Please Help Us Build These Animals Homes!
Donation protected
Hi! My name is Rick de Ridder. Last year my wife Sara and I heard about the Emerald Coast Zoo in Crestview, Florida. We learned that the zoo was in danger of closure by government agencies.
Sadly, if the zoo closed it would have been a death sentence for many of these beautiful animals.
Most people do not realize that large zoos will not take rescue animals, and for their own safety these animals cannot live in the wild. I could not let these animals be euthanized.
We sold our home, and everything else we could, and purchased the zoo. We packed up our kids, David, Suzy and Betsy, and moved into a camper on the grounds of the zoo. We are not going to move to a better place until these animals live in a better place.
We all have been working hard and have gotten a lot accomplished during the last 12 months.
But we need your help to continue to improve the lives of every animal here. Reality is setting in and we are running out of money. These animals need larger habitats that are physically and mentally stimulating.
With new enclosures the animals will be healthier and thrive in a place that “feels like home”. In order to make this a reality, we have tried to obtain a loan, but banks will not give us a loan until we have been in business for more than three years. These animals can’t wait three years.
To stay healthy, our wolves need a larger area to swim each day, covered by pine trees with large rocks so they can create a den. Levi the lion, needs a much larger enclosure that resembles an African plain with a high perch to look out over his kingdom. Our two tigers, Kota and Kahlua, need an “Asian Woodland” area with a pool where they can swim, like they would in the wild. Our baboons, Monte and Eileen, who is missing her arm and foot, deserve a taller enclosure with places they can climb and hang out or run around and play.
Meet Our Amazing Wolves
We also have “Honey Bear” our American Black Bear, our 3-legged Fennec Fox, African Porcupines, Australian Kangaroos, Bobcats, Lemurs, a 3-toed Sloth, an American alligator, several monkey species, and many more. All of them need better spaces to call home.
Meet Our Sweet 3-Legged Fennec Fox
Our dream is to create habitats that reflect these animals natural environment, like our new Muntjac Deer habitat that has areas where they can hide out if they don’t want to be bothered, or warm up on a cool night or cool down on a hot day.
Our Muntjac Deer "Fang" in His New Habitat
If you would like to help, please donate today. We are so thankful that we are creating a donor wall near our entrance. The name of any donor who contributes $100 or more will be displayed. We will also be posting updates with our progress for our animals’ new homes as they are constructed. All of you will see the amazing difference your contribution can make.
Thank you for taking the time today to share in our journey.
Sadly, if the zoo closed it would have been a death sentence for many of these beautiful animals.
Most people do not realize that large zoos will not take rescue animals, and for their own safety these animals cannot live in the wild. I could not let these animals be euthanized.
We sold our home, and everything else we could, and purchased the zoo. We packed up our kids, David, Suzy and Betsy, and moved into a camper on the grounds of the zoo. We are not going to move to a better place until these animals live in a better place.
We all have been working hard and have gotten a lot accomplished during the last 12 months.
But we need your help to continue to improve the lives of every animal here. Reality is setting in and we are running out of money. These animals need larger habitats that are physically and mentally stimulating.
With new enclosures the animals will be healthier and thrive in a place that “feels like home”. In order to make this a reality, we have tried to obtain a loan, but banks will not give us a loan until we have been in business for more than three years. These animals can’t wait three years.
To stay healthy, our wolves need a larger area to swim each day, covered by pine trees with large rocks so they can create a den. Levi the lion, needs a much larger enclosure that resembles an African plain with a high perch to look out over his kingdom. Our two tigers, Kota and Kahlua, need an “Asian Woodland” area with a pool where they can swim, like they would in the wild. Our baboons, Monte and Eileen, who is missing her arm and foot, deserve a taller enclosure with places they can climb and hang out or run around and play.
Meet Our Amazing Wolves
We also have “Honey Bear” our American Black Bear, our 3-legged Fennec Fox, African Porcupines, Australian Kangaroos, Bobcats, Lemurs, a 3-toed Sloth, an American alligator, several monkey species, and many more. All of them need better spaces to call home.
Meet Our Sweet 3-Legged Fennec Fox
Our dream is to create habitats that reflect these animals natural environment, like our new Muntjac Deer habitat that has areas where they can hide out if they don’t want to be bothered, or warm up on a cool night or cool down on a hot day.
Our Muntjac Deer "Fang" in His New Habitat
If you would like to help, please donate today. We are so thankful that we are creating a donor wall near our entrance. The name of any donor who contributes $100 or more will be displayed. We will also be posting updates with our progress for our animals’ new homes as they are constructed. All of you will see the amazing difference your contribution can make.
Thank you for taking the time today to share in our journey.
Organizer
Rick DeRidder
Organizer
Crestview, FL