Keepers of the Wild

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Connect with us Click here for a PDF of the full page ad that ran in USA Today's Special Giving Section on November 29, 2011 PriBlank PRIVACY POLICY HOME Privacy PolicyPrivacy & Terms of UseYour Contact InformationAll information submitted to Keepers of the Wild using our online input and order forms are kept private. We will never share, sell, trade, rent or exchange your information with anyone, for any reason. Orders placed using a third-party secure e-commerce transactions may require your name, e-mail address, shipping address, credit card billing address, card number, and expiration date. Credit card numbers are used only for payment processing and are not retained for other purposes. If we have trouble processing an order, the contact information you provided is used to get in touch with you. Privacy StatementsKeepers of the Wild is committed to honoring the privacy of visitors to our web site, www.keepersofthewild.org. This privacy policy governs any personal and business information collected from visitors to the Keepers of the Wild website. Our goal is to protect online information with the same diligence that we protect information obtained through other means.Information Collection And UseThe Keepers of the Wild website collects information about each visitor to our website: (1) through your IP address, which does not contain any personal information, (2) through any email correspondences you send to us, and (3) when you submit information using an online order/input form on one of our web pages.1. IP AddressNote: Your IP address does not contain or reveal personal information about you. Information such as your name, address, or phone number cannot be obtained through your IP address alone.2. The web server logs all web site visitors' IP addresses to automatically collect information about usage of the web site.This information is collected only to help diagnose problems with our servers, administer our web site, track traffic patterns, and identify ways to make our Web Site more useful. Information is never used to track or monitor individual users.3. Email Correspondences and E-NewslettersUnless specifically requested, any email messages you send to Keepers of the Wild, including your email address, are kept private and will not be disclosed to third parties.4. Online Input and Order FormsUnless specified by the form, all information submitted to Keepers of the Wild using our online input and order forms are kept private. We will never share, sell, trade, rent or exchange your information with anyone, for any reason. Orders placed using a third-party secure e-commerce transactions may require your name, e-mail address, shipping address, credit card billing address, card number, and expiration date. Credit card numbers are used only for payment processing and are not retained for other purposes. If we have trouble processing an order, the contact information you provided is used to get in touch with you.5. E-newslettersIf you wish to become a member of Keepers of the Wild, we require certain contact information so we can make sure you receive the newsletter as requested. Users who no longer wish to receive our newsletter may opt-out of receiving the newsletter by emailing us.6. Security Keepers of the Wild takes appropriate precautions to protect our users' information and content. We have physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards which protect your account information and uploaded content. Email and instant messaging are not recognized as secure communications, we request that you not send private information or data to us by email or instant messaging services. If you have any questions regarding the security of our Website, please contact us at keepersoffice_hughes.net7. LinksOur website contains links to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of sites other than ours.8. Contacting the Web SiteIf you have any questions about this privacy policy, please contact us at info_keepersofthewild.org. You may also contact us by mail at 13441 E. Highway 66, Valentine, AZ 86437 or call (928) 769-1800.

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Founder

The most frequently asked question I come across is...

"What made you change from using exotic animals in show business, to rescuing animals from show business?"
In the early 90’s I decided to become a magician and pursue a career in show biz. It was an exciting time for me and I worked very hard in perfecting my skills and routine. Things were going so well that I decided to expand from an act to a complete show and incorporate wild animals in our magic. So I bought two baby tigers in hindsight for all the wrong reasons. Then it began, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Raising two infant tigers is not an easy task. I fell in love with them and gave them the best of care. After about a year of intense training I realized that two small tigers were just not enough for a big Las Vegas production. So I started acquiring more animals; two more Bengal tigers, a Siberian tiger, a lion, a cougar, a couple of leopards and more. Now I really had my hands full. Taking care of that many animals is a full time job, expensive and very challenging. By now I had developed a gentle way and great understanding with my cats. I believe in many ways they taught me how to work with them. As I got more involved in the business I saw how other animals were being treated by their handlers and trainers. I was appalled and realized that this is just not acceptable.So I started rescuing animals while I was still in the business and before I became a sanctuary. Even though I had rescued the animals from horrible conditions they were still confined to cages. I continued my work with wild animals in movies, TV shows, commercials, documentaries, specials, and a variety of shoots and exhibits. I still did not really understand that animals need lots of space, freedom, and natural enrichment. My first hand experience was that the mentality of many trainers including my own is that animals love to work and perform, this is a myth. The truth is performing animals sit in their cages at their holding facility or compound. They then are shifted into a small transport cage so they can be transported to the show or venue. The animals will be confined to that small transport cage for the duration of the trip and for hours backstage until it is their time to perform. Then they are loaded into a prop, an even smaller space, where they can sit and wait to magically appear, exhibited briefly and hustled off stage where the whole process is repeated in reverse. Back into their small transport cage, wait until the show is finished, transported back to their compound, offloaded into their holding cage where they sit and wait to do it all over again the next day. This is an undignified life for any animal. At times I looked into their eyes and what I saw was confusion, sadness, and stress. It made me sad. Then something clicked. Finally I realized no matter how much love I have for my animals, no matter how well I took care of them, this is simply not a life for these beautiful creatures. One day Stephanie Powers, the great television and movie star, started to frequent my shows to watch me interact with my animals. I was performing 3 afternoon shows a day at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. She was performing with Robert Wagner in the evening shows just down the street at the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino. We got to know each other and spoke about our love of animals and the rescuing I was doing. She made me aware of her involvement with the William Holden Foundation in Africa and the great work that the organization does with regards to preservation and conservation of wildlife. She truly encouraged me to seriously look into becoming a nonprofit organization and perhaps start up a sanctuary of my own. I took her advise and the rest is history. God Bless that day.
...a boy named Jonathan left his small hometown in Holland to immigrate to the United States via Canada in search of the "American Dream." As Jonathan grew...his reputation as a Dutch "Dr. Doolittle" grew as well. The neighborhood children began bringing him their pets, as well as wild animals they had found that were sick or had been hurt. In the winter, Jonathan took to wandering through the woods looking for crows, sparrows and other birds that may have had their wings frozen. He would take them all home, rehabilitate them, and then release them back into the wild. Jonathan immigrated to North America at the age of 16 where he continued his love affair with animals and began a career in show business. After establishing himself as a producer, creator, and performer in Las Vegas, Jonathan began working on a multi-million dollar production on the Las Vegas "Strip". At this time, he acquired two tiger cubsWhile learning to care for his cubs, Jonathan slowly began to realize how much ignorance and abuse actually occurred in the animal trade. Then he met Sampson.Sampson spent the first eight months of his life chained to a box so that people could have their pictures taken with him. Because lions are not considered endangered, people often purchase them, use them until they can no longer be safely handled by amateurs, then have them put down. A new lion is purchased and the cycle starts again. Sampson was such a lion. Feeling terrible, Jonathan rescued the lion, thereby starting a chain of events that snowballed into the rescue of a wide variety of exotic animals from all over the world.The show Jonathan was working on stayed in pre-production for three years. During that time, he rescued and adopted so many animals he had to put the show on hiatus in order to take care of them all.Eventually, the funding for the show ran out and Jonathan was forced to give up everything he owned for his animals. He even remodeled one of the cages in the compound into a living space where he spent four years living with over 30 large cats and wolves."The first and only one of its kind!"Then in 1995, Jonathan opened Predator's Paradise at the Aladdin Hotel on the Strip. The first and only one of its kind. The education wildlife theme park was an absolute success, prompting him to open the much larger Keepers of the Wild. Through Keepers of the Wild, he hopes to educate the public world wide and set new standards for the ethical treatment of all animals - most specifically exotic animals.Jonathan's "Keeper's of the Wild Nature Park," on Route 66 in Valentine, Arizona, further expands upon fulfilling Jonathan's goals, and offers much larger, "natural" habitats for the animals he loves so dearly.Jonathan's motives are simple..."We have come close to destroying the natural habitats of many animals. The number of endangered species isgrowing rapidly. Only with education, time, and love will we be ableto save our wildlife. Being concerned is not enough, we must activelypursue answers to the problems that face our natural environment." - Jonathan KraftFounder & Director, Keepers of the Wild
Keepers of the Wild is a non-profit sanctuary dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of neglected, abused or endangered exotic animals. The preservation and protection of these wonderful, animals is paramount in our hearts and minds.For many of the animals, this is their last chance for a life of peaceful coexistence with man. Their last hope... as with Sabu , before and after arriving at Keepers of the Wild. Keepers of the Wild provides a clean, safe and loving environment for over 175 exotic animals, including lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cougars, wolves and other wonderful animals. Each of these animals have their own history of how they became a member of the Keepers of the Wild family. At Keepers of the Wild, these animals have been given the chance to recover and live happily ever after and despite their respective backgrounds, have even learned to trust people again. When rescued, these animals become a part of our family. We love, nourish and care for them as if they were our children. Because in reality...they are.*Please note: Interaction with the animals at Keepers of the Wild is limited and allowable only with its directors in order to facilitate the specialized care a captive exotic animal requires. Keepers of the Wild does not participate in, nor endorses, the exploitation of ANY exotic animal.

Staff

Volunteer Names & Start Year:Rebekah Upton2011Dan Wollam 1999Shannon Wollam 2006Red & Kathy Harper 2006Kim Hassey 2006Joyce Wade 2006Sam & Gary Haller 2007Gene & Marlene Tidwell 2000Taylor Rice 2009Patty Cabrera 2010Christine Deem 2009Shawn Daly 2010Brian Mallon 2010Cynthia Huth 2008Craig Friesner 2008Lisa Suski 2010Tim, Doreen & Mallory Meyers 2005Nichole Walls(Web Design)2010
Jonathan KraftFounder/Executive DirectorTina MatejekAssistant DirectorNichole WallsResource ManagerTammy GrossPublic Relations/Marketing & Office Management Barry EmerichAnimal Caretaker/Park MaintenanceJennifer StapletonDillon BurnsRyan MichelAaron ReichowAnimal CaretakersAlison AtteberyClara Bennett-McBrideRoberta Tompkins Gift ShopDianna Kenney Accountant

Staff Photos
Polaroid Frame

Jonathan and Tina: Directors
Tammy: Office Manager
Coty: Animal Caretaker
Gail and Willie: Gift Shop
Marlene: Long-time Volunteer
Doreen: Volunteer
Mallory: Volunteer
Cleaning Monkey House
Red - Welding New Sign
Adding Vitamins to Meat
Volunteers at Lunch

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Board of Directors

boardofdirectorstext

KEEPERS OF THE WILD BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sandra L. Jenkins, Chairperson(Resource Management )Jim Woods , Vice Chairperson(Woods Appraisal Service )Dwight Jory, Treasurer(Real Estate Developer &Mortgage Finance)Tina Matejek, Secretary (Nutritionist )Paul P. Narducci, Member(Quality Assurance & Systems Engineer )Cathy C. Kraft, Member(Honorary Board Member)Scott S. Fisher, Member(General Contractor &Environmentally Friendly Construction) Carrie Hughes Fisher, Member(Kenya, Africa Partnership-Arizona Representative) Flo Narducci, Member(Public Relations)George H. Jenkins, Member(Real Estate Sales Executive ) Theodora Jory, Member(Marketing Consultant )Molly Woods, Member(Woods Appraisal Service) Charles McHaffie, Member(Carrizo Gorge Railway)Ellen Fujikawa, Member(Biotech Engineer) KEEPERS OF THE WILD CORPORATE OFFICERS Jonathan J. Kraft President Tina R. MatejekSecretary Sandy JenkinsResident Agent

2010AnnualReport-Financials.pdf

keepers2010_amended_10N_FC.pdf

2009AnnualReportFinal-WEB.pdf

keepers2009_amended_2nd_09N_FC.pdf

2008 990 form.pdf

FINANCIAL

Phone: (928) 769-1800 Fax: (928) 769-1805 Email: info_keepersofthewild.org 13441 E. Hwy. 66 Valentine, Arizona 86437

Park Location & Tour Info
Keepers of the Wild is a 501(c)3 non profit organization dedicated to the protection of abused, neglected, abandoned and retired captive wildlife. To provide the best standard of care and help enforce the humane treatment of all animals.The preservation and protection of wildlife and the environment is paramount in our goals.Through education and public awareness we seek to alleviate all animals suffering and help eliminate use of wild animals as pets and their exploitation in show business. Keepers of the Wild provides a permanent home and true sanctuary to all the animals it rescues
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Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

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Keepers of the Wild - 12-31-2010 - FINAL audit reports and financial stmts v2.pdf

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PRIVACY POLICY Privacy PolicyPrivacy & Terms of UseYour Contact InformationAll information submitted to Keepers of the Wild using our online input and order forms are kept private. We will never share, sell, trade, rent or exchange your information with anyone, for any reason. Orders placed using a third-party secure e-commerce transactions may require your name, e-mail address, shipping address, credit card billing address, card number, and expiration date. Credit card numbers are used only for payment processing and are not retained for other purposes. If we have trouble processing an order, the contact information you provided is used to get in touch with you. Privacy StatementsKeepers of the Wild is committed to honoring the privacy of visitors to our web site, www.keepersofthewild.org. This privacy policy governs any personal and business information collected from visitors to the Keepers of the Wild website. Our goal is to protect online information with the same diligence that we protect information obtained through other means.Information Collection And UseThe Keepers of the Wild website collects information about each visitor to our website: (1) through your IP address, which does not contain any personal information, (2) through any email correspondences you send to us, and (3) when you submit information using an online order/input form on one of our web pages.1. IP AddressNote: Your IP address does not contain or reveal personal information about you. Information such as your name, address, or phone number cannot be obtained through your IP address alone.2. The web server logs all web site visitors' IP addresses to automatically collect information about usage of the web site.This information is collected only to help diagnose problems with our servers, administer our web site, track traffic patterns, and identify ways to make our Web Site more useful. Information is never used to track or monitor individual users.3. Email Correspondences and E-NewslettersUnless specifically requested, any email messages you send to Keepers of the Wild, including your email address, are kept private and will not be disclosed to third parties.4. Online Input and Order FormsUnless specified by the form, all information submitted to Keepers of the Wild using our online input and order forms are kept private. We will never share, sell, trade, rent or exchange your information with anyone, for any reason. Orders placed using a third-party secure e-commerce transactions may require your name, e-mail address, shipping address, credit card billing address, card number, and expiration date. Credit card numbers are used only for payment processing and are not retained for other purposes. If we have trouble processing an order, the contact information you provided is used to get in touch with you.5. E-newslettersIf you wish to become a member of Keepers of the Wild, we require certain contact information so we can make sure you receive the newsletter as requested. Users who no longer wish to receive our newsletter may opt-out of receiving the newsletter by emailing us.6. SecurityWe take appropriate precautions to protect our users' information and content. We have physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards which protect your account information and uploaded content. Because email and instant messaging are not recognized as secure communications, we request that you not send private information or data to us by email or instant messaging services. 7. LinksOur website contains links to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of sites other than ours.8. Contacting the Web SiteIf you have any questions about this privacy policy, please contact us at keepersoffice_hughes.net. You may also contact us by mail at 13441 E. Highway 66, Kingman, AZ 86437 or call us at (928) 769-1800.

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Page 3 Privacy PolicyPrivacy & Terms of UseYour Contact InformationAll information submitted to Keepers of the Wild using our online input and order forms are kept private. We will never share, sell, trade, rent or exchange your information with anyone, for any reason. Orders placed using a third-party secure e-commerce transactions may require your name, e-mail address, shipping address, credit card billing address, card number, and expiration date. Credit card numbers are used only for payment processing and are not retained for other purposes. If we have trouble processing an order, the contact information you provided is used to get in touch with you. Privacy StatementsKeepers of the Wild is committed to honoring the privacy of visitors to our web site, www.keepersofthewild.org. This privacy policy governs any personal and business information collected from visitors to the Keepers of the Wild website. Our goal is to protect online information with the same diligence that we protect information obtained through other means.Information Collection And UseThe Keepers of the Wild website collects information about each visitor to our website: (1) through your IP address, which does not contain any personal information, (2) through any email correspondences you send to us, and (3) when you submit information using an online order/input form on one of our web pages.1. IP AddressNote: Your IP address does not contain or reveal personal information about you. Information such as your name, address, or phone number cannot be obtained through your IP address alone.2. The web server logs all web site visitors' IP addresses to automatically collect information about usage of the web site.This information is collected only to help diagnose problems with our servers, administer our web site, track traffic patterns, and identify ways to make our Web Site more useful. Information is never used to track or monitor individual users.3. Email Correspondences and E-NewslettersUnless specifically requested, any email messages you send to Keepers of the Wild, including your email address, are kept private and will not be disclosed to third parties.4. Online Input and Order FormsUnless specified by the form, all information submitted to Keepers of the Wild using our online input and order forms are kept private. We will never share, sell, trade, rent or exchange your information with anyone, for any reason. Orders placed using a third-party secure e-commerce transactions may require your name, e-mail address, shipping address, credit card billing address, card number, and expiration date. Credit card numbers are used only for payment processing and are not retained for other purposes. If we have trouble processing an order, the contact information you provided is used to get in touch with you.5. E-newslettersIf you wish to become a member of Keepers of the Wild, we require certain contact information so we can make sure you receive the newsletter as requested. Users who no longer wish to receive our newsletter may opt-out of receiving the newsletter by emailing us.6. SecurityWe take appropriate precautions to protect our users' information and content. We have physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards which protect your account information and uploaded content. Because email and instant messaging are not recognized as secure communications, we request that you not send private information or data to us by email or instant messaging services. 7. LinksOur website contains links to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of sites other than ours.8. Contacting the Web SiteIf you have any questions about this privacy policy, please contact us at keepersoffice_hughes.net. You may also contact us by mail at 13441 E. Highway 66, Kingman, AZ 86437 or call us at (928) 769-1800.

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Page 4 Privacy PolicyPrivacy & Terms of UseYour Contact InformationAll information submitted to Keepers of the Wild using our online input and order forms are kept private. We will never share, sell, trade, rent or exchange your information with anyone, for any reason. Orders placed using a third-party secure e-commerce transactions may require your name, e-mail address, shipping address, credit card billing address, card number, and expiration date. Credit card numbers are used only for payment processing and are not retained for other purposes. If we have trouble processing an order, the contact information you provided is used to get in touch with you. Privacy StatementsKeepers of the Wild is committed to honoring the privacy of visitors to our web site, www.keepersofthewild.org. This privacy policy governs any personal and business information collected from visitors to the Keepers of the Wild website. Our goal is to protect online information with the same diligence that we protect information obtained through other means.Information Collection And UseThe Keepers of the Wild website collects information about each visitor to our website: (1) through your IP address, which does not contain any personal information, (2) through any email correspondences you send to us, and (3) when you submit information using an online order/input form on one of our web pages.1. IP AddressNote: Your IP address does not contain or reveal personal information about you. Information such as your name, address, or phone number cannot be obtained through your IP address alone.2. The web server logs all web site visitors' IP addresses to automatically collect information about usage of the web site.This information is collected only to help diagnose problems with our servers, administer our web site, track traffic patterns, and identify ways to make our Web Site more useful. Information is never used to track or monitor individual users.3. Email Correspondences and E-NewslettersUnless specifically requested, any email messages you send to Keepers of the Wild, including your email address, are kept private and will not be disclosed to third parties.4. Online Input and Order FormsUnless specified by the form, all information submitted to Keepers of the Wild using our online input and order forms are kept private. We will never share, sell, trade, rent or exchange your information with anyone, for any reason. Orders placed using a third-party secure e-commerce transactions may require your name, e-mail address, shipping address, credit card billing address, card number, and expiration date. Credit card numbers are used only for payment processing and are not retained for other purposes. If we have trouble processing an order, the contact information you provided is used to get in touch with you.5. E-newslettersIf you wish to become a member of Keepers of the Wild, we require certain contact information so we can make sure you receive the newsletter as requested. Users who no longer wish to receive our newsletter may opt-out of receiving the newsletter by emailing us.6. SecurityWe take appropriate precautions to protect our users' information and content. We have physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards which protect your account information and uploaded content. Because email and instant messaging are not recognized as secure communications, we request that you not send private information or data to us by email or instant messaging services. 7. LinksOur website contains links to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of sites other than ours.8. Contacting the Web SiteIf you have any questions about this privacy policy, please contact us at keepersoffice_hughes.net. You may also contact us by mail at 13441 E. Highway 66, Kingman, AZ 86437 or call us at (928) 769-1800.

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