Safari West Inc., a Sonoma County wildlife preserve, plans to lay off 134 employees in April, according to a state Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice.
The WARN notice was filed and processed on February 23, 2026. According to the filing, Safari West, Inc. is located at 3115 Porter Creek Road in Santa Rosa.
Employees will be laid off, with April 21, 2026, listed as the effective date. According to the WARN Act, employers are required to give its employees 60 days’ notice before a mass layoff, plant closure, or relocation. The establishment must given the notice all its employees as well as state and local officials so that workers can prepare for job loss, look for new employment, or pursue training opportunities.
About Safari West
According to the organization’s website, Safari West has operated for more than 35 years as a privately run wildlife preserve.
While the WARN filing stated that Safari West would permanently close, the establishment announced on its website a change in its operational structure, saying it would shift toward nonprofit stewardship.
“After more than 35 years as a privately operated wildlife preserve, Safari West is entering its next chapter. As we move forward, our founders are guiding the organization toward nonprofit stewardship through the newly formed Safari West Zoological Society,” Safari West said on its website.
As part of this transition, the organization announced the formation of the Safari West Zoological Society, described as a California nonprofit public benefit corporation. According to the statement, the new entity will support the preserve’s mission, with an emphasis on research, education, conservation, and animal care.
‘Safari West is Entering Its Next Chapter’
In its statement, the organization said Safari West will continue operating under its existing name, and safari tours and overnight stays are expected to proceed as scheduled.
The current team remains in place and that animal care continues to be central to daily operations. Leadership described the change as structural in nature rather than one that would alter the visitor experience, the statement added.
Safari West houses a variety of African and other exotic wildlife, including hoofed mammals such as giraffes, antelope species, and rhinoceros; carnivores such as cheetahs and servals; several primate species; and a wide range of birds including cranes and flamingos. The preserve also lists smaller mammals such as crested porcupines among its collection.
Safari West also offers a symbolic animal adoption program that allows supporters to sponsor a specific animal. According to the website, contributions support animal care and conservation efforts and do not transfer ownership of the animals.
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