited nearly 20 times and had a special relationship with a chimpanzee who lived to be almost 80.
Chimpanzees can’t swim, so they live on islands in the park.
The zebras and rhinos live together; even though zebras apparently have attitudes, they don’t bother the docile rhinos because they respect their size.
Every zebra’s pattern is unique, like a barcode; some of the staff went to Kenya to get full-body pics of zebras to track them using GPS-enabled cameras to aid conservation efforts.
My highlight was rolling down my window to meet Bobby, a very curious giraffe (who probably hoped I had lettuce to feed him). Later, I did get to feed another giraffe from eye level, which was a first. We also got to drive directly within the lion enclosure, which felt a little like entering Jurassic Park, and was possible only because I was with Haley. Incredible – and the cubs were so cute.
I asked about the news that the founding family sold the park to a foundation linked to tech billionaire Larry Ellison for a reported $30 million. In a statement, the park said that the Ellison family has a “longstanding commitment to wildlife conservation” and that operations will continue as normal. There is a data center being proposed nearby, called Project Tango, but it does not appear to be on the same land. For now, the animals have a new landlord, but their homes are reportedly staying the same.
There’s more to see and learn in the video- such as when to come to hear the lions roar- so I hope you join us on our Palm Beach safari. —Maghan
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