Animal Planet Visits Kansas Zoo

By Craig Day, The News On 6

CANEY, KS -- An unlikely relationship is bringing attention from all over the world to a Kansas animal park.  A television production crew is working at Safari Zoological Park in Caney for a unique story you may have seen on Oprah and the CBS Early Show.

The park in Caney, Kansas does a number of tours each year.  But, one on Friday was a little different because, along with the kids, there is a crew from Animal Planet.  They're in Caney because the park will be included in a special show featuring the top ten animal stories of the year.

Safari Zoological Park

"We were on the Today Show, the Early Show on CBS, and on Fox News Network, all New York stations.  We've been on Oprah since then," said Tom Harvey with Safari Zoological Park.

Here's the deal, when the cubs were born, their mom rejected them.  That's when an unlikely mom came to the rescue.  Isabella, a golden retriever who recently had pups took over nursing them.

"Isabella, come here, lay down.  And, boom.  And, she took over.  She has done a fantastic job," said Tom Harvey with Safari Zoological Park.

What makes what happened even more special is that Isabella and the tiger pups, literally saved the animal park.  With higher fuel prices and the economy like it's been the last couple of years, the animal park just didn't get as many visitors as it once did.

The park, which opened in 1989, was just weeks away from closing its doors for good.

"We literally were praying for a miracle.  And, my wife and I said August the first if God doesn't do something, we're going to close her down and do something else," said Tom Harvey with Safari Zoological Park.

But now, with all the national exposure, attendance is up 50%.  That's enough to keep the park open a while longer until sponsors and a better location are found which would give them better long term stability.

"It's just amazing.  You can't orchestrate the timing.  So it is definitely a miracle," said Tom Harvey with Safari Zoological Park.

So, Isabella not only nurtured the cubs, she saved the park, while capturing the attention of animal lovers around the world.

The Animal Planet show airs December 6th.

There's also a book about Isabella and the Tiger Pups from Harper Collins coming out next summer.  And, there's been talk about a movie.    

The park is also looking for a new location in Bartlesville or in the Tulsa area which would help draw more visitors.

Related Story:

07/31/2008  Dog Adopts Tiger Cubs