Global Outreach
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Zoos play an increasingly important role in conservation, raising awareness about the plight of many of the species on this planet and about energy and natural resource conservation, empowering the public to make small changes at home to become more environmentally friendly. Zoos are also important in raising funds for conservation, Since 2010, Safari West has joined our partners to raise millions of dollars for conservation in the United States and abroad. Finally, zoos are many children’s first encounters with wildlife, influencing future teachers, biologists and policymakers. Safari West’s conservation plan was written with these responsibilities in mind.
Safari West also sets a goal of supporting conservation efforts and raising awareness of wildlife issues by donating to various conservation organizations where a member of a conservation organization presents their work to guests in the Elephant Room. For upcoming conservation talks, check our calendar.
Safari West’s Written Conservation Plan
Conservation Local and Abroad
Safari West supports conservation efforts, local and abroad, protecting wildlife and ecosystems, and improving the lives of humans who live near threatened wildlife. This is accomplished in part by donating a portion of the money raised from the Behind the Scenes and Animal Encounter programs. Safari West also supports conservation efforts by hosting annual fundraisers for conservation organizations such as the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
Safari West Conservation Partners:
- Center for Biological Diversity
- Cheetah Conservation Fund
- Fishing Cat Conservancy
- Friends of Ape Action Africa
- Giraffe Conservation Foundation
- Grevy’s Zebra Trust
- International Crane Foundation
- International Rhino Foundation
- Lemur Conservation Foundation
- Marine Mammal Center
- Martinez Beavers
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch
- Mountain Lion Foundation
- National Wildlife Federation
- Northern California Bats
- Okapi Conservation Project
- Painted Dog Conservation
- Painted Dog Research Trust
- Paula Lane Action Network
- Proyecto Titi
- River Otter Ecology
- Ruaha Carnivore Project
- Sahara Conservation Fund
- Save the Snakes
- Savenature.org
- Snow Leopard Conservancy
- Sonoma County Reptile Rescue
- Urban Wildlife Research Project
- Wild Cat Education
- WildCare
- Wildlife Conservation Network
- Wildlife Rescue
Conservation Education
Safari West’s conservation plan is aimed at conservation education for all of our visitors. Tours at Safari West have a strong conservation message. Guides are knowledgeable about the conservation status of each species in the collection. Safari excursions center around species with a listing of Vulnerable or higher and the threats to these species and efforts to conserve them are discussed. Guides are encouraged to keep abreast of conservation issues, sharing new information with staff by reporting to the Head Naturalist, who then informs all of the guides about new strides in the conservation of animals and habitat here and abroad. Tours also educate and encourage the public to make changes to conserve energy and natural resources and to protect wildlife, by conserving water, recycling, reducing one’s carbon footprint, and supporting local and organic farming. Guides spend time with each and every guest discussing local conservation issues such as water conservation, local endangered species programs, and open space preservation.
Native Wildlife
Safari West set a goal of improving habitat at Safari West for native wildlife. We have installed basking sites on Watusi Lake for western pond turtles (Clemmys marmorata) and installed bat houses around the property. Nest boxes for wood ducks (Aix sponsa), American kestrels (Falco sparverius), barn owls (Tyto alba), downy woodpeckers (Picoides pubescens), violet-green swallows (Tachycineta thalassina), western bluebirds (Sialia mexican), and western screech owls (Megascops kennicotti) have also been constructed and installed. These nest boxes are monitored to determine if they are being utilized and if so, by the target species or by an invasive species. We have additionally initiated a program to eradicate non-native species of thistle with guidance from Pepperwood Preserve, our adjoining neighbor. The preserve is managed by the California Academy of Sciences and has a strong affiliation and working relationship with Santa Rosa Junior College.
Local Open Space Preservation
Safari West’s conservation plan includes helping Sonoma County reach its open space goals. Safari West proactively works toward conserving land, providing habitat for native wildlife, preserving the open space, natural, scenic, and agricultural values of the property, and protecting the oak woodland and chaparral for future generations. All 400 acres of Safari West are designated open space and an easement for the entire property has been given to the Sonoma County Agricultural and Open Space Preservation District. The easement protects all of Safari West from development into perpetuity.
In addition, two hundred and forty acres of Safari West are protected by an agricultural easement. This easement allows for safaris that provide conservation education to 70,000 visitors a year. The forever wild portion of the property is protected from development into perpetuity. Building is prohibited on this portion of Safari West land, ensuring that some of Sonoma County’s original ranch land remains intact and reverts to its original undisturbed state.
- Local and Abroad
Conservation Local and Abroad
Safari West supports conservation efforts, local and abroad, protecting wildlife and ecosystems, and improving the lives of humans who live near threatened wildlife. This is accomplished in part by donating a portion of the money raised from the Behind the Scenes and Animal Encounter programs. Safari West also supports conservation efforts by hosting annual fundraisers for conservation organizations such as the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
Safari West Conservation Partners:
- Center for Biological Diversity
- Cheetah Conservation Fund
- Fishing Cat Conservancy
- Friends of Ape Action Africa
- Giraffe Conservation Foundation
- Grevy’s Zebra Trust
- International Crane Foundation
- International Rhino Foundation
- Lemur Conservation Foundation
- Marine Mammal Center
- Martinez Beavers
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch
- Mountain Lion Foundation
- National Wildlife Federation
- Northern California Bats
- Okapi Conservation Project
- Painted Dog Conservation
- Painted Dog Research Trust
- Paula Lane Action Network
- Proyecto Titi
- River Otter Ecology
- Ruaha Carnivore Project
- Sahara Conservation Fund
- Save the Snakes
- Savenature.org
- Snow Leopard Conservancy
- Sonoma County Reptile Rescue
- Urban Wildlife Research Project
- Wild Cat Education
- WildCare
- Wildlife Conservation Network
- Wildlife Rescue
- Education
Conservation Education
Safari West’s conservation plan is aimed at conservation education for all of our visitors. Tours at Safari West have a strong conservation message. Guides are knowledgeable about the conservation status of each species in the collection. Safari excursions center around species with a listing of Vulnerable or higher and the threats to these species and efforts to conserve them are discussed. Guides are encouraged to keep abreast of conservation issues, sharing new information with staff by reporting to the Head Naturalist, who then informs all of the guides about new strides in the conservation of animals and habitat here and abroad. Tours also educate and encourage the public to make changes to conserve energy and natural resources and to protect wildlife, by conserving water, recycling, reducing one’s carbon footprint, and supporting local and organic farming. Guides spend time with each and every guest discussing local conservation issues such as water conservation, local endangered species programs, and open space preservation.
- Native Wildlife
Native Wildlife
Safari West set a goal of improving habitat at Safari West for native wildlife. We have installed basking sites on Watusi Lake for western pond turtles (Clemmys marmorata) and installed bat houses around the property. Nest boxes for wood ducks (Aix sponsa), American kestrels (Falco sparverius), barn owls (Tyto alba), downy woodpeckers (Picoides pubescens), violet-green swallows (Tachycineta thalassina), western bluebirds (Sialia mexican), and western screech owls (Megascops kennicotti) have also been constructed and installed. These nest boxes are monitored to determine if they are being utilized and if so, by the target species or by an invasive species. We have additionally initiated a program to eradicate non-native species of thistle with guidance from Pepperwood Preserve, our adjoining neighbor. The preserve is managed by the California Academy of Sciences and has a strong affiliation and working relationship with Santa Rosa Junior College.
- Open Space
Local Open Space Preservation
Safari West’s conservation plan includes helping Sonoma County reach its open space goals. Safari West proactively works toward conserving land, providing habitat for native wildlife, preserving the open space, natural, scenic, and agricultural values of the property, and protecting the oak woodland and chaparral for future generations. All 400 acres of Safari West are designated open space and an easement for the entire property has been given to the Sonoma County Agricultural and Open Space Preservation District. The easement protects all of Safari West from development into perpetuity.
In addition, two hundred and forty acres of Safari West are protected by an agricultural easement. This easement allows for safaris that provide conservation education to 70,000 visitors a year. The forever wild portion of the property is protected from development into perpetuity. Building is prohibited on this portion of Safari West land, ensuring that some of Sonoma County’s original ranch land remains intact and reverts to its original undisturbed state.
For further information about our conservation speaker program please contact our Conservation and Outreach Manager Marie Martinez at mmartinez@safariwest.com or you can call her direct line at 707-566-3623.
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