Thursday, Nov. 14, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
For more than 20 years, world-famous illusionists Siegfried and Roy have secretly enjoyed studying and performing with exotic lions and tigers.
Now the secret is out.
The entertainers and staunch animal conservationists, in collaboration with The Mirage, have opened a $15 million "Secret Garden of Siegfried & Roy."
Set in a 2 1/2-acre natural habitat beside the dolphin attraction at The Mirage, the facility offers the public an opportunity to view six rare breeds of animals that appear in the illusionists' shows.
Featured are the Royal white tigers of Nevada, white lions of Timbavati, heterozygous Bengal tigers, an Asian elephant named Gildah, a panther and a snow leopard.
"I wanted to share with people the experiences I get on stage every night," Siegfried said at Wednesday's opening. "People have grown up with these animals and keep coming back. Now they can see them all the time."
Besides entertaining audiences twice nightly for more than six years at The Mirage, Siegfried and Roy have been involved in saving endangered white tigers and lions. At one time, there were fewer than 10 white lions of Timbavati left in the world.
At the request of the Johannesburg Zoological Gardens in South Africa, Siegfried and Roy agreed to help save the species. Today, the first two male white lions in the Western Hemisphere reside in the Secret Garden.
"As you can see, they are happy and they make the people happy," Siegfried said.
"Today, we have seven white lions that are nowhere else in the world," Roy added.
African music is piped throughout the habitat, and a full-service animal hospital, staffed with veterinarians, is also provided.
"As illusionists, we have always made things disappear," Roy said with a smile. "This time, we are making things reappear to educate people in a fun way."
The Secret Garden was conceived and designed by Siegfried and Roy, drawing on their more than 25 years of entertainment experience with rare animals.
"You have to create new dimensions and space for animals that they can live with," Roy said. "Here you'll find a fresh breath for all the people of Nevada and visitors to enjoy."
Seven exhibits are featured at the Secret Garden of Siegfried and Roy. It is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is included in the $10 price of visiting the dolphin habitat.
"From the moment we saw Siegfried and Roy and their animals up close, we knew the public would like to see the animals up close too," said Alan Feldman, spokesman for Mirage Resorts. "The thing that Siegfried and Roy can do that other people can't is provide a sanctuary for rare animals. It takes a lot of money and dedication."
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