Development Plans Spark Concern for Colorado’s Wild Animal Sanctuary
A new housing development proposed in northeastern Colorado is drawing heavy criticism from the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, which says the project could threaten the safety of both residents and animals.
Founded more than 45 years ago, the Wild Animal Sanctuary is the world’s largest carnivore sanctuary, home to hundreds of rescued lions, tigers, bears, and other animals saved from abuse, neglect, and even war zones. Over the decades, the organization has taken in more than 1,000 animals from across the globe, offering them refuge in its sprawling natural habitats.
But sanctuary leaders say those habitats are now at risk. According to a petition launched on Change.org, the developer of the new Wigaard Smith Estates project is building homes directly adjacent to sanctuary land—despite a 2010 agreement designed to prevent this very conflict. That agreement required the installation of an eight-foot privacy fence, a protective buffer zone, and even a seat for the sanctuary on the local homeowners association to ensure new residents understood the unique challenges of living next to a property filled with apex predators.
The sanctuary has filed a lawsuit claiming the developer is in violation of those terms. Leaders warn the consequences could include noise complaints, safety concerns for both residents and staff, and potential legal disputes if new neighbors object to the presence of roaring lions or howling wolves at night.
In response, the Wild Animal Sanctuary is calling on Weld County officials and the public to step in and halt the project. Their petition argues that the development threatens not just the sanctuary’s mission, but also the welfare of the animals who have found a permanent home there.
For now, the dispute is ongoing, but supporters of the sanctuary say the issue underscores the delicate balance between Colorado’s rapid development and the preservation of its most unique and vulnerable residents.
