Safari's Wildlife Sanctuary at Oklacon
What is Safari's?
Roman Nose State Park is
Safari's is the reason Oklacon continues to exist. It is an exotic animal sanctuary in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
It is an amazing place, a not-for-profit charity whose focus is to rescue exotic animals that are
abandoned by their owners. Often times, people think it would be "cool" or "fun" to own an exotic animal,
but quickly find out after a few months the cost and level of care, attention, and natural
habitat these animals require far surpasses their ability to provide. Other times, road-side zoos
and other ill-fated projects dump juvenille animals once they become too old to attract enough
people willing to pay to witness their exploitation. Safari's rescues these animals by taking
them to a no-kill habitat, manned by countless volunteers and supported by the local community
to peacefully live out the rest of their days.
Why Safari's?
Safari's is run by completely by volunteers. Each day, their rescued big cats, bears, and other large animals consume hundreds of pounds of food, which is funded through gate admissions. While Safari's receives great support from the Broken Arrow and surrounding community during the summer months through family visits and special group tours, in the winter, when gate admissions taper off, the animals in the sanctuary actually require more food to get through the winter, a disparity Oklacon fulfills through its generous attendees and its charity fundraising activities. Oklacon and Safari's have had a relationship since 2004, and remain close partners to this day. As a significant single contributor to the charity, we at Oklacon, the organizers, the volunteers, and the attendees, feel connected to Safari's not only through charity, but through a sense of duty to help out our animal brethren make it through the cold Oklahoma winter.
Safari's Wildlife Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity, and you can learn more about their park and supurb charitable work on their own website. A number of Safari's volunteers come down to Oklacon each year to bring some of their more personable animals and explain how they rescue and care for them. Please feel free to engage them in a conversation while attending Oklacon to learn more about the wonderful work they do.