When you visit, you have a unique opportunity to s...

When you visit, you have a unique opportunity to see and interact with lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) as safety allows. Visitors help fund the rescue mission of the "zoo" and learn more about these great creatures. Definitely take the guided tour.. it is excellent.

The grounds appear well maintained and the staff seems to care about the animals.

I don't consider this a zoo, in the modern sense, but more of a rescue shelter for exotic animals. Most of the animals were removed from or donated by people who could no longer care for them. They had very few (if any) other places to go.

The animals (mostly large cats, but also bears, alligators, and others) are stored in cages/pens and don't have large natural looking enclosures. I understand the criticism by others about the size of the pens. While it would be great for them to have hundreds of acres to roam, but containment and control of these dangerous creatures would be impossible on a shoestring budget.

GWZOO staff also said they do breeding and exchanges with other zoos to try and improve genetic diversity. I believe them when they say they do these things for the benefit of the animals and species.

It was mentioned on the tour that PETA and other groups report the animals are stressed and should not be caged. I do see some pacing by the animals, but I'm not sure if that is stress or not. Since this is a shelter of last resort, the alternative is death. The animals that were interacted with did seem happy and playful.

In summery, The GWZOO is a great place to visit and enjoy a unique experience interacting with animals you normally don't get to see. Your visit supports their primary rescue mission. Keep that mission in mind and you'll get the full experience!