You Thought You had it Rough in Winter Storm? Consider Local Drive-Through Safari Animals

As many Fayette County citizens were concerned about how their dogs and cats were going to get through the winter storm that recently took place, Chuck Schomburg, owner of Sanctuary Serengeti, had to worry about many various animals.

Sanctuary Serengeti, a drivethrough safari located just outside La Grange, has a wide variety of animals from all over the world, like zebras, kangaroos, wildebeest, and so many more that are used to hot temperatures compared to the freezing snow. When asked how the animals managed through the freezing cold Schomburg said understandably, “Well... they didn’t like it.”

Schomburg said that along with housing some of the animals in the barn that sits on the property some of the animals were also housed inside and in the basement of the two-story house located on the property. “Even prior to the ice storm, they had already taken over that house so we just let them have it,” said Schomburg. “We put heaters in places to make sure they all stayed warm. We also put a heater in the Lemur House, which normally has a vented floor to keep them cool.”

Along with extra heat, the animals’ food, and water needed to be a lot more plentiful and adaptable. “We feed them from sunup to till sundown two days before the storm hit and every day until the temperature got above freezing at night,” said Schomburg. “We feed them more alfa and corn, which they normally don’t eat, and we went from giving them two bales of hay to 30, sometimes they didn’t even want to come up to truck anymore, but I really think that feeding process is what kept a lot of them alive.” The Sanctuary had a generator to keep water at 70 degrees because if the water is too cold many of the animals wouldn’t have been able to digest their food properly, said Schomburg.

Now all the animals are ready for the Texas weather to go back to normal so they can see visitors again. “Our camels, Bubbles and Peanut, were already at the gate waiting to greet visitors on Friday thinking it was Saturday. They are ready for visitors,” said Schomburg.

So say “hi” to Bubbles and Peanut and all the other animals this weekend at Sanctuary Serengeti from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Plus, keep an eye out for the petting area and gift shop.