Community Highlight: Sharkarosa Wildlife

In order to highlight our lovely community partners, we interviewed them about their purpose and how UNT students can further help them be successful. We interviewed Nancy Gorman from Sharkarosa Wildlife this week!

1.  Your name and title?

Nancy Gorman, Chief Operating Officer/Director of Facility Operation

2. What is your organization and what does it do?

Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch, we are a 501(c)3 non-profit wildlife park.  Our main goal is to educate the public with regard to conservation and preservation of the animals of the world.  

3.  What is your organization’s mission?

Our mission statement is:  To provide a permanent home for exotic and endangered animals that have been abused, abandoned, neglected, confiscated or previously owned by people unwilling or unable to provide for them the proper care and housing needed.  Sharkarosa's primary goal is to educate the community about these incredible animals, their needs and their role in global preservation.   We achieve this with our unique hands on experiences and our education school field trips, private tours, public appearances, lectures and open to the public weekends.  Through these venues we are able to instill the conservation of our endangered species.  Sharkarosa is committed to maintaining our strong relationship with the community and special needs programming.  In order to achieve our mission, our major goal is to provide the resident animals here with the best quality of life we can give them in captivity.  This includes spacious habitats with environmental enrichment as well as emotional enrichment that will fulfill the needs and well being of each individual animal, reducing stress and agitation, giving each animal the best life it can have in captivity.  

4.  Why did you choose to work in this field?

Our industry is one of passion.  This field requires long hours, hard labor and mental and emotional stamina.  This is not a field for the faint of heart as we deal daily with the ups and downs of life and its gifts and devastations.  We want to make an impactful difference in conservation and preservation and teach the public!

5.  What led you to work with the Center for Leadership and Service?

We offer internships, volunteer and employment opportunities for both enrolled students and graduates.  

6.  What is your favorite initiative that you have worked on so far?

Our favorite initiative is awareness.  I am amazed to see so many people who have no idea the state of our wildlife and how the changes we as humans are initiating are changing the way our wildlife survives.  Whether that's in the rainforests or the rural areas being infiltrated by housing expansion or highway expansion.  

7.  What would you say to students who want to get involved?

Be the change.  We can give you an opportunity to be a part of our teaching experience.  We care for over 180 animals here at the ranch who, for one reason or another, can not be released, rehomed or provided for anywhere else.  Our animals are the connector - they personalize the message and you can be a part of that.