Meet The Animals At Buena Vista Wildlife Safari
Learn a little about all the animals you might see during your very own Wildlife Safari!
A Note About Our Animals…
At Buena Vista, we LOVE our animals. Because we feed them a high quality diet and give them plenty of room to roam, they don’t have to beg for food. They choose when and whether they want to be sociable. Your experience at Buena Vista will be like a true Safari, where at times you search for the animals. It you want to see the largest amount of animals we recommend coming in the morning or cooler hours.
Alpaca
Vicugna pacos
From South America
Just like their llama cousins, the average lifespan of an alpaca is 20 years. Unlike most livestock, alpacas are quite clean and easy to care for.American Bison
Bison bison
From North AmericaThe American bison was named the national mammal of the United States on May 9, 2016. This majestic animal joins the ranks of the Bald Eagle as the official symbol of our country -- and much like the eagle, it’s one of the greatest conservation success stories of all time.
Axis Deer
Cervus axis
From IndiaAxis deer are indeed larger than whitetail deer. Adult axis deer bulls can weigh up to 400 pounds, while the largest whitetail bucks rarely exceed 250 pounds. In addition to their size difference, axis deer also have a reddish-brown coat with white spots. Axis deer are herd animals and behave more like elk.
Black Hawaiian Sheep
Ovis gmelini
From North America
The Black Hawaiian is primarily a browser, feeding on weeds and occasionally tender grass shoots. They shed their woolly undercoat in winter months so do not require shearing like most other sheep.
Blackbuck
Antilope cervicapra
From India
The most striking feature of blackbucks is the long, spiraling horns of the adult male which have ridges from the base to almost the tips. They can grow as long as 20-24 inches. The longest horns on record measure more than 28 inches! Females do not possess horns.
Blue Wildebeest
Connochaetes taurinus
From Africa
Wildebeest are Playful and Intelligent Animals. They are always moving and never stay in one place for too long. Wildebeest like to graze around during the day or night. They also like taking naps, while some keep watch for potential predators
Common Eland
Taurotragus oryx
From Africa
The cow-like eland is the world's largest antelope. However, it has the endurance to maintain a trot indefinitely and can jump a 1.5 meter (4 feet) fence from a standstill. Both males and females have horns that spiral tightly
Dall Sheep
Ovis dall
From North America
Do you have an airbag in your head? The Dall Sheep has one so let's meet them. Dall sheep spend most of their lives on the jagged slopes of mountains. Their cloven hooves with rough pads help them cling to cliff edges and broken ledges, where they flock to elude predators
Emu
Dromaius novaehollandiae
From Australia
Emus can run at speeds of 50 kilometers per hour. On average, though, they usually run at speeds of around 48 kilometers per hour. When walking, an emu can cross a full meter in a single step. They have a max weight of 60 kilograms.
Fallow Deer
Dama dama
From Southwest Asia
Fallow deer communicate with body language, vocalizations and smells. They have very good vision and can see the tiniest details at great distances. The antlers of males can measure as much as 27 inches long.
Llama
Lama glama
From South America
Llamas are quite sure-footed and easily navigate rocky terrain at high altitudes. They are smart and easy to train. Llamas have been used as guard animals for livestock like sheep or even alpacas in North America since the '80s.
Longhorn
Bos taurus
From North America
Do you want to meet the state of animal of Texas? Then say howdy y'all to the Longhorn. They have thick hooves that are good for walking trails. The largest set of horns ever measured were over 10 feet!
Ostrich
Struthio
From Africa
Ostriches can't fly, but no birds can match their speed on land. Ostriches are the fastest running birds in the world! Scientists have seen ostriches run continuously at speeds of 30-37 mph and sprint up to 43 mph. With their long, strong legs ostriches can cover more than 10 feet in a single stride.
Pere David
Elaphurus davidianus
From China
This is no ordinary deer. With giant antlers atop a head shaped like a horse, the animal has a donkey's tail, and hooves like a cow but with webbing between the toes for swimming.
Plains Zebra
Equus quagga
From Africa
Plains Zebras are are classified as Endangered. They can run up to 65km per hour. Their stripes are unique like fingerprints and help camouflage them. New-born foals can stand after six minutes.
Pot Bellied Pig
Sus scrofa domesticus
From Southwest Asia
Like all pigs, potbellied pigs have sensitive skin and they will get sunburned just like we do! Potbellied pigs are smart and are very trainable. They can be taught to do tricks and respond to commands, just like dogs!Red Deer
Cervus elaphus
From Europe
The red deer is the UK's largest deer. Males have large, branching antlers, increasing in size as they get older. During the autumnal breeding season, known as the 'rut, males bellow to proclaim their territory and will fight over the females, sometimes injuring each other with their sharp antlers.
Scimitar-Horned Oryx
Oryx dammah
From Africa
Egyptians used to bind the horns of oryx together to make them appear like they had one horn. Soon their horns would grow together. This may be where the unicorn myths began.
Oryx can go without water for several days, which is a great adaptation for a desert dweller.
Sicilian Miniature Donkey
Equus africanus asinus
From Greek Islands
They are only 28 to 38 inches tall at the withers (shoulder) and weigh between 250 to 450 pounds. They eat hay, grass, oats and grain and graze from dawn until late morning and then again in late afternoon.
Sulcata Tortoise
Centrochelys sulcata
From Africa
Sulcata tortoise can reach 24 to 36 inches in length and 100 to 200 pounds in weight. They have thick skin that is usually golden brown or sand-colored. They can live to be 150 years old?
Watusi
Bos taurus indicus
From Africa
The Watusi, unlike most cattle, have evolved on their own to be adaptive to the harsh dry seasons. The hardiness of the cattle is one of the reasons why the animals are much valued and loved.
White Tail Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
From North Africa
One would think that such a cute animal would prefer to live in large groups, but the white-tailed deer is generally a solitary creature. They tend to live alone, especially during the summer months, and males and females only interact during mating season.