Visiting a Tiger Sanctuary

Posted by Sheri Amsel Dec 22, 2006

In August I accompanied a zoo vet to a big cat sanctuary in Jacksonville, Florida. The vet donates his time for medical procedures and had come out from California to do a tubal ligation on a lioness. I was there to help him if I could and take pictures and short movies of the preserve.

The preserve receives tigers and other big cats from the U.S.D.A. when they are confiscated (remember the guy in Manhattan who had a tiger in his apartment?) They live in outdoor enclosures with pools, trees and even big, rubber balls to play with. And they do play, pushing their heads into each other and rolling around on the ground like 300-pound kittens. I tried to film them playing in their pools, but every time I came around with the camera they would splash me with paws the size of dinner plates.

Tiger moods are shown by body language and vocalizations. When they are glad to see you, they “chuff” or emit a low rolling growl of contentment, not quite a purr. When displeased, they bark. They also have a nasty habit of spraying to mark their territory or any unsuspecting passerby. Like typical cats, they give a little warning, if you are watching for it. They gracefully turn their backs on you and then quickly lift their tail and spray. I managed to avoid being hit for three days, despite dozens of attempts on their part. Finally on the last night I was there they sprayed me as I stood with my back to them, too close to resist. I couldn’t help imagining their Cheshire-like grins of satisfaction eyeing me in the dark.

To read more about the sanctuary: http://www.cattyshack.org

More Tiger Articles: http://mammals.suite101.com/articles.cfm