An animal sanctuary is a facility where animals are brought to live and be protected for the rest of their lives. Unlike animal shelters, sanctuaries do not seek to place animals with individuals or groups, instead maintaining each animal until his or her natural death. In some cases, an establishment may have characteristics of both a sanctuary and a shelter; for instance, some animals may be in residence temporarily until a good home is found and others may be permanent residents. The mission of sanctuaries is generally to be a safe haven, where the animals receive the best care that is possible for the sanctuary's means. Animals are not bought, sold, or traded, nor are they used for animal testing. The resident animals are given the opportunity to behave as naturally as possible in a protective environment.
What separates a sanctuary from other institutions is the philosophy that the residents come first. In a sanctuary, every action is scrutinized for any trace of human benefit at the expense of non-human residents. Sanctuaries act on behalf of the animals, and the caregivers work under the notion that all animals in the sanctuary, human and non-human, are of equal importance.
A sanctuary is not open to the public in the sense of a zoo; that is, the public is not allowed unescorted access to any part of the facility. A sanctuary tries not to allow any activity that would place the animals in an unduly stressful situation.
One of the most important missions of sanctuaries, beyond caring for the animals, is educating the public. The ultimate goal of a sanctuary should be to change the way that humans think of, and treat, non-human animals.
There are several national and international organizations that have taken the responsibility of supervising numerous systems of non-profit animal sanctuaries in order to provide a general system for sanctuaries to follow. Among them, The American Sanctuary Association monitors and aids in various facilities to care for exotic wildlife. Their accredited facilities conform to high standards and a rigid application processes to ensure that the animals under their care are avidly cared for and maintained.
Animal sanctuaries
Canada
India
See: Wildlife sanctuaries of India
India currently has 356 wildlife sanctuaries.
Ireland
Pakistan
- Ayubia National Park, in Ayubia is a sanctaury for leopard and the black bear.
- Chitral Gol National Park, in Chitral is a sanctaury for snow leopard and some birds.
- Deosai National Park, is a sanctaury for Golden eagle, Lammagier Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Laggar falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Indian Sparrow Hawk and Snow cock.
- Drigh Lake is a sanctaury for water birds.
- Haleji Lake in Thatta is Asia's largest Bird Sanctuary.
- Hazar Ganji Chiltan National Park
- Hingol National Park is a sanctaury for Dalmatian Pelican.
- Indus Dolphin Reserve and Kandhkot Wetland.
- Kinjhar (Kalri) Lake.
- Kirthar National Park.
- Keti Bundar North Wildlife Sanctuary is a sanctaury for Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris), Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus), Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga), Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), Indian Skimmer (Rynchops albicollis).
- Khabbaki Lake is a sanctaury for water birds.
- Kheshki Reservoir.
- Khunjerab National Park.
- Kandar Dam.
- Lal Suhanra National Park is a sanctaury for Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Pallas's Fish-eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus), Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) and Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca).
- Machiara National Park is a sanctaury for Western Tragopan pheasant (Tragopan melanocephalus).
- Malugul Dhand.
- Mangla Lake is a sanctaury for Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Common Teal (Anas crecca), Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) and Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula).
- Marala Game Reserve.
- Margalla Hills National Park.
- Naran Reserve Forest to Saif-ul-Maluk Lake is a sanctaury for White-cheeked Tit (Aegithalos leucogenys), Brooks's Leaf-warbler (Phylloscopus subviridis), Spectacled Finch (Callacanthis burtoni) and Orange Bullfinch (Pyrrhula aurantiaca) .
- Palas Valley is a sanctaury for Western Tragopan.
- Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary is a sanctaury for Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope), Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Common Teal (Anas crecca), Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus), Sarus Crane (Grus antigone), Common Crane (Grus grus), Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), Little Stint (Calidris minuta) and Ruff (Philomachus pugnax).
- Rasool Barrage Wildlife Sanctuary is a sanctaury for Pintail (Anas acuta), Common Teal (Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) and Common Coot (Fulica atra).
- Tanda Dam.
- Thanedar Wala.
- Ucchali Wetland Complex.
United Kingdom
- Assisi Animal Sanctuary in Conlig, Northern Ireland
- Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in the Irwell Valley, near Edenfield, Lancashire
- Ferne Animal Sanctuary in Somerset, near Chard
- Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Frettenham, Norwich
- Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Brentwood, Essex
- Qolas Animal Sanctuary in Holsworthy, Devon
- Redwings Horse Sanctuary in Norfolk, Norwich
- Thornberry Animal Sanctuary in South Yorkshire, between Todwick and Dinnington
- Willows Animal Sanctuary in northeast Scotland, near Fraserburgh
United States
Arizona
California
Colorado
Florida
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Missouri
Mississippi
Montana
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Rhode Island
- Norman Bird Sanctuary "Sachuest Point", Middletown
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Washington
Wisconsin
References
See also
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