Barry R. Kirshner Foundation Reviews

Really enjoyed visiting this place, the animals were amazing!!

Really enjoyed Walking around and looking at the animals. Talked to one of the volunteers. He was very knowledgeable about the animals and park.

Everyone was very nice there and the animals are beautiful and the cages are very clean. They need pools and more play room. Wish I could donate so so so much more. I will be back and I will be telling everyone I know to visit this wonderful place!! :)

An amazing selection of creatures who all seem to be well fed and well taken care of. The enclosures are a bit small especially for the larger animals, but this is nice for the littler children who get to see the animals up close and personal. Be aware that the big cats might try to spray you!! Staff is friendly and knowledgeable and there is ample parking and picnic tables.

This place is amazing!! Highly recommend visiting!

It was a very nice experience to see all kinds of animals which are in need being helped and cared for, I especially like the amount of care you can see given to the animals and their enclosures, you can see the helpers feeding the animals and cleaning the pens.

This place is awesome. The work they do seems impossible but the accomplish so much for the animals in their care

This is a wonderful place for family time. Peacefully located in the hills above Oroville, Ca., you can regain composure after a stress filled day/week ! The animals are so beautiful and well kept, lots of volunteers & written info on each animal as well. Some are very rare, some extinct in the wild. You will definitely have a JOYFUL day visiting Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary, HAVE A GREAT TIME !!

sad life for exotic animals with no place to move, cool down, or be engaged with their surroundings. a road side zoo.

The poor animals are kept in very small enclosures. They all looked so hot and miserable. No gleam in their eyes. It was sad to think these majestic creatures are so coupes up no room to run. All that land and tiny living spaces like that is just horrible. Poor animals.

This sanctuary cares for animals who can't be released into the wild and specializes in those with special needs.

We visited them shortly after losing our home in the Camp Fire. They were extremely friendly and made us feel right at home. They even waived our entrance fees and gave each of the kids a free stuffed animal (or three). Highly recommend simply for the humanity and kindness of the staff and owners. Will definitely revisit when we come back down that way.

Awsome place!! Alot better then I thought 73 ANIMALS TO SEE! lots of animals and even 1 out of ONLY 5 Tililiger's in the U.S. pretty amazing they have one!

It's a great place to see some beautiful animals, but it's a quick walk around.

Nice animal sanctuary. The animals look well looked after

Great place to see big cats and bears and other exotic animals. They take care of animals with genetic problems or disabilities.

Great place for only $10 for an adult. Nice place for animals that need extra support

We are from Manitoba Canada visiting with friends here in Chico and they mentioned going here. Best place and so glad we came
to wildlife sanctuary. Love that these beautiful animals are taken care of. Thank-you for all you guys do to keep this going. The place is impeccably kept. Highly recommend
Don, Lori & Kyra

Please do not support or visit this place. They acquire baby animals for people to take photos with and then these animals are kept in small cages.
This is so sad.

Having the variety of animals they do, the amount of care and dedication the staff shows to these creatures, and that there is a facility to care for these often abused and abandoned animals makes Kirshner a real special environment. Yes, it's sad to see animals in a cage, but if you pay attention to the staff and read the stories of how they got these creatures, it will blow your mind how far this place has gone to stand in the gap and protect them.

I always love visiting this place. The animals are gorgeous and the staff is friendly. They deserve all the support they can get

I was just a little disappointed that the cats didn't have bigger pools of water for them. They really didn't look happy. But all in all the animals are beautiful. Thank you for saving them

Kids absolutely loved seeing all the animals. Great place to volunteer at all the people are awesome

Quite a selection of animals. One of our ladies thought their cages were to small?

Great place to see the big cats...and other wild animals

Seeing the animals was so fun and enjoyable for family time. Next time gonna have to pack a picnic lunch and utilize the picnic area

Kirshners wildlife refuge is hidden gem in our community. It is home to many exotic animals like lions, tigers and bears. Or if you prefer, wallabies, alligators and lemurs. There are so many more animals to see, it's like having a zoo just a short drive away. One thing to keep in mind though, is that this place is not a zoo. It is a sanctuary. Every animal here has a story and generally wouldn't be accepted at a regular zoo or wouldn't be able to integrate into the wild. This program is in memory of its founder, Barry Kirschner, by his loving mother, who continues his work to this day. It depends on donations, volunteers and a very small, and very dedicated staff who care deeply about these animals. I have read some not so favourable and ultimately unfair reviews. These people fail to see the big picture and should get their hands dirty before passing judgement. It takes an epic amount of work to keep this sanctuary going and guess what; they aren't doing it for you and I. They do it for the animals. This facility deserves your support. Take the family, take a date, take a sister or take a mate. A hidden gem, Kirshners is great.

This place is awesome great staff very helpful this place is very quiet and the animals are well taken care of otherwise they would be put down

Cages for such large animals are very small . It was actually very sad to see such beautiful creatures in such small enclosures with no room to roam.

The staff that I talk to has a lot of knowledge of animals, very nice, the place is well cleaned

glad to hear this place wasnt touched in the campfire such a lovely place and staff are so awsome

Really interesting place with a big variety of animals. Loved all the cats!

I went to Barry Kirshner Wildlife Foundation today and LOVED it!! The animals are absolutely beautiful and very well taken care of!! The staff was so helpful and very nice!! I would recommend you take your family here if you want to see some amazing animals!!!

Go sing Old MacDonald had a farm with Paco! See care of the lions, tigers, bears, and sligers, mccaws, coyotes, and wolves etc...

I found an injured wild bird & they were very helpful & let me take it to them to be cared for

This is a great place for people of all ages and they provide great opportunities to these rescue animals.

Enclosures are too small for the animals they hold. No shade for ppl who are viewing the animals. Very depressing.

I loved this place was really educational.Nice to know we have places this

Amazing experience. I can't wait to go again. The people there are great and seeing all those animals was just a great experience! Perfect place for family, children and friends!

A beautiful place run by beautiful people. Thank you for all you do to save these incredible creatures. Without your love, care and support these animals would parish. Roberta you are my hero.

I'm pleased that the animals are well taken care for .

#barrykirshnerwildlifereserve breath taking beautiful... amazing animals.. can tell that the men and women who run this place really love and take care of them... so tranquil to enjoy!!!

Sanctuary? I question that! The animals are confined to small cages. A lot of the animals were pacing back and forth in their cages, and the bears looked apathetic. I have also seen numerous articles about the owner physically abusing and neglecting animals. I wouldn't recommend this place.

It was extremely fun, most of the animals were sleeping due to it being hot but all in all a good expertise

Had to stop by when I was told there was tigers here. This was just an amazing experience better than a zoo. Nothing compares to being as close to these animals as I was. I have to give my respects to the workers you are doing an awesome job.

If you have a little extra money this is a great place to put it too these people take care of these animals with donations that they receive from people you should go there lots of cats in different other animals to be able to see for a small contribution only $10 they're looking for sponsors for some of the animals so if you have the funds please send them the money thank you very much God bless

The Barry Kirshner Sanctuary has changed and positively impacted the lives of not only hundreds of animals but thousands of people who have passed through it's gates. The work being done to protect, preserve, understand and conserve these incredible animals and their natural habitats is deserving of recognition and respect. The care these animals receive is top tier and the enclosures are immaculate. There is behavioral enrichment and high quality food. Please cost. Please donate. This non profit deserves support.

It's a beautiful facility and the animals are very well taken care of.

Friendly and knowledgeable staff! The animals were beautiful and clearly well cared for, the music was fun to listen to and everyone had a great time!

I haven t even been here yet I am appalled by the size of the cages these animals are in. What kind of sanctuary is this? Someone said that this place was the perfect size because it s not too big .... I m pretty sure the animals don t feel the same. Name one animal that wants to be in a tiny cage for their whole life. Stop labeling yourself as a sanctuary. ANIMALS ARE NOT TOYS.

Very awesome place. The ligers were very cool and was playful and cute. Will forsure come again.

We had a great family time. Wonderful way to spend Christmas Eve.

Love this place! Tones of wonderful animals to see! Great for all ages!

This is such a wonderful place. This is the only place I've ever been where I've seen such beautiful animals up close and personal. The staff are excellent and well informed. It's nice to see that these animals with special needs are so well taken care of. Can't wait to go back.

It was great only wish the animals had a bigger place to roam around in..

I took my 2 grandsons there today ag s 8&13, they left there in tears . That place is heartbreaking . All of these beautiful wild animals stuck in cages. No room to run or any semblance of a life in the wild. I understand that they cannot be released back into the wild but they should at least provide them with outdoor space. A large black bear was pacing back and forth in about a 10x20 enclosure . The same with the lion and tigers . They have 2 bear cubs that chewed at the chain link fencing and cried and cried at us when we approached the cage. This not an animal sanctuary, it is an animal prison! Shame on you people, take these animals to a real sanctuary where they have enough space to live a semi normal life.

Perfect little get away for grandma baby and us. Quiet, clean, around 4 dozen animals. Prepare for small cages grandma wasn't

One of our friends taking a nap lots of beautiful animals to see

Awesome! This place and their staff loves and cares for incredibly beautiful creatures there for various health and well being issues.

Many people here are giving negative reviews because these animals should be in the wild BUT if the information is read or there is interaction with the wonderful staff, one would see these animals cannot be released. In most cases, they can t even be in regular zoos (thank goodness). And yes, any animal living a life in a cage will tug at your heartstrings.
Many of these animals are disabled, on medication, geriatric, or have some other form of special needs. This is not some huge non-profit.
Wouldn t you rather be able to take the family to see some beautiful animals that are being loved and cared for, who might otherwise have been dead or put down, for a small donation?
Great organization. Thank you for al you do.

This place is so amazing my kids love to come here and see the variety of animals, we learn so much and see some awesome animals in the process

Great place, we love to go see the animals that are there and to know they are being so well cared for and rehabilitated always something new to see it seems. Can't wait to go back!

I wish the animals were able to have larger areas, with grass. I love what they are doing and I wish I was able to help. The animals look healthy and well taken care of.
If you are able to help, please do.
Thanks,

I feel that we are very blessed to have such a place in Butte County. It is always a wonderful experience to visit and to see the beautiful animals. I do wish that the people who leave negative comments would realize that if more people donated to this cause, they would be able to do more for the animals. Please don't judge before you know the reality of the situation. Thank you

Really cool wild life sanctuary. Awesome place to visit with unique animals to see.

Roadside zoo with animals in undersized cages. It's unacceptable to see a large animal living in a small enclosure. Appalling!

This place is pretty cool. I absolutely love that they are helping animals in need.

It's absolutely a fantastic place to go enjoy with your family

This place is horrible. Lots of the animals seem tormented by being in a small cage for their whole lives. Most of them are isolated and seem agitated most of the time. I feel sorry for those animals. Just leave them alone in nature and let Mother Nature take care of them. They don t deserve to be locked up at least give them a bigger living space.