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    Panther Ridge Conservation Center

    5.0 (129 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    ocelot
    Claire A.

    I love this facility and the work that is done to care for these big cats. The Twilight Hours, during the winter months, are the best. You can stroll the grounds, at your own pace, learn about the various species of cats and their species survival programs. They offer sandwiches, snacks, soft drinks, beer and wine. I highly recommend visiting here.

    Kendi and Nyambe (cheetahs)
    Nina S G.

    We did the Twilight Hours tour and had the best time!! First, we loved that it wasn't a structured tour where you had to stick to a set schedule. We wandered around from cheetahs to cougars to clouded leopards and spent as much or as little time as we wanted and were free to wander back. Some of the residents had chairs in front of their enclosure so you could even sit and watch for a bit. There was a staff member with most every cat who was very knowledgeable about the facility and the animals. They gave facts, answered questions and had some stories about each animal's personality. So engaging! They also served snacks and sandwiches as well as beer and wine. The facility, including the restroom, was extremely clean and well kept. All the staff were super friendly and we just loved our visit. So much so we're doing it again in March! I highly recommend this tour, which they only do once a month for a few months in the year. They have other tours throughout the year and we can't wait to check those out!

    Amber B.

    Unlike a zoo, you won't find crowds, long lines, concessions or noise here. You'll get an up close and personal experience with some amazing cats that have been abused or endangers. Groups are small and private as well! Plenty of chances to grab a photo of your favorite cat without a million people in the way. The guides are very knowledgeable and have a personal relationship with each cat. I learned so much in just an hour! I highly recommend a day trip or here to see and learn about these beautiful animals. All fees and donations go towards their care and preservation in the wild.

    Chris O.

    A great stop for kids that are into cats. It's nice to know that they have rescued many of the cats there and I enjoyed hearing the back story on most of them. About half didn't want to make an appearance because it was just so hot. Didn't blame them! It was soooo hot. There were a couple of chairs scattered throughout the tour - just wish there was more shade since an hour is a long time to be directly in the sun. Kensie was a great tour guide. Very informative and had great rapport with the animals. The cheetahs were affectionately licking her hand. It was a bit pricey for the tour and you had to purchase in advance (we made the mistake before rolling up to a closed gate - they don't take drop ins) but it's good to know that the money goes toward a great cause. My complaint or more of a suggestion is for the "gift shop" to be improved. We left with a small stuffed animal for $15 but would have rather had a t-shirt (they didn't have kid sizes available). Overall, recommend this place to anyone in the area wanting to support a good cause.

    Kimberly M.

    This exceptional animal preserve hosts ocelots, panthers, cheetahs, clouded leopards, carnation lynx, Asian fishing cats , puma, caracal and the ultra rare Amur leopard. There are only 5 left in the world with that coloration! The preserve is staffed by loving and ultra dedicated, knowledgeable employees that will answer any and all questions asked. This is not a zoo, but the pre booked walking tour helps this non profit to not only provide community outreach but to keep the operation in good standing. Each enclosure is also thoughtfully constructed to adapt to the best environment for each cat. The fishing cat especially has its own water feature that mimics a running stream. The grounds are well manicured and the cats are so happy with their handlers that they all came out to say hi for their afternoon feeds. Hannah was a knowledgeable and engaging guide. Price at $35 each for the walking tour was very reasonable for the one hour up close (with a see through fence) tour with these magnificent creatures. A must stop for scouts, animal lovers and anyone fascinated by big cats. Worth the drive from Jensen to WPB to experience.

    Shelby A.

    I came here with my family when visiting Florida, and we all loved it! A little hard to find at first (but I think that may have been our GPS), but once you get there, you know you are where you need to be. You really get the stories of the animals at the Conservation Center plus a history and lots of information about Big Cats. The staff is super knowledgeable and friendly. Our tour guide encouraged questions and was able to answer any and all questions we had, from children and adults alike. Plus, she was able to tell us the background of each cat, differences between the needs of each animal, and information about the breeds and their habitats. It is very clear that the animals are truly cared for and loved. Great for all ages, especially if anyone wants to learn about or is interested in big cats. A fantastic experience that I would love to do again! Highly recommend!

    Asian Fishing cat

    This is a by-appointment-only big (& little) cat sanctuary. The guides are extremely knowledgeable & obviously enjoy their work. Good for little kids up to 100+

    We had a great experience doing the head keeper tour! We learned a lot, fed some of the cats, and got to see every single cat there. Great tour guide. Definitely recommend!

    Rabia J.

    This place is incredible. If your passionate about different species of big cats /cats in general, you will fall in love with this place. Over 8 different species reside in this place and have different stories. In total about 18, which consists of cheetah, clouded leopard, ocelots, servals, jaguars, cougars, caracals, and leopards. They come from pervious owners who abandoned them or did not want to keep them anymore , zoos, circuses and etc. Its pretty sad how they are endangered and the population keeps on decreasing because of various reasons, but one being that humans want their furs and kill such beautiful animals to get them... Im not sure which part of the tour was my favorite because each animal had their own awesome personality and behavior. We chose the director tour which is usually a smaller tour and the director (Judy) interacted with all the animals one by one. It was totally visible how loved these animals are. Judy gave them their meals, brushed them, told us so many facts about each specie and more. I took a ton of videos as well but I don't want to spoil the tour for people planning on going. So, posting a ton of photos instead. Panther Ridge Conservation Center is located in Wellington. It is totally worth a visit if you are in the Palm Beach area. There are different tours: Director tour - 2 hours ( $100 per person minimum 2 people) - In my view totally worth it. Standard tour - 1 hour ($50 per person if there are two people) ($25 per person if it's 4 or more people) Side Note: Wish I wore a hat, the sun was extreme. Wear comfortable closed toed walking shoes. ~

    Cheetah
    H E.

    Great overall experience with a lot of information on the cats big and small. Also a lot of conservation information was given and I'd have to say it was our honor to support a place like this where it seemed like more of a passion for the employees doing their jobs. The tour we chose was The Head Keeper tour was not the basic one it was a little more in-depth and we were with a small group. You get to feed the cats big and small and really appreciate their beauty.

    Ariel W.

    I found out about this wonderful organization from Groupon. I was browsing through looking for things my daughter and I could do together and found this place. I love animals and had never heard of them before. I bought the Groupon for a one hour tour for two and last weekend we were finally able to meet in Loxahatchee to visit the center. Regular admission is $30 for a one hour tour. I called a few days before I came to give them my name and make the tour appointment. You can also purchase a ticket to self tour. Panther Ridge is located off a dirt road in Loxahatchee behind a covered fence. It's easy to get to but if you didn't know it was there you probably wouldn't notice it. Panther Ridge was founded in 1999 by Judy Berens. Judy owned and showed horses for many years. She had a large enough space for an exotic cat so she obtained the permit necessary to obtain Sabrina, an ocelot. From there she realized there was a need for a big cat rescue as she received many phone calls from human societies looking for homes for abused and abandoned pets. From there panther Ridge was born and for the last twenty years they had a place in Wellington. Higher rents forced them out to this, their new Loxahatchee location where they have resided for the past year. It worked out for the best because now they have a larger space for the cats. When the cats come to panther Ridge they come for life without ever having to worry about being moved somewhere else. Our tour guide was Lisa one of the two head keepers. She was a wonderful guide as she gave a very educational tour of the facility. Lisa brought enrichment treats to coax the cats to the front of the cage where we could see them but if they didn't want the treat no cat was forced to do anything. Panther Ridge currently has cats 19 cats. Different species from all over the world include cheetahs, cloud leopards, cougars, jaguars, fishing cat, caracal, and servals. Some of the cats that come to them have a sad past, pets of people who didn't take the best care of them, victims of roadside zoos who abused them, or retired from larger zoos. Some of the cats will breed to help boost the population of critically endangered species. During the tour you learn why you don't want to buy palm oil. The cat I absolutely fell in love with is Charlie the cheetah. He is a geriatric but oh so handsome. I left my heart with him. Panther Ridge dubs themselves Pamper Ridge where they care for big cats who weren't always treated the best. Here they are cared for and get what they need to be happy. I am someone who believes animals belong in the wild whenever and wherever possible and I am highly critical of places when I visit. Unfortunately stupid people think exotic animals make good pets. They don't know how to properly care the animal and when the animals does something to them because it wasn't meant to live in a house they dump it. Places like Panther Ridge Conservation are needed to save these poor animals. One exotic cat that they now have was dumped in a carrier behind a Petsmart. Although cruel that was the best thing those people did because the cat now has the life it deserves. Just out of curiosity I looked online to see what kind of exotic animals you could buy. All of the big cats, monkeys, and even pandas are for sale. For shame! The exotic pet trade needs to be shut down. Until it is places like Panther Ridge are needed to take care of these abused and mistreated animals when people no longer want them. With the move Panther Ridge was able to start offering Twilight Tours. Most big cats are nocturnal and more active at night and for $50 you can tour for 2 hours and see some of the cats that aren't available during the day. The tour also includes refreshments and the next one is October 19th. Panther Ridge is non profit so their sole income is through tours and donations so I encourage everyone to come out and support them. They are currently trying to build a pool and a way to connect the cages so the cats can roam between them. They would also like to build a gift shop and a gazebo for school children to sit in the shade when they visit. With everyone's support they can continue to help as many cats as possible.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Panther Ridge Conservation Center

    Are there photo opportunities with the animals?

    Our tour was not the "interactive" one. They offer a tour that you can have a hands on experience but we got some great close up photos of all the cat's that wanted to participate!

    Where is it?

    Wellington Florida

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Panther Ridge Conservation Center

    Judy is incredibly caring, loving, passionate about each exotic cat, and has excellent volunteers assisting her!!

    Mentioned in 24 reviews

    Read more highlights

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