There are many facilities all over the world that call themselves exotic animal sanctuaries when they are actually not in it for the welfare of the animals. Many people are fooled to donate money to these “pseudo-sanctuaries” as they exhibit their exotic animals at fairs, road-side attractions or flea markets.

“Donors beware” - many organizations that call themselves sanctuaries are in it for profit or do not truly have the best interest of the animals in mind.

True sanctuaries, by their very nature, derive very little income from their efforts and know that frequent transportation to unfamiliar surroundings, placing potentially dangerous exotic animals in situations of public contact, and taking animals out of their normal social settings is extremely stressful and unbeneficial to the animals.

In addition, the caretakers at true sanctuaries often know very little about the history of a rescued animal prior to arrival at the sanctuary. They often come from situations of abuse or neglect and are not suitable to be on exhibit due to the stress it causes them to have a constant stream of strangers surrounding them. 

Here are some good indicators to evaluate whether an organization is a true exotic animal sanctuary or a “pseudo-sanctuary”, these examples are specific to exotic animal sanctuaries only:

• The sanctuary sets forth a strict policy of no breeding. Sound management of a true sanctuary ensures that animals are not placed in a habitat together if they are not sterilized. Babies may be born to an animal that is already pregnant prior to coming to the sanctuary but breeding doesn’t happen by accident, they don't breed spontaneously and animals do not breed through fences if they are in separate habitats. True sanctuaries ensure that only sterilized animals share a habitat, pseudo-sanctuaries claim to have “breeding accidents”.

• There is a limited number of animals that arrive at a true sanctuary at a very early age (babies). If a sanctuary has a history of mostly taking in young and healthy animals, instead of older animals or ones with health problems this may be a sign that animals are used for public display and interaction.
• A true sanctuary does not strive to have the most diverse number of animals or the largest "collection". Besides taking in species it does not have at the time, it also takes in animal species that it already has and older animals instead of just babies. 
• True sanctuaries do not continue to take in animals from a source if it is evident that the source continues to obtain more animals and use them for commercial exploitation.
• Infrequent public tour hours or not open to the public at all is a positive sign.
• There is no sale, boarding, loan, trade or transfer of animals; the animals at the sanctuary are provided with a permanent home until the end of their lives.
• Human interaction is discouraged or kept to a minimum; a true exotic animal sanctuary does not allow you to pay for feeding the animals, or go into an enclosure to take pictures or pet the animals. In the United States, if a wild animal (even a baby) bites someone, the animal is ordered to be tested for rabies, even if the animal was vaccinated.  The only way to test for rabies involves killing the animal.  The amount you are charged to have your photo taken with a wild animal indicates the 'value' of that animal's life to the facility you are at - the animal may pay with its life.
• A sanctuary does not participate in public events with animals, such as entertainment acts that use animals, or fundraising activities that exploit and display animals.
• The animals have over-sized, natural, clean and safe habitats.
• The sanctuary has an active animal enrichment program to give the animals the opportunity to exercise natural behaviors.
• There are no pictures of the general public closely interacting with the animals on any of the sanctuary publications or web site. If you do a search under the sanctuary name and you find personal websites by people that visited the facility and are in close contact with animals this is an indication of a pseudo-sanctuary.
• There is no affiliation with circuses, roadside zoos, fairs or petting zoos.

 A word of advice before you donate:

• You can use the above examples to analyze a sanctuary before you donate your money to it.  If an organization claiming to be a sanctuary violates any of the above criteria, the facility is not a true exotic animal sanctuary.

• Do not take part or visit any of the following: Exotic animal petting zoos, circuses, traveling exotic animal exhibits, photos interacting with wild animals, exotic animal auctions or “pseudo-sanctuaries”.
• Tell your friends and family about how to identify these “pseudo-sanctuaries” and the exotic animals in captivity issues they help perpetuate.