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1h ago

Larry Ellison Family Acquires Lion Country Safari After 58 Years of Local Ownership

Park leaders say operations will continue unchanged under the new owner.

NO USE EXCEPT SUN SENTINEL; NO SHARING; NO RIGHTS FL-LION-COUNTRY-POUNCE-d, LOXAHATCHEE, 7/15/2010 -- Two male lions at Lion Country Safari lounge about after a snack of paper mache prey during an enricment program courtesy of students in the Lion Country Summer Camp and staff. The students created prey animals from paper mache and lion keepers served them up with beef chunks, salmon and sides of bloodcicles and milkcicles. (South Florida Sun Sentinel/Mark Randall file)
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Overview

  • The drive-through wildlife park announced the ownership transfer on its website, describing a handoff from the founding family to an Ellison-controlled entity with a conservation track record.
  • Management said the guest experience, daily programs, and animal care will proceed as normal with conservation remaining a core focus.
  • The Sun Sentinel reported a sale price of about $30 million, while representatives for Ellison were not immediately available for comment.
  • Lion Country Safari, opened in 1967 west of West Palm Beach, spans hundreds of acres and houses hundreds of animals including lions, giraffes, zebras, chimpanzees, and rhinos.
  • Local reaction ranged from cautious optimism to concern over potential changes, as coverage also noted Ellison’s recent wildlife care center opening in California and the park’s role in recent lion research.