Ok I give, what is the deal with this institution? Last info I have on them is that they have moved to Texas and set up a new facility (I don't know if that's "Rum Creek" or "Peace River"). If this is the case, where in Texas have they moved? Are they accessible to the public? Everything about this places seems to be a mystery shrouded in an enigma.
It is a private facility currently no longer accredited by AZA that used to run from/be known as Rum Creek. It has since been know as just Peace River Refuge and is located in Arcadia, FLa.
Let me enlighten the masses...as no one has any idea about this facility. 1. Peace River Refuge is a sanctuary in Florida that has no affiliation with Peace River Center for the Conservation of Tropical Ungulates. 2. Peace River CCTU closed back in 2007 when the land was sold and the animals were moved to a new location down the road at Rum Creek Ranch. In the same process, Peace River's owner also bought land in two seperate locations (King's Ranch and Iron Mountain) in Texas to also hold exotic species. 3. These facilities are private and not open to the public. The owner takes pride in breeding and maintaining endangered and rare species, especially those not "popular" in US zoos. The owner is a private and quite individual who prefers to remain that way.
Well that clarifies things a little. Two centers with the same name is quite confusing. I figured Okapikpr would be able to shed light on this place.
okapikpr, Thanks for clearing it up once more. I really should have left it to you to comment in more detail. I know it is a private facility that has all but no reference to it on the internet. What puzzles me though is that both Rum Creek and Peace River remain on the ISIS website. Hence, my confusion ..... As ISIS-website is closed up I was not able to double check, but I seem to remember only one of both is being updated (f.i. Indian rhino were given as 1.1 at the one + 2.2 at the other). K.B.
Rum Creek/ Peace River As co-founder of Peae River Refuge & Ranch, Inc. in Zolfo Springs, FL, I can answer any questions you may have about our facility. We are a private non-breeding sanctuary in Florida and are not afficilated with the facility fromerly known as Peace River Refuge, LLC. and locatred in Arcadia, FL (now called CCTU and located at Rum Creek Ranch in Punta Gorda, FL and in TX). We both opened at almost the same time and wound up with painfully similar names - which is possibly the reason why they have modified their name to provide some distinction. We have an ISIS ID of PRRRZOLFO and I'm prtty sure the other facility still has an ISIS ID as well, but I don't know what it is. We have a website of Wild Animal Rescue News and I don't believe the other facility has a website at all. Neither facility is open to the general public, they are an extremely private breeding compound and we only offer limited access (guided tours twice a month) and provide rescued animals with lifetime care. They keep mostly tropical ungulates, while we keep a wide variety of animals, ranging from tigers, bears, wolves and primates to bats and tortoises. The way I understand it, they used to be AZA accredited, we are ASA accredited (American Sanctuary Association). I think that should resolve most of the confusion - feel free to contact me if there are any remaining questions. Lisa Stoner, VP Peace River Refuge & Ranch
Rum Creek/ Peace River Sorry, the post edited our website address to make it a link with our news page title. It is www.PeaceRiverRefuge.org Lisa
I think its also important to note that Rum Creek/Peace River did not loose its AZA accreditation, but they chose leave the AZA.
Hi Lisa, if you're still around. Sorry I'm a little late to the party...but do either of these Locations (Florida or Texas) still offer limited guided tours? I'd be very interested in taking some photographs of the rare mammal species kept at these facilities? Thanks for your time.
