Animal sanctuary

What an animal sanctuary is

An animal sanctuary is a place that gives animals in need a safe, permanent home. Its residents are often animals that were rescued, confiscated, retired from entertainment or research, or surrendered by private owners who couldn't care for them, such as big cats, primates, bears, horses and farm animals.

In a sanctuary, the animal's needs come first, ahead of the visitor's experience. That's the main difference from a zoo, which also exists to educate the public and often runs conservation breeding programs.

What makes a "true" sanctuary

The word "sanctuary" isn't legally protected, so any business can use it. The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) sets the most widely used definition. A true sanctuary:

• doesn't breed its animals, since every birth adds another animal needing lifelong care;
• doesn't buy, sell or trade animals or animal parts;
• doesn't allow public contact with wild animals, such as touching, holding or feeding;
• offers only guided, respectful tours, if it opens to visitors at all;
• runs as a nonprofit or non-commercial organization.

Red flags to watch for

Be cautious of a "sanctuary" or "rescue" that:

• offers cub petting, photo ops or "swim with" experiences with wild animals;
• always seems to have baby animals on hand;
• sells or trades animals, or sends them to other attractions;
• uses animals in shows or performances;
• can't explain where its animals came from.

These signs suggest the animals are there to make money, not to be cared for.

The Big Cat Public Safety Act

The federal Big Cat Public Safety Act, signed on December 20, 2022, changed the rules for big cats in the U.S. It bans most private ownership and breeding of lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, clouded leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, cougars and their hybrids.

USDA-licensed exhibitors and qualifying sanctuaries can still keep big cats, but exhibitors may not allow members of the public to have direct contact with them. That means cub petting and photos with big cats are now illegal. People who already owned big cats could keep them only if they registered them with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by June 18, 2023.

Sanctuary vs. rehabilitation center

A sanctuary usually cares for animals for life. A wildlife rehabilitation center treats injured or orphaned native wildlife and aims to release them. Some facilities do both. For a broader comparison, read our guide to zoos vs. sanctuaries vs. wildlife parks, or look for sanctuaries in the U.S. zoo directory.