Barry Kirshner Wildlife Foundation

About Us

Founded in 1994, the Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary is a special place right here in Butte County. Equal parts wildlife sanctuary, educational park, and research center, the Sanctuary is home to a remarkable assortment of non-releasable wild and exotic animals, many of them endangered species. Our animals have the potential to inspire minds and to change lives! They are only a few of our natural wonders that we are close to losing forever.

The Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a remarkable variety of non-releasable, endangered, and exotic live animals. Each animal is housed in an enclosure that far exceeds state and federal regulations. To promote awareness on a local scale, the Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary houses a variety of species, including representatives from all across the globe. Some of our native species include Mountain Lions, Bobcats, Coyotes, Foxes, Great Horned Owls and Hawks. Global representatives include African and Asiatic Leopards, Bengal and Siberian Tigers, Lions, Ligers, Servals, Lynx, Caracals, Snow and Clouded Leopards, and Ocelots. The Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to Coatimundis, Fennec Foxes, a Ring-tailed Lemur, a Wallaby, Black Bears, and an assortment of exotic birds and reptiles, including Burmese Pythons, an Alligator and an assortment of Tortoises.