Visitors will be admitted in two time-slots for self guided tours and animal demonstrations.
SARASOTA, Fla., June 9, 2020 – After being closed since March 16, Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary has reopened with Florida’s Full Phase 2 Guidelines in place. These include capacity limitations, social distancing guidance for visitors, and protocols for cleaning and hygiene. The Habitat is open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 until 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children and are available on site although visitors are requested to purchase tickets online at https://bigcathabitat.org/tickets-2/ if possible.
Admission is limited to 50 percent of capacity, and visitors have access to hand washing and sanitizing stations throughout the property. Regularly touched surfaces and restrooms are frequently sanitized. Visitors are requested to wear facemasks.
Along with self-guided tours, indoor animal demonstrations will begin this Wednesday with limited seating to maintain social distance. A reptile show will be held at 1 p.m., and a wild animal encounter at 2 p.m. The petting zoo also will reopen on Wednesday.
“The human-animal bond is strong, and our animals definitely missed the interaction and stimulation our visitors provide them,” Rosaire said. “Even though admissions are our most important revenue source for supporting the animals, we waited to open until we felt we could put the right procedures in place to follow guidelines.”
All admissions to Big Cat Habitat support its mission to provide a safe, loving and permanent home for exotic and domestic animals in need. Big Cat Habitat also aims to educate guests about the importance of species preservation to ensure the survival of these magnificent animals for future generations and to keep alive the human-animal connection. More information is available at www.BigCatHabitat.org, by calling 941-371-6377, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BigCatHabitat.
About Big Cat Habitat:
Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary is a 501(c)3 nonprofit safe haven for big cats, bears and other animals in need that is supported solely through charitable contributions and admission fees. The sanctuary was founded by Kay Rosaire, who has more than 30 years of experience working with, and caring for, exotic animals and who began rescuing big cats in 1987. Big Cat Habitat provides education to the public to foster appreciation for the animals and to impart the importance of habitat preservation and the importance of the human/animal bond. It is located at 7101 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota 34240. More information is available at www.BigCatHabitat.org, by calling 941-371-6377, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BigCatHabitat.