My daughter and I visited the West Coast Game Park Safari located in Bandon, Oregon. While many people rave about this place, what I saw concerned me. Some of the animals seemed distressed or uncared for. While I appreciated being able to see them so close, I couldn’t help but wonder about the history of the animals and the park.
Before leaving I asked about the lovely chimpanzee named Daphne (the first picture below), but they couldn’t tell me anything about her. All questions were answered with “read the signs,” which were faded and had no information about where the animals originated from.
Today I did a little research before posting these photos and it seems the park has been listed on Peta’s list of Highway Hellholes and has received many citations for animal neglect. I wish I was wrong, but I don’t think this is a good place for animals and I can’t recommend it. However, I still wanted to share my favorite photos of these beautiful animal ambassadors. They deserve better.
Some bonus photos from our travels through Oregon:
Your photos are really incredible. You have such talent with the camera. So sad to hear this place is not doing right by their exotic animals!!
Thank you. I really wanted to be wrong and hopefully they can turn things around.
Vivid shots. Beautiful entry, Bridgette 💜
Thank you.
You are welcome 💜 Enjoy! 💜
I am concerned about these animals now, too. If they couldn’t give you any information and the signs were neglected, I image the animals are, also. It makes me mad and sad at the same time. Your pictures were brilliant though. You an excellent eye!
Yes, I was very upset when I left. It’s such a popular place it really was very surprising.
Someone is making a profit!
Good point.
Your photos are very beautiful, Bridgette! ❤️
Thank you so much, John!
Very gorgeous pics. As you rightly said, animals should be roaming free in the forest in their natural habitat. They should never be kept in any kind of enclosure. Loved the pics. My heart goes out to Daphne. I could see the sadness in her eyes.
I loved Daphne so much and didn’t want to leave her.
Fabulous pics! I hope they treat the animals better asap!
Same. I might need to follow up.
What good is PETA if all they do is put it on a list?
That’s a really good point.
The chimp photo is heartwrenching.
I didn’t want to leave her.
I wouldn’t either.
Thanks for doing the research and bringing forward the issues along with the lovely photos. Thumbs up.
Thank you.
I have such an ambivalence about showing off animals this way. I can convince myself it’s OK if it is combined with research and breeding programmes to help rare species? But just for our titillation? No I don’t think so. You ambiguity was nicely described. And the pics stunning
Thank you so much. I had heard they do breed animals and they did have a few babies there, but that part of the program isn’t obvious or public. It has a very exploitive feeling.
Horrid; I love London zoo for many reasons but it always feels like a guilty pleasure
I don’t have a problem with zoos when they are about conservation and protection. This place simply felt exploitive.
This is wrong! Hate to hear about animals being mistreated like this! 🙁😡 Thanks for the photos though Bridgette, they’re lovely! 👌😁
Me too, Ken. I think I’m going to have to do some more research. It’s so hard to think that this is still happening in the world to these beautiful animals.
Hmmm Dragonfly Farm… Now that is one I bet my kiddos would spend all day at if the implication behind the sign is correct. Lovely work, as always. <3
We pulled into Dragonfly Farm and the first thing you see is a sign that says “this is a plant nursery, we don’t have dragonflies.” We were super disappointed, but it was a beautiful place and the staff was incredibly kind.
Darn! 😀
Bridgette, very cool. I hope you had a great time. We loved the zoos here and had two big ones within 90 miles in different directions and a couple of smaller ones closer. Keith
That’s wonderful! I love a good zoo. My favorite one near me is the Oakland Zoo. The animals have lots of space and seem at peace!
That’s so sad about the upkeep of the animals but those images really have a certain beauty to them. Especially the chimp!! Mad skills woman! 🔥
Thats a huge compliment. Thank you!!!!
You’re welcome!
Thanks for caring and sharing your findings on the care of these animals. I don’t like zoos in general, although I realize some do help preserve endangered species. Wonderful photos Bridgette.
There are some zoos in the world doing wonderful things, but this isn’t one. It’s more of a road side attraction thing and it really didn’t sit well with me.
Love these photos so much, amazing shots!
Thank you so much, Kirsten!
You’re welcome!
There is a similar park in the Wine Country of Norther California, Safari West. https://www.safariwest.com/plan-your-visit/go-on-safari/. It’s been several years since I’ve been there, but it seemed much better run than what you describe. They had a rough time with the Napa Fire, but current Yelp reviews suggest they recovered well. If in the greater Bay Area, I recommend it. Made a trip to Kenya in 2012, and the biggest difference is seeing all of the different animals in one place, prey and predators both.
I’ll absolutely check it out. There’s a really nice one in Oregon we drove through last summer and I expected this to be similar. It was not. That one is in Winston, if you are ever in the area. It’s large and the animals have lots of places to get away from people if they choose.
https://wildlifesafari.net/
Cool. I thought about going to the one in Sonoma but never did.
https://www.safariwest.com
I’ve wanted to try that one too. We did the one in Oregon and it was really nice. The animals had lots of space and seemed well cared for. Much nicer than this little roadside attraction we stopped at. https://wildlifesafari.net/
superb photos! I always have mixed feelings about zoos too…
Thanks! We have some decent zoos near me, but this place didn’t strike me as kind to their animals.
Great pictures. Too bad it wasn’t better circumstances.
Thank you. Yes, I was greatly disappointed. I wanted to throw all the animals into my van ❤️
I completely empathize with that feeling. I hope they’ll either get shut down or taken over by someone who is more caring.
Sad story but great pics Bridgette!💕
Beautiful photos
Thank you so much!
❤
Your photos are remarkable❣️
Thank you so much, Luisa! That’s so kind of you to say.
It’s well deserved praise! 🙂