LOUISBURG, Kan. – If you listen closely near Kansas Highway 68 outside Louisburg, you can hear the roar of a lion. And no, your ears aren’t tricking you.
The Cedar Cove Feline Conservation and Education Center is tucked away off the beaten path, some 20 miles south of metropolitan Kansas City. It’s home to lions, tigers, a leopard and other mammals.
And soon it will expand, not by adding more animals, but by growing its educational component.
“It's important to keep the wild, wild,” said BJ Auch, the center’s senior curator. “Not only if you're an animal advocate or lover of the wild, ultimately, the demise of any ecosystem will eventually cause harm to the human beings living in it.”
Cedar Cove's, founder established the center as a sanctuary 18 years ago. The center rescued or took in most of the animals from private owners. None have lived in the wild. While the big cats draw visitors, the center’s mission is to raise awareness about how humans impact the natural ecosystem.
Board member Steve Klein said there are roughly 3,500 wild tigers in the world today. A drastic decrease compared to 100 years ago.
After purchasing 126 acres from a neighbor, the center is working on a plan to expand the current 11-acre site.
First, Klein said the plan is to give the current animals more habitat space. Beyond that, he imagines outdoor classrooms, nature trails, beehives, pollinator gardens, native landscaping and even a geodesic dome with a rainforest inside.
“If we work with nature and understand how nature is stitched together and not just chop it up and put it in little boxes, we all are going to survive; we all are going to thrive,” explained Klein.
The center is still finalizing its plans and must present them to Miami County for approval before moving forward. In the meantime, it’s always looking for visitors, donations and volunteers. It schedules private tours and corporate volunteer outings on the weekdays. It’s open to the public Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The center is located at 3783 K68 Highway, Louisburg, Kansas 66053. Its number is (913) 837-5515.
