Founded in 1979, Black Beauty Ranch is a pristine 1,400-acre sanctuary that serves as home to nearly 650 animals of some 43 different species. We’re thrilled that Scott Carter has accepted a role leading the team as we conduct a search for a permanent director for the sanctuary. Carter arrives after 13 years as the chief life sciences officer of the Detroit Zoological Society and brings more than three decades of experience managing animal care programs; he played a leading role in the Detroit Zoological Society’s accreditation process with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The HSUS has analyzed the sanctuary’s needs and opportunities for growth and, as one of our priority initiatives for 2023, we’ll be making significant further investments to increase staff, enhance on-site infrastructure and ensure the animals receive the highest standard of care. Over the next five years, we will invest $8.7 million in the sanctuary (in addition to the $1.5 million we’ve invested in 2022) to build new facilities and provide new equipment for the animals at the ranch. These investments include new enclosures, new habitats for a variety of primate species, a new commissary for food preparation for all animals, new veterinary and farm equipment, trucks, fencing, shade structures and hospital upgrades.
We’ve accelerated and amplified our existing plans to strengthen the sanctuary following a heartbreaking incident this past summer. In August, due to an unprecedented drought and heat wave impacting the western states, one of the sanctuary’s automated well-water systems failed, leading to the loss of several beloved donkeys. We grieve the loss of any animal’s life, but especially the loss of an animal within our care, and we initiated a comprehensive review to understand what happened. Along with replacing old equipment and improving redundancy systems, we’re investing in major upgrades and reinforcement of the ranch’s entire water infrastructure. We’re also adding more staff to the sanctuary’s animal care team, further boosting its already expanded human resources and adding to a core team of staff of passionate and skilled animal care experts who lovingly care for and nurture our animals.
Black Beauty has a tremendous legacy that we are very proud of, and we are taking this moment to enhance its facilities and invest in the sanctuary’s future. We are confident that the meaningful steps we have taken, and the devotion of the Black Beauty team, will bring the sanctuary to its full potential as a lifelong home for animals.