Indigenous Wildlife, Regeneration & Sustainable Travel

Punta Gorda Englewood Beach on Florida’s Southwest coast. It is a haven of vibrant experiences in the sun-soaked oasis of the Florida islands, characterised by almost year-round sunshine and sub-tropical weather. While local sailing trips offer wild and sea life spotting and enticing stops along the Caribbean-style coast, Babcock Ranch and Peace River Wildlife Center are two very different locations on the Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast, with one common ethos— both are ardently committed to wildlife support and regeneration. 

Babcock Ranch Babcock Ranch is dedicated to sustainability and local wildlife cultivation within its groundbreaking, 18,000-acre estate. Their Eco-tours provide visitors with an exciting, first-hand insight and deeper appreciation of four different ecosystems and wildlife behaviour, empowering visitors to preserve indigenous wildlife. Alligators, birds, deer, wild hogs and turkeys, often come within a few yards of the vehicle and visitors have an opportunity to travel through four different ecosystems of Florida, including Telegraph Cypress Swamp. Its own microclimate is home to over 30-indigenous species including the endangered, Florida panther. The estate’s mitigation plan protects approximately 11,000-acres of panther habitat that includes the Florida Wildlife Corridor, which provides habitat connectivity, with the Florida panther playing a vital umbrella role at the very heart of Florida’s ecology.  mitted to wildlife support and regeneration.  

Peace River Wildlife Center In 1985, Peace River Wildlife Center became a not-for-profit organisation, leasing the property from the City of Punta Gorda in Ponce de Leon Park. Since its beginnings, the wildlife centre has treated over 50,000 birds and small mammals, offering skilled care by trained and permitted wildlife rehabilitation specialists with years of experience in treating native fauna, disease and trauma. Open daily, the PRWC does not receive any federal government support and all of the Peace River Wildlife Center’s expenses are met through donations, their recycling program, gift shop sales and small grants involved in maintaining their educational displays and feeding almost 120 permanent residents. With more than 2,500 patient admissions annually, PRWC’s mission is carried out primarily by volunteers, committed to wildlife preservation.