The first resident of The Creature Conservancy, Al was abandoned at a nearby veterinary practice in 2005. Alligators are often victims of the exotic pet trade, as their sale is poorly regulated. These animals have specialized needs that are rarely met by private owners, and quickly grow to be dangerously large. Al now has a permanent enclosure with seasonal indoor/outdoor access and can be viewed year-round, with interpretive talks and feedings taking place in the summer. 

Poco is a Linnaeus two-toed sloth who was originally purchased in a pet store before he was rescued by The Creature Conservancy. He is among five other resident sloths who are all part of our animal education programs. Poco has been in thousands of presentations, teaching people of all ages about rainforest conservation and sloth behavior.

Harper was born at a zoo in North Carolina, and transferred to the Columbus Zoo soon after her birth. However, the cougars Lewis & Clark were orphaned by wildfires in Montana almost immediately afterward, and in order to provide them with a permanent home at Columbus, Harper was placed at The Creature Conservancy. 

Quinn is an injured non-releasable bald eagle. In 2014, she was struck by a car and the flight feathers on her left wing were permanently damaged. She was rescued by the Illinois Raptor Center, where it was determined that she would not survive in the wild if released. She came to The Creature Conservancy in 2017, where she will remain as an animal ambassador, helping to educate the community about the history and importance of bald eagles.

Jerome the Argentine Tegu was brought to a nearby vet for euthanasia after developing a rare but treatable jaw infection. As is common with exotic animals, the prospect of the vet care Jerome required proved too costly for a private owner. He is now a permanent resident at The Creature Conservancy, where he will receive ongoing medical care for the rest of his life. 

With less than 10,000 clouded leopards in the wild, Kya is part of the essential mission to keep this cat from going extinct. Kya came to us from the Tanganyika Wildlife Park. We hope to soon match her to an unrelated male as part of a captive breeding program.