The South Florida Wildlife Center, a mainstay in Fort Lauderdale since 1969, is charting new territory with an upcoming move to Southwest Ranches. Tasked with the treatment and rehabilitations of injured wildlife, the nonprofit organization is set to expand operations to an 8-acre plot, promising a future of improved wildlife care in the region. According to Local 10 News, the larger facility was made possible through collaboration with the Southwest Ranches council and the Broward County School Board, with the construction set to commence next year.
The necessity for a bigger space has been evident as the current 4.5-acre facility has been fully utilized. “So we do love the space we are in, but we have used every single inch of it, and were excited to be able to just do more and build more,” Carolina Montano, director of the South Florida Wildlife Center, told Local 10 News. An estimated $10 to $20 million is expected to be spent over the coming years in the effort to expand the center's capabilities.
Currently housing around 400 animals and hosting a team of about 30 employees along with hundreds of volunteers, the center has already treated approximately 6,000 animals of 200 species this year, with 90% of the injuries being human-related. Nancy Fuchs, a regular volunteer, highlights the center's commitment by stating, "We take care of not only the four-legged creatures, but we have song birds and raptors and coyotes and foxes and any wild animal that needs assistance," as noted by Local 10 News.
Jeffrey Arciniaco, the president and chairman of the SWFC board, has publicly sought the community's financial participation. "We've done so much with our existing facility and are looking forward to expanding and doing even more for the community," Arciniaco conveyed in a statement, as reported by Local 10 News. With human-wildlife encounters on the rise, the role of the center has become increasingly crucial.
To contribute to these efforts, interested individuals are encouraged to visit the center's website for more information on how they can support this initiative. The center's official announcement shared the news with followers, highlighting the significant opportunity the move presents in reshaping how wildlife rescue and rehabilitation are carried out in South Florida.
