Category: Safari Spotlight

Creature Feature: Trumpeter Hornbill

When you visit Safari West, you may hear what sounds like a loud “WAH-WAH-WAH” call booming across the lower compound. That’s not a crying baby, it's the sound of a...

August 26, 2022 by Sarah Bergsten

New babies add hope to the critically endangered addax

We are excited to announce the birth of 2 new addax antelopes this year! Addaxes have been a part of Safari West since the beginning—our first herd of addaxes arrived...

June 10, 2022 by Mark Pressler

Safari Spotlight: The Striped Hyena

While anyone who has seen Disney’s The Lion King is familiar with the spotted hyena, they might be unfamiliar with their smaller cousins, the striped hyena. There are a lot of...

September 24, 2018 by Aphrodite Caserta

All About Ostrich

Our Feathered Friends Perhaps the most intimidating creature at Safari West might be the ostrich (Struthio camelus). While birds in general aren’t generally considered particularly frightening, there are exceptions. Surely some...

December 17, 2017 by Jared Paddock

Happy International Cheetah Day!

A Special Day for a Speedy Creature On December 4th, please join Safari West in celebrating the 7th annual International Cheetah Day. We, and our fellow AZA institutions, celebrate this annual...

December 4, 2017 by Jared Paddock

Safari Spotlight: The Fischer’s Lovebird

Author's Note: This edition of Safari Spotlight is a special one for me. My fiancee, Kelsey Fisher and I have spent a great deal of time watching the Fischer's lovebirds at...

September 15, 2017 by Jared Paddock

Safari Spotlight: Taveta Golden Weaver

Each day at Safari West a small army of keepers and groundskeepers crisscross the property. Their activities go largely unnoticed as they trim grass, prune trees, and shear hedges. What...

August 7, 2017 by Jared Paddock

Safari Spotlight: The Red Ruffed Lemur

The Latest Lemurs to Land at Safari West! Safari West has long been the proud home of two lemur species: the famous and easily identified ring-tailed lemur, and the more obscure...

June 18, 2017 by Jared Paddock

Safari Spotlight: Snakes in the Grass

Safari West is home to much more than the exotic animals in our collection. The preserve sits on 400-acres of pristine Mayacamas mountain habitat and our giraffes and cape buffalo...

May 10, 2017 by Jared Paddock