Panther Ridge Conservation Center

About Panther Ridge Conservation Center

Panther Ridge Conservation Center is a nonprofit big-cat sanctuary at 2143 D Road in Loxahatchee, Florida, in Palm Beach County. The website describes it as a 501(c)(3) institution dedicated to conservation through education, and as a home for some of the world's endangered big cats.

The center's home page says it is home to 26 big cats representing 10 species. It states that once a cat is accepted by Panther Ridge, it will never again need a home or be at risk of neglect or mishandling. The cats serve as ambassadors for their species, and the center says it aims to engage the public so that visitors become aware of the plight of big cats in the wild. The about page says Panther Ridge is not a mainstream tourist attraction or a zoo, and describes itself as a conservation center specializing in the care of endangered and threatened cats.

The center is not listed as AZA accredited.

History

The home page refers to a brand new facility and to the continuing build-out of expanded quarters, and says donations support the cats' health, diet and care along with that build-out. The twilight hours page describes visitors walking around the new facility.

The news page says the center is not here for commercial exploitation of rare and endangered cats but is a life-saving educational space, and that it has rescued cats from poorly managed facilities. The page lists an animal curator and a director of development as media contacts.

Exhibits and habitats

Visitors tour landscaped habitats on foot. The tours page notes that the walking paths are outdoor, with slightly uneven terrain that is not strenuous, that there is minimal shade, and that guests should bring water, hats and sunscreen. Golf cart accommodations are available for physically impaired guests on most tours, but not during cheetah walks or twilight hours. Visitors stay at pre-determined safe distances from the cats, and no direct animal contact is permitted.

The residents page lists the ten species at the center: caracal, cheetah, clouded leopard, cougar, jaguar, leopard, ocelot, serval, fishing cat and lynx. Each species has its own page on the website. The about page also uses the name panther in its list of species housed. The guided tour page says visitors meet all ten species with expert guides who provide knowledge about the species and about conservation efforts, and that guides share life stories of individual cats.

Conservation and programs

The center describes its programs as an educational mission built around its resident cats. Its tours are the main programs, and each is booked through the website.

The Guided Tour lasts about one hour and walks through the enclosures with a guide. The Head Keeper Tour lasts two hours and is described as a behind-the-scenes experience in which visitors learn about daily keeper operations, hear how head keepers hand-raised many of the cats, and feed jaguars and servals from a distance.

The Big Cat Experience and the Small Cat Experience are keeper-led sessions in which participants learn about the cats' personalities and species information and help with cleaning, diet preparation and making an enrichment item for a cat of their choice, one for the larger felines and one for the smaller ones.

The Cheetah Walk and Painting lasts 30 minutes. Participants choose paint colors and watch an ambassador cheetah create artwork to take home, then walk around the property with keepers who share stories about the cheetahs. The page states that guests may not touch the cheetahs and that, because the animals choose whether to take part, encounters are never guaranteed.

Twilight Hours is a three-hour evening event offered on select Saturdays from October through March. The page says visitors explore at their own pace, watch the cats during their most active period, meet a cheetah ambassador and have food and drinks included, with access to the gift shop. The center describes it as its most popular event.

Other programs include Yoga with the Big Cats, an annual fundraiser event, school and group tours for groups of 20 or more students, volunteer opportunities, internships, a wish list and gift cards. The news page lists a Wellington Taste and Toast event with proceeds benefiting the center.

Planning your visit

Tours are by appointment only, booked online or by calling (561) 795-8914, according to the tours page. Email is info@pantherridge.org.

The guided tour, head keeper tour and twilight pages list ticket categories by age: adults aged 13 and over, children aged 2 to 12, and infants aged 23 months and under, who are free with an adult ticket. Infants must be booked together with at least one adult. The cheetah walk is for ages 13 and over. Current prices and available dates are on the center's website. Visitors are advised to bring a camera, comfortable clothes, sun protection and walking shoes.