Barry R. Kirshner Foundation Reviews

Such an amazing facility with sooo much info on each and every animal they have

What a great family outing. We learned about some amazing wildlife animals while teaching our grandchildren too. Angie was so kind and fun to talk with. Thank you for the work you are doing and saving these amazing animals.

Went on a beautiful day with my son and his family. The animals are beautiful and well cared for. Love the up close experience, and the staff were awesome. Can't wait to go again!

Lots of big cats which I love. The area and cages are well maintained. Better than other places Ive seen, and each animal has a sign outside the cage with detailed information. This place is ideal for small children. We will definitely return.

Really liked the lady working at the entrance and the facility it self is on it's way to be a top rate facility they're looking for volunteers and I over heard them mentioning Butte college students benefit from volunteering I highly recommend it for a place to take well behaved children

It's a great place to visit. Close to home and the animals are more active than in a zoo.

Fun time for all to see these beautiful animal's being cared for.

The owners are really friendly and the animals seem happy and lazy. The drive and views are also INCREDIBLE. Will definitely be back.

We really enjoyed this place. I know some people are noting that the animals don't have big habits for space, but I'm happy that they are being taken care of. Not all of them are able to be rehabilitated to the degree that they can be transferred back out to the wild. When we were done looking at all of the animals, we found a very nice spot on the grounds to have our little picnic lunch. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable here, also. We will be back!

What a great place with a great mission! You'll see more wild animals here than you could ever get out of hiding at your local zoo. Please go and support their mission to take care of animals that need special assistance.

It is large enough to spend some time there, yet small enough that it doesn't have take your entire day. I would suggest visiting in the mornings or cooler weather when the animals should be more active.

Want y'all to notice I offer no pics this time around! Why? Well there are some Awsome animals y'all need to go see in real life their there now and well sadly the next generation might well only see them in pics. Had a great over all experience walking threw and not only seeing the big cats and a American gator! There's guided tours also if that's your style. But I strongly urge ya to learn why the animals are there in the first place. See I myself sometimes forget the goodness angels on earth kinda thing some humans have. Read about those animals I dare ya and tell me that some people are great examples of us! Anyways safe for all the kiddos and I took my 77 year old moms and she had no problem getting around. A little advice go early and ya should get your money's worth we went in the heat of the day and being A lot smarter than us most of the big cats were napping. Go on git!

Pro: free parking, friendly volunteer staff, can get very close about under 10 feet to large exotic wildlife ranging from foxes & monkeys to lions & bears, only $10 admission.
Con: Restroom is a porta potty, exhibits all close together but path are gravel with slight hill/slope so persons in wheelchair may find tough, this is not so much a zoo more like a retirement home for zoo animals with medical conditions so they look swell for pictures but the signs can be depressing why they can't return to wild.

Really cool to see all the animals. Wish there was more to see though.

Absolutely Amazing! Definitely pleased with animals, people, and accommodations. Everyone is friendly and pleasure to speak with. The animals did not disappoint. They were up walking around, we got to see feeding time, and hear a few roars. They had golf cars that we could use, free of charge, for all 6 of us. Nice touch for me being disabled and my 2 pregnant daughters. Such a Great experience!

I had an amazing time out here. The thing to remember about this place is if the animals didn't come here they would have been euthanized. Many were sick and have gotten better thanks to donations for treatment and now are part of educating the public. All of these animals have been rescued and none could have survived in the wild. They make the best of a bad situation for these animals and treat them with the utmost love and respect. If you don't believe me, volunteer with them and find out for yourself.

Love the animals staff was great. Thanks for all you do for these beautiful creatures

These animals cannot go back out into the wild and they have a safe place to live

Amazing collection of large cats. Not tons of shade or sitting areas though.

Very nice what they're doing the save the animals but they need sponsors$$$$$

Ligers and tigers and bears!! Yes I said Liger very cool to see. The staff was friendly and seemed to care alot for the animals

I think the owner of this place really does care about the animals and her heart is in the right place and I think people should start donating or offering to build bigger and nicer enclosures for the animals and ask what they can do to help so this place can be better instead of trying to tear it down a lot of these animals have nowhere to go and this is the last place. .. when you see places like this and you see them kind of ran down and there a nonprofit and you see that the people really care for the animals you should ask what do you need what can I do to help if you don't like donating money to places that you don't know where that money is going to go , I under stand start a fundraiser get enough money and an overseas the building of an enclosure or going buying the things this place needs so you know the money is actually getting spent on what you're donating for .....

Beautiful animals, hard to see them in their cages, but I know the foundation is still developing their newish location.

The big cats they have are cool. Arrive early rather than later in the afternoon. The big cats will be up and active. In the afternoon they tend to sleep more. Staff is friendly and helpful.

Really cool place to look at lions, liligers, tiligers, tigers, anda bunch of other cool animals

This place is amazing. Animals are well cared for and they set it up for a way that is educational and fun.

Really nice people. Animals look well tookin care of

Very educational absolutely beautiful animals of all sorts. I highly recommend everyone to go experience these wild loving Majestic beautiful animals an experience you'll never forget.

Was pretty awesome, it was super hot outside though, so the animals were very tired. Not much excitement if they are tired. But beautiful to see. My daughter appreciated and she is 5! Definitely kid friendly :)

Wonderful visit with lots of fabulous, special needs animals being well cared for.

This is such a great place! Beautiful animals and the staff there are friendly and know a lot of information on the animals.

a caring none profit, sanctuary for tigers, bears and other wild animals that need help.

Update 2021: Volunteer injured after entering leopard cage at fake sanctuary.

Update: Reports of Abuse and Deaths at Sham Sanctuary

Written by Jennifer O'Connor | May 20, 2014
Update: In January of 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its order that the notorious Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Foundation in Oroville, California, pay more than $5,000 in fines for chronic violations of the Animal Welfare Act, following an inspection prompted by PETA and numerous calls for investigations in recent years. Documented violations include subjecting animals to temperatures of over 100 degrees with no cooling measures, failing to provide a tiger who had an eye injury and a lynx who had limb pain with veterinary care, and allowing members of the public to engage in dangerous direct contact with adult lions, a tiger, and a bear.

Originally posted February 10, 2014:

Former volunteers at the Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Foundation in California have come forward to report appalling abuse and neglect and an alarming number of animal deaths at the sham sanctuary, which is operated by Roberta Kirshner.

A lot of animals to see. One very talkitive bird when you first get there. They also need volunteers from 9am-1pm and sponsors for some of the animals.

Dissatisfied with the animals cages. Way too small. I was excited to go but left feeling very sad for the animals. I hope that they can expand the habitats more.

always great to stop in and see which animals they have, learn about them & if you are so inclined sponser an animal. i love visiting and helping fund the caring for these beautiful creatures. a great day for me and my niece.

Bored animals have very little space and it is expensive

Awesome place for adults to children. Small took about a hour to see everything twice. Other then that awesome

Love our visit to see the beautiful animals and the place was extremely clean including the cages.

I broke down out front and they were the coolest people I have met in a long time

It was amazing to see all the animals up close. They really are amazing this place works solely on donations they rehabilitate some animals and then house some that cannot be placed back in the wild all the staff are volunteers they do have days where you can arrange to take pictures with baby animals and they very so stop by and visit them and if you can sponsor an animal talk to a volunteer about how

They give the greatest care possible to wild animals.

Very interesting place hidden in the outskirts of Oroville. Great selection of animals and very friendly staff. The only downside is the small enclosures. For the amount of land on the property the cages could definitely be expanded and maybe a cooling system for some of the critters.

Wonderful place for children to learn about animals.

The enclosures are so small and a lot of the animals seem so over weight as if they get no exercise or are able to run around. Its heartbreaking

It's disgusting to see animals confined to small enclosures from tourists' pictures. Most of the animals look like they are dying. Wild animals are not meant to be penned up and kept for taking selfies.

Beautiful educational. The staff is very caring and friendly. Loved all the animals...

Great experience if you expect to have a zoo type of experience. The animals look to be well taken care of but it's very sad to see wild animals in such small cages. Very sad. I understand these animals won't be able to be reintroduced to the wild but this is not a sanctuary. These animals need space!!! No bears, lions, tigers, etc are meant to be in confinement. Thank you for what you do but please do it right.

Its cool but I feel for the animals,just any in captivity..nice people friendly staff and animals are healthy,thank you for being close enough for us to visit,much appreciated, im an animal lover as well as my daughter. It was a thrill from one tiger very beautiful animals

I absolutely love this place, it is wonderful and the people are beyond friendly. The animals are well fed and taken care of and I am happy to see that many of them that would have died in the wild are able to live out a comfortable life and educate people about their majesty. Although no captivity is ideal, these animals are cared for and loved and that is important.

I went to the Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife "Sanctuary" when I was in college. First of all, they would have a new baby animal every few months. You could go and hold the baby which is something a true sanctuary would not allow. They were obviously buying these animals as a way to get people to visit their zoo, not saving them. Even if these animals were rescues, they are kept in extremely small cages, way smaller than you would see even at a typical zoo. Do not support this business.

Cool place to go once. Absurdly expensive for what it is.

When Kirshner first opened her roadside zoo, she exhibited a mountain lion her now-deceased son had kept illegally at a private residence. She has also acquired weeks-old cubs from Joe Exotic, presumably to use in cub-petting encounters. She s been repeatedly cited by the USDA for numerous federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) violations, including for subjecting animals to temperatures of over 100 degrees with no cooling measures. In their natural homes, tigers would take a dip in pools of waters or streams to cool off. Kirshner was also cited for failing to provide a tiger who had an eye injury and a lynx who had leg pain with veterinary care, and allowing members of the public to engage in dangerous direct contact with adult lions, a tiger, and a bear.

The facility has been cited for feeding bears moldy fruit and Cheez-It crackers. A volunteer indicated that bears and coyotes could eat items from an unrefrigerated box of food (including deli meats, tandoori chicken burritos, Lunchables, and crackers).

I was totally applaud these beautiful animals are in small cages with no greenery what's so ever and are visible distressed,this is pure torture for these animals to live in these conditions they are separated so they can't even comfort each other and anyone can tell by looking at them how much distress they are in unless your a little kid that doesn't know any better,this is totally inhumane please someone HELP these big cats this is no way to live it would be more humane to put these cats to sleep than have to live like this l can't stop thinking about them and the misery that they are having to endure day after day it's just not right,please someone that knows how to help these animals Help them cause l don't know what l can do.

My children love coming here. And so do I.
There are so many interesting and beautiful animals with stories and histories. I love that all the stuff here is a volunteer who cares about the animals that would have been in a bad place or maybe dead without their care and support. The admission fees go to the animals' food and care that makes me feel great.
The admission fee for an adult is $10, Children under the age of 3 are free of charge.
I actually prefer coming here than visiting a zoo for being able too see animals like lions and tigers so close and the purpose of this place.
A great place to spend time with family or just oneself.

We got to hold a gabby bear. Everyone was very nice.

I really enjoyed the Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary!! We took our First Graders, and they LOVED it!!

I love this place because it helps hurt animals and helps animals in general

great place to take the family for some up close encounters with beautiful animals. wonderful staff with tons of knowledge.

Amazing animals. Quarters for them too tight for my liking.

Lots and lots of animals! There were several active animals, so it was a lot of fun!

Super fun and educational. Many animals and fun atmosphere. I'm so lucky to have this wild life sanctuary so close to Chico and their hours are really nice. Please visit and donate.

Shockingly better than expected. They have a lot of exotic animals and you can see them much more up close than at a regular zoo. They are in the middle of nowhere.

It is a great place to take your children especially if you love big cats big animals

Very cool seeing wildlife that you dont see everyday.. Kids have fun an they learned... Sad to see such small cages. I believe they have enough property to have bigger cages or habitats.

Its a great place and needs sponsors so please help if you can!

I had a fantastic time taking in the beautiful, unique huge cats. What a sight to see. Variety of other animals, from a grey wolf, mountain lion, foxes, lemur, alligator...ect. located at the Pentz Durham highway...