Photo by David Oberbeck

Great Things to Come in 2007 at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

In 2006 our visitor numbers were up by 8% over the previous year, which was 5% up on the year before. During 2006 our new membership program surged forward, from around 400 to nearly 1,800 households

This newsletter doubled its subscriber base in 06, and we aim to repeat that in 07. Sales at our Nature Store and Overlook Café grew impressively in 06, not simply because of the increased visitor numbers but also because of smarter business practice, better inventory, and much improved salesmanship by the staff. Our lodgings operation (The Lodge and the Foothills Safari Camp) just welcomed a new director, in the form of Al Gonzalez, who brings to Fossil Rim lots of previous experience running lodges in national parks. So we look forward to ramping up this operation to the next level during 07. Tours and education programs continue to grow. In 06 we took the initial steps of introducing what Fossil Rim offers educationally, into the home school arena and all signs point to a growing productive involvement for 07.

We introduced three new species of hoof stock in 06, all critically endangered in their native African ranges – Roan, Nyala, and Addra gazelle - and plan on growing their numbers here so that, in a few years, we will be ready to supply animals of these and other species for re-introduction. On this note, in Dec 06 we shipped two each of Addax and Scimitar-Horned Oryx as part of a multinational re-introduction effort to Tunisia in Africa.

I’d like to think all the above means we are building some organic growth momentum and increasing relevance in wildlife conservation and education, which we must carry into and build on in 2007.

We can’t do any of this alone. It’s you, supporting us by giving and visiting and spreading the word about Fossil Rim to your friends and neighbors, that is enabling us to do these things. So, a very big THANK YOU for your support through 06, please may it continue in 07, and may you and your loved ones enjoy a very happy and prosperous 2007.

Pat R. Condy, D.Sc.
Executive Director