Shambala Preserve
| Date opened | 1972 |
|---|---|
| Location | Acton, California, USA |
| Coordinates | 34°26′25″N 118°15′09″W / 34.440301°N 118.252394°WCoordinates: 34°26′25″N 118°15′09″W / 34.440301°N 118.252394°W |
| Number of animals | 65-70[1] |
| Website | www.shambala.org |
Shambala Preserve is an animal sanctuary established in 1972 and located in Acton, California, a desert community 10 miles southwest of Palmdale, off of State Route 14 and Sierra Highway.
About
Shambala is maintained by the Roar Foundation, founded by actress Tippi Hedren in 1983 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Shambala cares for endangered exotic big cats such as African lions, Siberian tigers and Bengal tigers, leopards, servals, mountain lions, bobcats, a lynx, a Florida panther, and a liger.[1]
Most of the animals at Shambala were born in captivity, orphans, are no longer wanted at circuses or zoos, or are given up by private owners who could no longer care for them. For example, Shambala became the new home for Michael Jackson’s two Bengal tigers, Sabu and Thriller, after he decided to close his zoo at his Neverland Valley Ranch in Los Olivos, California.[2]
The animals are not wild and are human dependent for their needs.[1] Shambala provides expert veterinarians for care. Carefully planned diets are supplied by Natural Balance Pet Foods.[3]
While Shambala welcomes all volunteers, they may not work directly with the animals.
Staff
- President: Tippi Hedren
- Vice-president: Stephen Shultz
Advisory Board
Notable board members include Loni Anderson, Antonio Banderas, Ed Begley, Jr., Bo Derek, Melanie Griffith, Ken Howard and Linda Howard, and Betty White.[4]
Veterinary staff
Jon J. Bernstein, DVM; Gay Naditch, DVM; and Chris Cauble, DVM
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "About Us". shambala.org. The Roar Foundation. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
- ↑ "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' jacket sells for $1.8 million at auction". cnn.com. Cable News Network. 26 June 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
- ↑ Natural Balance Zoological Formulas
- ↑ "ROAR Foundation Advisory Board". shambala.org. The Roar Foundation. Retrieved 22 February 2011.