Thanks to the generosity of local philanthropists Raven and Ryan Jumonville, a Florida black bear facility will be part of the new Alaqua Animal Refuge in Freeport. The Jumonville’s made a special gift to Alaqua Animal Refuge in the form of a 2008 Cruisers Yachts 460 Express yacht. Proceeds from the sale are designated to go towards building a portion of a new sanctuary to house unreleasable Florida Black Bears and educate the public about their plight.
“When wild animals are rehabilitated and deemed unreleasable by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), their fate is often euthanasia. There are not enough sanctuaries to help all of the animals in need, especially for larger native species like bears,” said Alaqua Founder Laurie Hood. “We want to be able to give these animals a place to live out their lives and become ambassadors for their species”.
The Florida Panhandle boosts the second largest bear population in the state. Due to so much development in the region, the black bear population is being pushed out of their homes at alarming rates, which increases bear sightings and injuries to bears.
The bear sanctuary will be located at Alaqua’s new 100-acre home in Freeport, Florida and will include educational aspects that will teach our community and others how to live with them safely.
“The more our community and visitors know about them, the safer it will be for humans and bears alike,” iterated Hood. “It was a dream come true to receive such a generous gift earmarked for a project that will be one of the first of its kind in the state. We look forward to teaching our community what a treasure these animals are and help some of the ones in need at the same time.”
Alaqua Wildlife Director Shelby Proie added, “As our native fauna continue to get displaced and in turn have more unavoidable interactions with humans, we are grateful to have the space to facilitate such a large project for this charismatic megafauna. Black bears are such an integral part of North Florida’s ecosystem and not only do we want to offer them a second chance of life through developing a wildlife rehabilitation center that meets their needs, but we will be able to go beyond that and have a space where they can live out their lives in an expansive natural environment if they are deemed non-releasable.”
The Jumonville family has been loyal donors to Alaqua for a number of years, gifting one million dollars towards the Refuge’s capital campaign to help build the new Welcome Center and Adoption Building at its new facility. When the Jumonville’s learned of Alaqua’s plans, they wanted to know how they could get involved. The donation of the yacht to help with the bear sanctuary was the idea of their daughter, Jayden. “I like animals more than I like boats,” said Jayden.
Galati Yachts in Destin, Florida is assisting with the sale of the vessel, and they are also including monthly dockage and electric at their facility. For a private showing and additional information, call Galati Yachts at 850-998-3011.
About Alaqua Animal Refuge
Alaqua Animal Refuge is a no-kill animal shelter and sanctuary, located in the panhandle of Florida. As the Southeast’s premier 501(c)3 refuge, Alaqua believes that every abused, neglected and homeless animal deserves a second chance. Committed to providing protection, shelter and care to animals in need, this private, non-profit Refuge also offers a full-service adoption center, educational outreach, and community programs that extend far beyond their geographic location. Since its inception in 2007, Alaqua, led by Founder Laurie Hood, has become a recognized leader in animal rescue, welfare, cruelty prevention, and advocacy. Alaqua is currently in the midst of a relocation and expansion capital campaign to build a one-of-a-kind facility—the first in the United States—on 100 acres. The new facility and sanctuary will allow Alaqua to continue to do the important work of animal rescue and rehabilitation, as well as be an educational and training center for animal welfare advocates as a place that will inspire, empower, and educate others to make change in our society and recreate the model worldwide. To learn more, visit http://www.alaqua.org/