Preparations are underway at Lion Country Safari ahead of Hurricane Dorian.
WPTV was at the park for an exclusive look inside a meeting with park staff as they review their emergency plan.
On Thursday park staff began boarding up any glass doors and windows and taking down any non-essential signage in the park.
Planning for Dorian started on Tuesday.
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With medication, water and food a top priority, crews are working to make sure all of the animals are safe.
“It’s actually safer for a lot of our hooves stock animals to remain out in their pastures where they are comfortable. We open up the different access areas including the barns that we have there so that they have the choice of where they feel most comfortable and safest,” said Haley Passeser, Public Relations Associate.
That includes zebras, giraffes and water buffaloes. But not all animals will be riding out the storm.
“Some of the species that will come into the buildings or shelter will be the lions and the chimps who actually have night houses that also double as a hurricane safety facility,” said Passeser.
The plan is to start placing those animals in hurricane safe buildings on Saturday.
