Peter and Nancy Lang are the creative force behind Safari West. Nancy was once avian director of the San Francisco Zoo, and Peter is the son of Otto Lang, the famed film director and ski instructor who built a cattle ranch in Beverly Hills. Peter was especially interested in exotic exotic hoovestock so he left the ranch for 400 acres in Santa Rosa where he could house his new menagerie.
For years Peter and Nancy developed a wildlife retreat and community at Safari West. They were staunch supporters of local wildlife and conservationists in their own right. They became one of only 6 privately owned accredited wildlife parks in the US. Peter and Nancy were staunch supporters of the Martinez beavers. and for years have donated to our festival and invited me to come and speak to guests in the evening. Their Junior Keeper volunteers was a familiar sight at our festival.
This fall the world was heartbroken to watch the sweeping fires in the wine country. I know it seems like a million years ago (because we all live in insane Trump-time now), but it wasn’t even 5 months since the entire area burst into flames. We watched in demoralized horror as beloved landmarks and vineyards burned seemingly without stop. Many of their employees lost their homes, including my good friend Marie Martinez.
In all that darkness, one story of hope sustained us.
The tale of the 76 year-old man staying behind to save his animals with garden hoses became a beacon of hope for a hopeless season. Just like his vision of Safari West conserved a bit of the Africa in the California Serengeti, his inspiring commitment and courage conserved our collective HOPE of survival after the fires. Peter and Nancy lost their home and personal belongings in the fire, but when funds were raised for them to recover they turned around and offered that money to their employees whose homes had also been burned.
Thinking of all this, mindful of the social impact of his brave choices, grateful for the support given over the years, (and guessing that the decision to stay behind in the fires was NOT the best-received decision he had ever made in his marriage), I nominated Safari West for the John Muir Association Business Conservation award this winter. I couldn’t think of anyone who deserved it more and honestly could not believe it had never been done.
I am pleased to announce that they won with unanimous support. Safari West will be the winner of the JMA Business Conservation award of 2o17. This award will be presented at Earth Day next month and isn’t yet listed on their website. I have heard through Marie that Peter and Nancy were touched by this gesture, which is, ridiculously, in fact the first such recognition they’ve received!
It has been a terrible, precious, dangerous year for Safari West, They received a huge outpouring of support from all over the world and saw first hand just how much they mean to the community they’ve created. They began jeep tours soon after the repairs and just reopened their doors for overnights this month. Marie and the other employees who lost their homes are resettling and I will be returning to speak in the summer.
Which leaves me humbled to say that they also donated this for our silent auction once again. Thank you so much, Peter and Nancy!
