Watch CBS News

Colorado's Wild Animal Sanctuary Saved 54 Animals In 2013

DENVER (CBS4) - The Wild Animal Sanctuary announced in a statement that it saved 54 animals throughout the United States and Mexico from inhumane conditions in 2013.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary is the oldest and largest nonprofit Sanctuary exclusively dedicated to rescuing captive exotic and endangered large carnivores in the United States.

"From South Carolina to Florida and three cities in Mexico, we worked tirelessly to rescue abused, abandoned and illegally kept wildlife," said Pat Craig, Wild Animal Sanctuary Director said in a statement. "All the animals we rescue, including last year's newest additions, are treated like family and live in large acreage habitats with the highest quality care and nutrition available for the rest of their lives."

One of the rescues included five black bears, three mountain lions and three Kodiak grizzly bears after an amusement park closed in Florida.

"The team also rescued six black bears from South Carolina that were being used for bear baying/baiting, a barbaric blood sport that involves removing bears' canine teeth and often filing down their claws then tethering them while trained fighting dogs attack them."

The sanctuary is located 30 minutes outside of Denver on 720 acres. It holds more than 330 animals.

To learn how to support The Wild Animal Sanctuary, visit wildanimalsanctuary.org.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.