Responding to ceremonial needs for eagle feathers, in 1999, the Pueblo opened the first-ever Native American owned and operated eagle sanctuary. The award-winning facility provides a source of molted eagle feathers for Zuni while at the same time reviving the ancient practice of eagle husbandry. Today, the Sanctuary is home to 16 eagles — all of which are non-releasable, typically because of a permanent debilitating injury — which enables the Pueblo to distribute tens of thousands of feathers using tribal protocol. The Sanctuary also administers a community education program, a raptor care training program, and has strengthened Zuni’s ties with dozens of outside agencies.