Posted By Arbus on Nov 30, 2024 | 2 comments

Gainesville’s Hidden Gem

By Cinda Sherman / Photos by Rafael Hernandez @grip24

People often think of Gainesville as a college town surrounded by natural wonders and cold springs. Yet, it’s so much more. Gainesville has a strong and vibrant art scene that embraces the arts on almost every street corner. There’s the Harn Museum, one of the largest university art museums in the South, with permanent collections focused on Asian, African, modern, and contemporary art, as well as photography. The University of Florida’s Phillips Center features internationally known musicians such as Pink Martini, who will be performing there on January 15, 2025.

Another thing you might be surprised to discover is the Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation. Started by Christine and Barry Janks in 2008, the foundation focuses on rescued animals and is home to about 30 rare and endangered species and over a hundred animals. “The park spans 240 acres, with 80 acres dedicated to the animals right in the center so it’s isolated and not outside where people are coming in and the animals are protected,” says Christine.

Although the park is accredited by the Zoological Association of America (ZAA), it is not a zoo and relies on donations rather than general admissions. The fact that it is not actually a zoo is part of what makes the experience so different. Christine explains, “Every animal has an nclosure where they can do all their natural behaviors. We only do tours by professional zoologists, so it’s a higher educational standard than most places.”

There is a certain contentment evident amongst the animals. As we walk around, the animals hear the voices of their caretakers, and they roll around with delight and begin to purr. Yes, the big cats purr while others grunt with excitement. 

The Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation undergoes stringent ZAA reaccreditation every five years. It is also inspected by the USDA annually and has never had a USDA citing in 15 years. In addition, they are licensed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and inspected by them twice a year without notice. Christine proudly states, “You have to be show ready all the time, and we are. I’ve told them, ‘I don’t care when you come, it’s not your standard. It’s my standard, and my standard is as high as we can possibly get it.’ We do not keep animals in anything less than optimal conditions. We hear weekly on our tours that this is the best place they’ve ever been. It’s the only place they’ve been where animals look happy to be here.”

Christine continues, “Almost all the animals have a lifetime home here, we do breed endangered species that are part of international breeding programs. A practice essential to keep a population of animals for zoos and animal parks, so that there’s no pressure to take them from the wild … most people never donate money to save an animal that they’ve never seen, and they don’t have an emotional connection to. Zoos and animal parks are essential to these animals not going extinct.”