Our Story
Hello Everyone! My name is Marshall Gardner and for the past 12 years I worked with the only research colony of spotted hyenas in the world. The research colony's funding was in jeopardy so I got together with other like minded hyena loving individuals intent on keeping these animals safe. I left my position and moved to central Texas, got a job and started searching for land to purchase to make the dream of a safe haven for hyenas a reality. After a year of exhaustive work we finally secured the land we will make into the only sanctuary of its kind. During our race to find a place and build the sanctuary the hyena colony has had a few reprieves with temporary funding, stretching their time. Funding options are bleak and without that funding the hyenas must find a new home. We will give them that home, a home they can retire to and live out their days in peace and relaxation.
The Impact
Without further funding options the outlook for the hyena colony is bleak. With this sanctuary completed we can offer them a permanent home to retire to and live out their days. We have until the end of the year to complete the facility. If we are not operational by the end of December, the hyenas have no where to go.
Beyond the research colony we hope to be a safe home for any unwanted member of the hyaenidae family. No other sanctuary in North America is dedicated to these amazing animals. We want to be their advocate and safe haven.
What We Need & What You Get
How much do we need? To build the entire facility from the ground up will take approximately $90,000. That is eight 60x100 foot enclosures, with two foot concrete perimeter footings. Double fenced with 10 foot tall cyclone fencing to meet all federal, state and local codes. Power must be run to each enclosure for security lighting. Water run to each enclosure. Houses for the hyenas as well as pools. We also need deep freezers and any extra money will go towards food and transportation costs of the hyenas.
If we do not reach our funding goal we will not give up. We will begin building with what funds we get and continue to raise funding. If necessary we may build 4 enclosures and at least be able to save some of the hyenas. If we run out of time and are unable to help the Berkeley colony we will continue our goal of a safe haven for hyenas and make a place so no hyena has to be euthanized for the sole reason it did not have a place to live.
As for the thank you gifts, here are some links to the items we have to say thank you!
http://www.hyenasanctuary.org/images/TYbadges.jpg
http://www.hyenasanctuary.org/images/TYpictures.jpg
Badges and Photographs kindly donated by Laken.
http://www.hyenasanctuary.org/images/indieart1.jpg
http://www.hyenasanctuary.org/images/indieart2.jpg
Art donated by J. Fraedrich.
We are working on more thank you gift possibilities. Please stay tuned to our tumblr and web page for further thank you gifts as they become available.
UPDATE:
We will ship out the thank you gifts at the end of the fundraising.
We have MORE thank you gifts now!
9/26/2013:
With less than two weeks left, we have added one last thank-you gift!
The Naturalist: an 8.5" X 14" print of a spotted hyena skull. This was inspired by the 1700's hand-drawn medical book style.
http://i.imgur.com/O0M9Ny9.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/O0M9Ny9.jpg
UV reactive acrylic hyena tags. Randomly chosen color.
http://www.hyenasanctuary.org/images/Hyena-tags.jpg
Hyena Buttons! Set of 4. Each is 1.5" in diameter.
http://www.hyenasanctuary.org/images/Hyena-buttons.jpg
Flask with the Hyena Sanctuary logo laser engraved on it. Each flask is metal and holds 8oz.
http://www.hyenasanctuary.org/images/HySanFlask.jpg
Path Tags, just under 1" in diameter.
http://www.hyenasanctuary.org/images/MetalTags-HS.jpg
Donor Package #1 includes: a 5x7 inch art print on pearlescent paper, small laser engraved wooden plaque, set of 4 buttons as described above, and one UV reactive acrylic tag as described above.
http://www.hyenasanctuary.org/images/SmallDonor.jpg
Donor Package #2 includes: a 8.5x11 inch art print on pearlescent paper, medium sized personalized laser engraved wooden plaque, set of 4 buttons, one UV reactive acrylic tag and a flask as described above. Please give what name you'd like engraved on the plaque.
http://www.hyenasanctuary.org/images/MediumDonor.jpg
Donor Package #3 includes: a 13x19 inch art print on pearlescent paper, large sized personalized laser engraved wooden plaque with genuine gold leaf decoration, set of 4 buttons, one UV reactive acrylic tag, one flask, a stone token with a stylized tribal hyena etched on it and a sketch done on 5x7 inch brown toned paper. Please give what name you'd like engraved on the plaque.
http://www.hyenasanctuary.org/images/LargeDonor.jpg
and sample sketch
http://www.hyenasanctuary.org/images/HS-SketchSample.jpg
Art from Andrea Klassa, of SyndactylArts crew
The VIP and Founding Member levels have been upgraded to now include Donor Package 3 in their thank you gift but without the custom sketch or tribal stone. We will substitute something equally awesome for those two items.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you can't donate but still want to help please share this campaign. Our success depends on you. Spread the word via tumblr, facebook and twitter. Please visit our tumblr and twitter accounts and spread the word!
http://hyenasanctuary.tumblr.com/
https://twitter.com/hyenasanctuary
https://www.facebook.com/hyenasanctuary
10/1/2013:
A video response to a frequently asked question. Why are we helping hyenas?
https://vimeo.com/75827262
10/22/2013:
A HUGE thank you to everyone who contributed or shared our campaign! Thank you! We couldn't have gotten as far as we did without you!
https://vimeo.com/77469912
12/7/2013:
Thank you for your donations!
If you’d like to see how we spent the indiegogo money, have a look:
https://vimeo.com/81254837
This is actually the first of several semi truck loads of fencing and posts along with around 5 cement trucks and a truckload of metal for chutes and houses that is still to come. It’s starting to feel like a real construction site now! Our updates will come more frequently in the weeks to come.
We can still use donations however as we are still around $15,000 under where we need to be. You can donate through paypal on our website via the donation button at the bottom of the page:
www.hyenasanctuary.org
If you’re interested in volunteering to help build the facility please contact us at crocutax2 (at) gmail.com
Again, thank you, we would not be where we are without you!
12/7/2013:
Thank you gift status:
As for the thank you gifts, the wonderful artists who so kindly donated their time in creating the gifts will be delivering most of them this weekend. We will have them shipped out next week. We will email everyone personally when their gift has shipped and if it has not, when they might expect it by.
Thank you again for your patience and your donation, we could not do this without you!
