Global Wildlife Center

Eye to Eye with Giraffes and The Future

by Christina Cooper

FOLLOWING THE PASSING of founder Ken Matherne in the autumn of 2021, the leadership team at Global Wildlife Center in Folsom has been developing a strategic plan to guide the center’s future.

Executive Director Christina Cooper, attending veterinarian Dr. Jonathan Bergmann and the Global Wildlife Foundation board of directors are setting plans in motion to help Global Wildlife realize its potential as a world-class center of excellence in wildlife conservation and education.

It feels like Africa in Louisiana as visitors explore Global Wildlife Center’s expansive 900acre preserve via a covered wagon safari or a private Pinzgauer tour.

Home to thousands of animals from around the world, Global Wildlife offers guests the chance to learn through touch. Opportunities abound to feel the wooly fur of bison, get nuzzled by an alpaca or get eye to eye with giraffes.

The secret to up-close-andpersonal animal encounters is in the special herbivore diet, which can be purchased by the cup, bucket or even sack. As free-roaming wildlife approach the safari wagons or private tours to be fed by guests, a guide teaches about conservation and shares fun facts about the animals who live there, including their natural behaviors, status in the wild and habitat.

“The personal interaction with our animals at Global Wildlife Center has always been such a treasured experience and makes for magical memories. Touch is the most valuable teaching tool there is. When our visitors wiggle a camel’s hump, feel the velvet of a deer’s growing antlers or stroke a giraffe’s neck, it creates a bond and solidifies the importance of conserving these animals in the wild,” Cooper said. “We’ve got big plans for Global’s future. It’s a very exciting time to be a part of the organization.”

Pre-booking a reservation is strongly recommended at www.globalwildlife.com.