Kowiachobee Animal Preserve

About Kowiachobee Animal Preserve

Kowiachobee Animal Preserve is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal sanctuary at 2861 4th Ave SE, Naples, Florida 34117. According to its website, the preserve is licensed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and by the USDA. The facility covers 5 acres. Its mission, as stated on the website, is to protect, educate and inspire through compassionate animal care and community connection. The home page tagline reads: where compassion and education meets conservation, and every visit changes a life. It is not an AZA-accredited facility.

The preserve is not a walk-in attraction. Visits are guided tours booked in advance through the website's online booking system.

History

The About page says Kowiachobee began as a small dream to create a place where animals in need could live out their lives with dignity, care and respect, and grew into a 5-acre preserve that has been home to hundreds of animals, including big cats, birds, primates, reptiles and farm animals. The Our Residents page says that for 25 years the team has provided meals, enrichment and lifelong care to over 100 animals.

Exhibits and habitats

The Our Residents page describes the animals as ranging from lions and lemurs to tortoises and goats. The FAQ mentions mini horses. The About page lists categories of residents: big cats, birds, primates, reptiles and farm animals.

Many residents arrived after facing uncertain futures. The About page says some were former pets or exhibit animals and others simply needed a quiet home, and the Our Residents page says many were rescued, surrendered or retired from situations where they could no longer be cared for. The FAQ says some residents are rehomed and some are adopted or donated, and that the preserve is their last stop, where they stay for good. The FAQ also notes that the animals are not separated by the same types of barriers found in larger facilities.

Conservation and programs

The About page describes the preserve's work in three areas: rescue and lifetime care for animals that cannot be released into the wild; education and outreach through school field trips and community tours, teaching respect for wildlife, responsible pet ownership and environmental stewardship; and community engagement through special events, volunteer days and fundraisers. Its Get Involved page lists volunteer roles: animal care and feeding support, habitat cleaning and enrichment, groundskeeping, event setup and guest assistance, fundraising and outreach, and photography, marketing or administrative support. The page says no prior experience is required and that training is provided. Families can volunteer together, and volunteers 18 or younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.

The FAQ says the preserve is required by law to be overseen by a veterinarian and works with several veterinarians who each specialize in different animals. According to the Get Involved page, tour proceeds are considered donations and go toward the care, feeding and enrichment of the residents, and the home page says donated funds go toward animal care, feeding, habitat maintenance and educational programs. The FAQ says education is a large part of the preserve's work, with the goal of preventing other animals from needing a place like it in the future.

Planning your visit

According to the preserve's FAQ, tours must be booked in advance because the preserve operates with a small volunteer team without constant onsite staff, and Collier County regulations require it to operate this way rather than as a traditional open, walk-in attraction. Tours are booked through the website. Ticket details are on the preserve's website.

The FAQ recommends closed-toe shoes, a water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, a hat and an umbrella. Visitors may bring carrots for the mini horses, and the FAQ says all of the animals are on specific diets designed by the preserve's veterinarians. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, trained service dogs are welcome, but the preserve may restrict them from certain areas or require extra distance if they cause stress to the animals. Service dogs must stay under control and on a leash, keep their distance from enclosures and animals, and avoid direct interaction with any animal.

The preserve's email is kowia.info@gmail.com. Its mailing address is 2220 Logan Blvd N #806-51, Naples, FL 34119. It maintains Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts.