BARTOW – Neighbors of a proposed 258-acre exotic animal preserve had the chance to sound off today before an administrative judge.

Several said Safari Wild, under development by former Lowry Park Zoo boss Lex Salisbury and business partner, veterinarian Stephen Whermann, would be out of place in rural northern Polk County.

Kenneth Sherrouse, who lives about 2 1/2 miles away, likened it to a theme park.

“They’re dependent on the tourists who visit Central Florida by the millions. My opinion is they sought this location because of tourist traffic from Disney and the Tampa attractions,” Sherrouse said on the final day of the administrative hearing.

Attorneys for Salisbury and Whermann contend that Safari Wild will be a good fit for the area where livestock is a common sight. They envision up to 500 tourists a day at Safari Wild, which will be refuge to such animals as zebras and monkeys.

The state Department of Community Affairs contends that Polk improperly gave permission for the animal preserve. Attorneys for the developers say Safari Wild should be considered agriculture, a permitted use for the area.

Other witnesses on today included Lois Murphy, who lives about two miles away, who contended Safari Wild is “first and foremost tourism” and doesn’t belong there.

But veterinarian John McLemore, a colleague of Whermann, defended the park.”I have visited the facility, and it is not a zoo. It is not, I was very impressed with what they’ve done as far as land preservation, the natural environment for the animals so I think it’s a unique project. I think the educational possibilities are wonderful for this project,” he said.

“I think that the main emphasis here should be on how they’ve preserved the land and the education opportunities for the children of Florida,” he said.

Other witnesses also supported the park.

The judge who presided over the administrative hearing will ultimately decide.

His decision in the case is still several weeks away.

By JENNIFER LEIGH | News Channel 8