The Wild Animal Sanctuary east of here is rather spare, using its resources to provide space for the rescued animals it houses. Though I've never visited the Serengeti, the lions on the plains of Eastern Colorado prime the imagination. 
The refuge is not a zoo nor a drive-through operation. The walkways are above the animals, so a visitor can look, but not upset the animals with a stare-down or other threatening maneuvers. If you drop something into the animal enclosures, tell it goodbye. We see a black cowboy hat by a water hole. The sunglasses a tourist dropped were immediately claimed and eaten by a tiger. The fence posts are made of telephone poles, stripped down. I wonder if they are electrified, as most of the animals here climb trees.
It is sweltering, as we have made the mistake of arriving in the late morning, the hottest possible hours for two-mile walk in the sun. The animals tuck themselves into dens made of concrete pipes or slabs. A few lions and bears cool themselves in water tanks. There is one fountain down the elevated path, which looks refreshing.
The tent at the end of the walkway serves as the lion house for 25 lions recently rescued from circuses in Bolivia, where they were crammed into filthy cages. In addition there are two other prides on the premises, segregated into their own "habitats." Though not cramped, the animals are still clearly caged. The bears appeared to root around in garbage composed of fruits and vegetables. The lions, tigers, bobcats, cougars and wolves are fed expired meat donated by the area supermarkets. I suppose the introduction of goats, pigs or chickens which the lions could hunt would raise an uproar. "Cruelty to chickens," Jesse says. I wonder what the animals do with themselves. The signs say the animals are not trained nor bred. I did see some big balls in both the lion and bear habitats. The bears play with a tire swing in a tank. We see a female lion lying in the shade. Her mate flops down in front of her and snuggles up spoon style. It is hot, one of those 100 degree days, and the lioness does not tolerate the snuggling for long.
The keepers recommend coming in the late afternoon when the animals rouse from their naps, becoming increasingly active as the day turns to night. Spring and fall before the bears hibernate are prime times as well. Perhaps we'll pay another visit then.