Here are 5 of the most ethical animal sanctuaries & zoos in Arizona

Learn more about five of the most ethical animal sanctuaries and zoos in Arizona and how each one supports animals and the environment.

If you’re someone who cares about animals and wants to see some of them in person, you’re in luck. These five zoos in Arizona are great places to visit. Besides providing a variety of animal species with a place to live, food, and medical care, each zoo or sanctuary has programs that are dedicated to conservation. Some even support a plethora of sustainability efforts.

From helping out endangered prairie dogs to saving at-risk species, learn more about five of the most ethical animal sanctuaries and zoos in Arizona.

1. Phoenix Zoo

455 N. Galvin Pkwy in Phoenix

The Phoenix Zoo touts itself as one of the largest nonprofit zoos in the entire country. More than 3,000 animals call the 125-acre zoo home, and many of the species are threatened and endangered.

The Phoenix Zoo is devoted to its conservation efforts and is even home to a center that raises animals and breeds that are under threat. The Arthur L. and Elaine V. Conservation Center helps to preserve a total of nine species that are at risk. These include the Desert Pupfish, Black-footed Ferret, Chiricahua Leopard Frog, Cactus Ferruginous pygmy-owl, Narrow-headed Gartersnake, Huachuca Water Umbel, Gila Topminnow, Mount Graham Red Squirrel, and Springsnail.

The compelling history of the black-footed Ferret demonstrates one way that Phoenix Zoo helps animals. This small carnivore was thought to be extinct until a small population was discovered in Wyoming in 1981. These predators prey mostly on prairie dogs and live in prairie dog burrows. When prairie dogs and their habitats were largely wiped out due to the erroneous belief that they hurt the health of the prairie and would hurt livestock, the ferret population declined. The Zoo became involved with the Black-footed Ferret breeding and release program in 1991. The Phoenix Zoo is one of just six breeding facilities worldwide; it has produced over 500 ferrets in more than 20 years. Read more about this program here.

A Phoenix Zoo employee feeds a Sonoran Desert Tortoise, one of more than 3,000 animals that call the 125-acre zoo home. (Phoenix Zoo)

2. Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park

16501 W. Northern Avenue in Litchfield Park

Wildlife World Zoo founder Mickey Ollson was always very devoted to animals. He got his start in the zoo world by raising and selling exotic birds. He eventually had so many animals that he bought land in the West Valley to house them all. Next, Ollson used the money he got from selling birds to Walt Disney Resort’s Discovery Island to purchase 30 acres in the West Valley in 1973. Those breeding facilities eventually became Wildlife World Zoo, which opened to the public in 1984 in Litchfield Park. Ollson died of cancer in 2022, but his legacy lives on.

Visitors can look forward to shows like the Sea Lions in Shipwreck Cove and the Wildlife Encounter Show at the Wildlife Encounter stage, in addition to a stingray touch tank, oceans touch tank, Lory Parrot feeding, giraffe feeding, a petting zoo, and a daily penguin talk.

Through its decades in business, the Wildlife World Zoo has given money—awards in amounts that range from $1,000 to $10,000—to organizations that support a variety of causes. These include the Turtle Survival Alliance, the International Crane Foundation, the Marine Mammal Center, Save Giraffes Now, and the International Rhino Foundation. To see the full list of organizations Wildlife World Zoo supports, click here.

Four white rhinos roam around the Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park in Litchfield Park. (Kristy Hayden)

3. Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary

1403 Heritage Park Road in Prescott

Prescott’s Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary rescues about 400 animals annually. About 200 animals live at the sanctuary. The scenic 10-acre zoo is just north of Prescott and overlooks Willow Lake and has been open since 1988. Guests can expect to see unique animals, including Mexican Grey Wolves, Clouded Leopards, and Ring-tailed Lemurs.

The zoo is also involved in plenty of conservation efforts. Some of these projects include the Bald Eagle nest watch, a Mexican Wolf reintroduction program, Black-footed Ferret field research, and a Peregrine Falcon nest site.

Here’s one specific example of how the zoo supports animals: The zoo traps Arizona Black-footed Ferrets, takes vital data like weight and length, places an identification microchip, and then releases them into the wild. Read more about these projects here. The nonprofit also offers a variety of educational programs to preschoolers, children, teens, and adults, including ZooLittles, ZooCamp, ZooTeen Program, and an adult docent program.

The entrance of Prescott’s Heritage Park Zoolical Sanctuary. (Heritage Park Zoo)

4. Reid Park Zoo

3400 Zoo Park Court in Tucson

Tucson’s Reid Park Zoo is deeply devoted to conservation efforts. The 24-acre zoo that houses hundreds of animals has a long list of projects and efforts it supports.

Here are a few highlights: The Zoo has 12 bee boxes on its property away from guests. Once bees have established a colony inside, the boxes are moved to farms so they can thrive. The zoo also has several eco-friendly programs, including saving and reclaiming water and supporting sustainable seafood and palm oil. The Zoo also partners with various conservation programs—you can see a full list here.

One example is the Tiger Conservation Campaign. The Reid Park Zoo works to help support tigers that are at risk of becoming endangered, like the Malayan tiger. Visitors can look forward to seeing a wide variety of animal species, like a Chilean flamingo, an Andean bear, a Poison Dart Frog, a Meerkat, and an African Wild Dog.

Elephant Nandi splashes around in the water at Tuscon’s Reid Park Zoo. (Reid Park Zoo)

5. Keepers of the Wild

134441 E. Hwy 66 in Valentine

Located about 40 minutes from Kingman in Valentine, Arizona, Keepers of the Wild has a fascinating history. The animal sanctuary was actually founded by former Las Vegas illusionist Johnathan Kraft. He would frequently use lions and tigers in his shows on the Las Vegas Strip. After witnessing how poorly most of these show animals were treated, he decided to help them out in a big way. Keepers of the Wild was the solution.

The sanctuary opened to the public in 1995 as a home for exotic animals and wildlife in Las Vegas. It was relocated to White Hills, Arizona, in 1999, but the sanctuary has been at its current location since 2006.

The Keepers of the Wild is a 175-acre sanctuary with more than 140 animals. Visitors can see big cats, bears, wolves, primates, cougars, bobcats, coyotes, and birds. Check out the nonprofit’s Facebook page to see pictures of the animals living there. 

On its website, the sanctuary lists three objectives:

1.   Set new standards for the ethical treatment of exotic and wild animals.
2.   Educate the public about exotic and wild animals.
3.   Advocate to protect animals from illegal breeding and pet trades.

Keepers of the Wild is accredited by the American Sanctuary Association and also works with animal welfare organizations including the Animal Wellness Action and PETA. The zoo does not buy, sell, or trade animals. Animals are surrendered by a private owner, legally confiscated, and placed by the USDA or the Arizona Game & Fish. 

The zoo’s biggest claim to fame? The Keepers of the Wild took in big cats from the notorious Netflix series “The Tiger King.”

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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