We’re excited to announce Wooten’s Animal Sanctuary is undergoing its biggest remodeling to date! We’ll be spending more than a quarter of a million dollars over the next few months to improve the public areas and all animal habitats throughout the Sanctuary.
The project will be managed by Juan Lara, a designer with 38 years of experience building chickee huts and animal habitats. The goal is to provide more natural and accommodating environments tailored to each of our animals. “It’s all about making sure the animals feel as comfortable and secure as possible,” said Lara. We plan to enhance existing habitats with more natural features like trees, shrubs, flowers, and rock formations with a waterfall.
We’re also working with veterinarian Dr. Don Harris, who has 50 years of experience caring for big cats. He’s helping us to provide a home for two tigers and two lions who were born in captivity and need a place to live. Because Wooten’s Animal Sanctuary is licensed by the USDA and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, it can be the home these cats need. “They are coming from a collection that seeks to avoid overpopulation and are being relocated to an enriched, enhanced environment at Wooten’s,” said Harris.
In addition to making improvements for animals, we’re hiring local Florida artists to paint large murals celebrating the animals who call Wooten’s their home.
Construction started on August 19 and is expected to be completed by November 2024. The Animal Sanctuary will remain open to guests and the alligator show will continue to run on schedule.