OUR DREAMS
We
have estimated the $1,000,000 is needed to cover costs of construction and
maintainence of a new facility. Our current housing for the animals was
originally designed for that purpose and major modifications are constantly
required to be made to properly care for rescued animals and display them for
public education.
If
our goal is not met, all the proceeds will go towards the care of rescued
animals and renovations of our current facility which will include more
education signs and more interpretive materials.
A LITTLE ABOUT US
Colorado
Gators is a sanctuary for unwanted exotic pets and we care for them as best we
can. We display them for the public to understand the dangers in owning
these pets and we take them to schools for educational programs.
In
1974 Erwin and Lynne Young, along with their four children, moved from Post,
Texas to Alamosa, Colorado. Erwin learned of the geothermal water
resources available in the Valley and wanted to grow Tilapia, an African perch
that requires warm water and is very good to eat.
In
1977 they purchased the 80 acre farm that is now Colorado Gators Reptile Park.
It wasn’t until 1987 that they purchased 100 baby alligators to dispose
of dead fish and the remains of filleted fish.
Those
baby gators grew quickly in the warm geothermal water (87° F) and the locals wanted
to see them, so we opened to the public in 1990. Soon we were in the
spotlight of many media programs and articles. Individuals with
overgrown alligators and other reptiles such as large pythons, tortoises,
iguanas and more started dropping them off with us.
The
Campaign is designated strictly for raising much needed funds to build new
habitats for rescued animals and for more educational programs both at our
facilities and at schools. We enjoy rescuing exotic animals (including the wild
domestic house cat) and educating the public, but we are in great need of
better facilities to do so more efficiently and to be able to take the best
care of the animals as possible.
WHAT HAPPENS IF....
We
strive to education the public about the dangers of owning these exotic animals
and even go so far as to conduct reptile handling classes and alligator
wrestling classes. There are several risks in owning exotic pets both for you
and the animals. Many reptiles do make good pets, but many commonly purchased
pet store reptiles are dangerous and/or require a great amount of care.
Due
to the large number of large reptiles being sold and kept as pets, there is an
increasing demand for homes for these animals once the pet owner realizes that
certain reptiles don’t make as good as pets as a pet dog or a friendly
chinchilla.
With
20 years of experience housing these animals, we strive to educate the public
on the dangers and responsibilities of owning reptiles as pets. We not only do
this at our facility, but also at school programs; school programs involve a
group of employees traveling to a school and educating the students about the
animals.
We
have taken in hundreds of reptiles of the years (over 200 alligators) from all
over the United States including: giant pythons, boa constrictors, monitor
lizards, turtles, tortoises, iguanas, tegus, caiman, and even rattle snakes and
water moccasins. Almost all of the rescues we receive would have been put to sleep
if we hadn’t taken them in.
SPREAD THE WORD!!!
If
you are unable to donate or do not wish to but are interested in our campaign,
all we ask is for you to spread the word that Colorado Gators Reptile Park is
attempting to raise $1,000,000 in 60 days to rebuild its facilities for rescued
animals and for you!