Faith, Trust, and Wild Animals

Lemurs at Safari Zoological Park, Caney, Kansas

“If we have learned anything over the last 22 years it’s this: God is able to do the impossible! We have seen it time and time again.” ~Tom and Allie Harvey, Safari Zoological Park.

I like to hear and share faith stories—stories of miracles and of God’s provision. Tom and Allie Harvey are living a story of faith through their Safari Zoological Park in Caney, Kansas.

This zoo is different from any other I’ve been to. Tom, Allie and their staff interact with the animals, including tigers, wolves, bears, and lemurs, just to name a few. Personal stories invite visitors into the lives of the animals, making you feel like you know them.

The best part of the experience for me is the strong Christian faith of Tom and Allie. Every day they trust God will provide for another day.

White tiger at Safari Zoological Park, Caney, Kansas

Back in 2008, the slowdown of the economy hit hard and the zoo was going to have to close. Tom and Allie knew they needed a miracle to stay open. So they prayed. And they set the date of August 1 for the decision to be made.

On July 27 of that year, their white tiger Sassy had three cubs, but abandoned them the next day in the hot sun. Seeing that Sassy was not going to mother her cubs, Tom and Allie thought they would have to bottle feed them. However, their golden retriever, Isabella, took an interest in the cubs. She had just had puppies weeks earlier, and decided she would nurse the tiger cubs.

With the local press taking an interest, the story of the tiger cubs spread nationally. On August 1, 2008, the day the zoo was expected to close, Isabella and her tiger “pups” were sitting in front of TV cameras. God worked the miracle Tom and Allie were praying for, and the zoo remained open.

Safari Zoological Park still has its struggles. Food costs and other expenses continue to rise, while tourism and school field trips remain on a down turn. You would expect a sense of negativity, but it’s the complete opposite. The faith and trust in God is so strong you can feel it.

I spoke with Tom during my visit. He said some days he doesn’t know how he’ll provide for the animals, but more importantly, he knows God will provide.

“One of great things about doing something like this is that it is way bigger than us and when it gets done there is no doubt God did it. God may speak to 1 person’s heart or to 1000. All we can tell you is we will continue to trust God and believe that he has a plan.” ~Tom and Allie Harvey, Safari Zoological Park.

Disclosure: I was not asked to write this on behalf of Safari Zoological Park, nor did I receive anything in return. I simply love this faith story—a story that continues each day, each year as they trust and rely on God to provide.

Quote and information used from the Safari Zoological Park Web site with verbal permission from Tom Harvey 7/2/12. Pictures © Laura Rath.