The World Bird Sanctuary (WBS) is a globally renowned conservation nonprofit started in 1977 by Walter Crawford that is devoted to safeguarding some of the world's most endangered bird species, ensuring their survival for generations to come.
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Animals, Aquariums, and Zoos · 48 viewers
**What is the World Bird Sanctuary?** World Bird Sanctuary is a non-profit in St. Louis, MO dedicated to preserving and protecting birds and their habitats through conservation, rehabilitation, and education. WBS is open year-round for visitors from 8am-5pm except for Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Guests can explore hiking trails, have a picnic, and discover many of the birds that call our facility home with a walk down our Avian Avenue. **Safeguarding Species** The purpose of our Safeguarding Species program is to create and maintain conservation breeding programs for endangered birds around the world, while collaborating with our partners worldwide to restore vital habitat so we can release endangered species back into the environment. A few species we are currently working to save include the Vietnam Pheasant and the Egyptian Vulture. **Healing the Hurt** We operate a state-of-the-art hospital that specializes in the rehabilitation of injured raptors. Our number one goal is always to give our patients the very best care possible and get them back out in the environment as soon as they are ready to thrive! In 2024, our hospital took in 774 patients, a record from previous years, and we continue to be on track to break that record year after year. **Inspiring the Future** Fostering new environmental stewards is critical for the health and safety of ourselves and wildlife. Our ambassador team provides engaging and inspiring programming across the US to help connect audiences back to nature and empower them to join us in our efforts to save species.
**Why are the animals here? Why can't they be released?** The birds that call our Sanctuary home are here either because they have an injury that prevents them from living successfully out in nature, they are part of a conservation breeding program to help save their species from extinction, or they are an education ambassador helping to teach others about their species and the problems they face out in nature. The birds you will often see on our livecams are those with injuries that needed a home, like Sayyida, our Barred Owl foster mom! **Can I have one as a pet?** These are wild animals, not pets. They do not want to cuddle and interact like a domestic dog or cat would. If you want a pet, do your research and then find a shelter near you and adopt a dog or cat! **Do you take in parrots/other birds?** We do not take parrots or surrendered animals from the pet trade so that we can focus primarily on birds of prey that need our help. We do already have some parrots and other birds that call our Sanctuary their home.