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Step Into the World of Big Cats

CFAR is a big cat reserve in St. Cloud, Florida, dedicated to meaningful coexistence, thoughtful education, and long term care for majestic residents who depend on us.

Plan Your Visit
Get Involved
A cougar crouches low to the ground, staring intently, partially hidden behind a wooden post at Central Florida Animal Reserve.
An orange paw print icon with four toes and a pad, displayed on a black background, representing the Central Florida Animal Reserve.
A solid green paw print icon with four toes and a central pad represents the Central Florida Animal Reserve on a black background.

Who We Are

About Us

Central Florida Animal Reserve provides a long term home for lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, and other animal residents and engages visitors in the challenges facing these species.

Our work is centered on three core pillars:

Compassion

Caring with our heart, mind, and spirit to support meaningful coexistence.

Conservation

Preserving that which is appreciated, such that appreciation may encourage conservation.

Commitment

Meeting the needs of our residents through collaboration and teamwork.

Learn More About CFAR

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Journey Into the World of Big Cats

All visitation at CFAR is guided and scheduled to ensure safety, respect, and learning. Explore a variety of tours designed for families, photographers, students, and lifelong big cat enthusiasts.

A tiger lies on the ground inside an enclosure at Central Florida Animal Reserve while several people stand and observe from behind a chain-link fence.

Guided Walking Tour

For adults and families with children 10 and up. This 60 minute tour is led by experienced staff who share how we care for these remarkable animals, their individual stories, and the importance of conservation.

A man in a hat holds a large turtle shell as a group of children and adults gather around at Central Florida Animal Reserve, with a boy reaching out to touch the shell.

Family Tour

Designed for families with younger children. Recommended for guests under 10 and their caregivers. This experience introduces big cat care in an accessible, family friendly way.

A zoo guide speaks to three visitors standing near a fenced tiger enclosure at Central Florida Animal Reserve, with two tigers visible lying inside.

Behind the Scenes Tour

A 90 minute experience for ages 10 and up that offers a different perspective of the reserve. Guests visit additional areas and gain a deeper understanding of the daily work required to support each resident.

A white tiger stands near a yellow ball inside an enclosure at Central Florida Animal Reserve as a group of people and a staff member observe from behind a chain-link fence.

Private Walking Tour

A personalized 60 minute tour for small groups of up to 8 adults. Move at your own pace, focus on favorite residents, and enjoy dedicated time with a knowledgeable guide. Guests under 10 are welcome with supervision.

Collage promoting "Keeper for a Day" at Central Florida Animal Reserve with photos of people caring for animals, preparing food, and working in enclosures. Slogan: "The Hardest Work You Will Ever Love.

Keeper for a Day

A five hour program for guests 14 and older, with adult supervision required under age 18. Participants shadow senior keepers and engage in activities such as diet preparation, enrichment support, and enclosure care.

A group of five adults stands outdoors in conversation near a metal structure at Central Florida Animal Reserve, with one person gesturing while speaking.

Executive Tour

Spend 60 to 90 minutes with senior CFAR leadership as they share insights, stories, and decades of experience working with big cats. Guests may request a preferred guide when booking.

A collage shows people preparing food and cleaning for big cats at Central Florida Animal Reserve, with text reading "KEEPER12O° - An inside look at the world of big cat care" and the Central Florida Animal Reserve logo.

KEEPER120

A condensed, two hour version of Keeper for a Day for guests 14 and older, with adult supervision required under age 16. Participants support keepers in hands on tasks that contribute directly to animal care.

Explore Tours

Group Sales

Bring your school, club, or organization to CFAR for a meaningful group experience. Group visits can be tailored with educational content and optional project work to support learning, team building, or community service goals.

Group Visit Options

Wild Resilience

Wild Resilience is a facilitated leadership experience designed for teams seeking clarity, renewal, and stronger connection. Guided by Sunshine Coaching Group and hosted within the natural setting of Central Florida Animal Reserve, the program creates space for reflection, perspective, and forward-thinking leadership.

Plan Your Visit

Events at CFAR

CFAR hosts community events, themed programs, education days, and fundraisers throughout the year. Events invite guests to connect with the mission, meet TeamCFAR, and learn more about the work supporting long term big cat care.

View Upcoming Events

What to Expect

Visiting CFAR is a guided experience designed to help guests learn, observe, and appreciate big cats in a safe and respectful setting. To help you plan, we’ve outlined the essential information you’ll need before you arrive.

Reviewing these details ensures you can focus fully on the residents and their stories during your tour.

  • Visitor FAQs
  • Parking
  • Location
  • Weather/Refund Policy
  • Photography & Videography Policy
Visitor's Guide
A white tiger with black stripes is lying on the ground near a white wall and chain-link fence in an enclosed area at Central Florida Animal Reserve.

Explore Big Cats at CFAR

Extraordinary Species. Enduring Impact.

Big cats represent strength, adaptability, and ecological importance. At Central Florida Animal Reserve, education begins with understanding how these species live in the wild and how thoughtful care supports their well-being when they cannot return to natural habitats.

Learn more about daily care practices, habitat design, enrichment, and the natural behaviors that define each species.

Explore Education

GET INVOLVED

Your Support Creates Lasting Impact

CFAR is a volunteer driven, community supported reserve. Every contribution strengthens the future of big cats.

Memberships

Annual memberships support daily care and provide welcome materials, event access, and exclusive invitations.

Brick Program

Honor a loved one or celebrate a milestone with a personalized brick placed at the Welcome Center.

Coinholder’s Club

Donors can participate in a commemorative coin tradition that celebrates CFAR’s history and invests in its future.

Sponsor

Support CFAR’s events, programs, and daily operations while gaining meaningful visibility and community engagement.

Volunteer

Serve through animal care, tour operations, project teams, teen volunteer activities, or group workdays.

Partner

Provide year-round support that strengthens CFAR’s mission and long-term impact through sustained collaboration.

Ways to Get Involved

THE FUTURE OF CFAR

Strategic Initiatives

CFAR’s long term direction is shaped by three major initiatives known as the 3Vs.

Single-story, modern prefabricated house with a dark roof, large windows, and a covered porch, set on a grassy lawn near Central Florida Animal Reserve under a partly cloudy sky.

Visitor Center

This initiative enhances CFAR’s ability to host guests through improved visitor amenities, indoor educational spaces, interactive displays, and areas for presentations and programs. Expanded visitation supports deeper learning and broadens community engagement.

Modern operating room with an empty surgical table, medical monitors, overhead surgical lights, and various medical equipment—ready to support specialized care for organizations like Central Florida Animal Reserve.

Veterinary

CFAR seeks to develop an on site veterinary hospital capable of meeting the full spectrum of medical needs for big cats. This future facility will support imaging, lab work, surgical care, rehabilitation, and professional training opportunities for veterinary students and specialists.

Two people work together outside at Central Florida Animal Reserve, attaching wooden boards; one holds the wood steady while the other uses a power drill.

Viability

To sustain long term care, CFAR continues strengthening operational foundations including connectivity, storage, emergency power, staffing, and administrative support. These improvements ensure the reserve remains resilient, responsive, and able to adapt to future needs.

Reserve Updates

Life at cfar

FROM THE BLOG

Stories From the Reserve

Discover resident updates, conservation insights, behind the scenes features, and stories from TeamCFAR.

View All Posts

Visitor Reviews

IN THE NEWS

Media outlets across Central Florida have highlighted CFAR’s work, including WKMG News 6, Spectrum News 13, WFTV Channel 9, Orlando Sentinel, and Florida Today.

Read CFAR in the News
A Bengal tiger with orange fur, black stripes, and white facial markings is sitting and looking forward against a plain background at Central Florida Animal Reserve.