Central Florida Animal Reserve

About Central Florida Animal Reserve

The Central Florida Animal Reserve, abbreviated CFAR, is a nonprofit big cat reserve at 500 Broussard Road in St. Cloud, Florida. Its website describes its work as meaningful coexistence, thoughtful education and long-term care for big cats, organized around three pillars: compassion, conservation and commitment. The reserve is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.

Its website lists lions, tigers, leopards and cougars as the animals in its care, and species pages cover cougars, leopards, lions, servals and tigers with information on characteristics, behavior and conservation status. The reserve says it provides permanent homes for animals that cannot return to the wild. The reserve is a sanctuary and describes all visitation as guided and scheduled for safety and learning, so it does not operate as a walk-in zoo.

History

According to the reserve's about page, CFAR traces its beginnings to 1996 in Palm Bay. In its early years it took part in preservation efforts that included breeding programs, at a time when, the page says, experts were forecasting the extinction of tigers in the wild. In 2007 the organization reincorporated, ended its breeding initiatives and began concentrating solely on providing a sanctuary.

The about page says a four-year fundraising campaign preceded a move in 2017, when CFAR relocated 25 big cats nearly 60 miles to its current home in Osceola County. Since that move, the page says, the reserve has rehomed 15 additional cats. The reserve states its mission as creating a platform to address the challenge of big cats for the future and to provide value to society today.

Exhibits and habitats

Visits are guided tours of the sanctuary, during which, according to the website, staff share how the animals are cared for, their individual stories and the importance of conservation. A Welcome Center is mentioned in connection with the reserve's brick program, in which personalized bricks are placed at the center.

The species named on the website are lions, tigers, leopards and cougars, with educational pages also covering servals. The reserve describes a longer-term plan it calls the 3Vs. The Visitor Center initiative is described as improving the reserve's ability to host guests through better visitor amenities. Under the Veterinary initiative, CFAR says it seeks to develop an on-site veterinary hospital. The Viability initiative covers connectivity, storage, emergency power, staffing and administrative support.

Conservation and programs

The reserve lists several ways to take part beyond a standard tour:

• Group sales.
• Wild Resilience, a leadership program developed with Sunshine Coaching Group.
• Community events, themed programs, education days and fundraisers held throughout the year.
• Memberships, donations, sponsorships, partnerships and the Coinholder's Club.
• Volunteer opportunities in animal care, tour operations, project teams, teen volunteer activities and group workdays.

Planning your visit

As listed on the reserve's website, the guided options are:

• Guided Walking Tour, 60 minutes, for ages 10 and older.
• Family Tour, designed for families with younger children.
• Behind the Scenes Tour, 90 minutes, for ages 10 and older, visiting additional areas of the reserve.
• Private Walking Tour, 60 minutes, for groups of up to 8 adults.
• Keeper for a Day, a five-hour program for ages 14 and older.
• KEEPER120, a two-hour program for ages 14 and older.
• Executive Tour, 60 to 90 minutes with the reserve's leadership.

Tour days, times and ticket details are on the reserve's website. The reserve can be reached at 321-637-0110 or contact@cflar.org.