(Dec. 2003)  ALBION — Black Pine Animal Park, the exotic animal sanctuary and zoo in Albion, has been challenged in recent years to keep up with the delivery of meals and health care for its growing population.

But what has been even more challenging has been trying to make ends meet without the benefits a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization has.

Although Black Pine and its co-founders, Brad Bonar and Karen Hoag, have never made a profit operating the rescue and retirement home for big cats, primates, bears, birds, reptiles and other exotic creatures, there never seemed to be time to pursue a change in the organization’s structure.

That is, until this year.

In January, a group of volunteers who were already giving about 3,000 hours of volunteer time each year to Black Pine agreed to form committees to begin taking on the task of a corporate restructuring.

The result of its nine-month effort is a nonprofit organization called Professional Animal Retirement Center (PARC) that will continue business as Black Pine Animal Park.

In September, PARC elected a board of directors. By early this month, the organization had completed the application process seeking federal tax-exempt status as a 501(c)3 organization.

The board hopes the change will bring additional funding its way through foundations, organizations, and individuals who seek every year to support efforts to help animals in need.

“This year alone we have had to turn down 13 exotic animals in need of homes right in northeastern Indiana,” explained new board president Lori Gagen, a 10-year volunteer at Black Pine. “We adopted seven small animals, but none of those were really as critically in need as the Bengal tigers, exotic hoofstock, or other large animals that we’ve had to turn down simply due to lack of funds.”

Lack of space is also a challenge for the growing operation, which now houses over 85 animals representing over 40 species.

The 12.5-acre site on the west edge of Albion has been home to Black Pine for nearly 20 years, but the dream of Bonar and Hoag has been to move the sanctuary to 28 acres of property that sits adjacent to Chain O’ Lakes State Park south of Albion. They decided to purchase the property themselves a few years ago, hoping the sanctuary could some day afford to buy or lease it.

“Brad and Karen had a detailed plan drawn up several years ago that has really kept the dream alive and brought others on board to help make it come true,” said Gagen. “Expanded habitats, natural water features, a larger gift shop, offices, and real bathrooms with real plumbing are all part of that plan.

“We can keep upgrading and improving at the current location, but more and more it just doesn’t make a lot of sense when we know there is so much more we could do at the new location.”

Black Pine’s reputation as a tourist attraction has made survival possible even without a lot of support in the way of in-kind donations or grants. The sanctuary saw an increase in attendance numbers this summer of over 27 percent.

The sanctuary even outranked the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo and Indianapolis Zoo in visitor ratings shown on one Indiana tourism Web site this fall, according to a Black Pine press release.

“We host over 13,000 people at the park between May and November, with the vast majority visiting during our full season from June through August,” said Gagen. “That’s really phenomenal considering we have so little money to publicize and we’re in such a rural location.

“I just think that goes to show that people who have visited have had good things to share with others, creating a snowball effect on our growing attendance numbers. The local media, and even some national press, have also really boosted recognition of us and what we’re doing.”

This fall Black Pine was mentioned in a story featuring resident chimpanzee Coby, noticed for his ability to use sign language to communicate. That story was picked up nationally.

The sanctuary has also been featured in many tourism publications and will be included in an insert in school textbooks being published by McGraw-Hill in the coming year.

“The future is very bright for Black Pine,” said Gagen. “About the only thing we could ask for, really, is that more of our local citizens take time to discover what’s in their own back yard. It’s kind of sad that the vast majority of our visitors come from Fort Wayne and beyond; many even come from out of state to experience these animals up close.

“We offer such a unique opportunity to talk to the keepers and really see these creatures unlike any regular zoo.

“What we do, we do for the animals, but there is nothing more rewarding than influencing people’s decisions about how they want to share the planet, and their lives, with animals,” Gagen said. “We hope they get it that having a tiger as a pet is a bad idea. But we hope, while they’re listening, they’re enjoying the chance to see one up close, too.”

Connie Hawkins is the sanctuary’s full-time animal care specialist.

Tax-deductible donations may be made to Black Pine Animal Park at any time through the Noble County Community Foundation, 1599 Lincolnway South, Ligonier, IN 46767.

- Lori Gagen, President, Board of Directors

- as edited by Bob Braley, Kendallville Publishing

KPC

For questions or clarification, please contact Lori.  Thank you!