Deb and George kindly invited me on a trip to visit the Exotic Feline Rescue Center near Terre Haute, IN. What an amazing place! ALL of the big cats there are rescued and are unable to live on their own, some were even chained on small concrete pads until they were adults and brought to the EFRC - they had never walked on grass and had never walked more then the short disance their chain allowed. During our tour we heard many sad stories. Here is the website and an excerpt from the introduction:
http://www.exoticfelinerescuecenter.org/home.html
Exotic Feline Rescue Center
With over 230 exotic felines calling the EFRC home, we are one of the largest rescue centers in the United States for abused, unwanted and neglected exotic felines. Our mission is simple:
We provide permanent homes for exotic felines that have been abused, abandoned or for some reason have nowhere to live out their lives, while educating the public about these beautiful cats.
We do not buy, sell or breed cats
We give big cats a home for life
We provide stable social groups
We provide enhanced environments
We provide the best veterinary care
No concrete here! No chains! These cats are done with that for the rest of their lives, they now have a safe and loving place to live where they get plenty to eat and have plenty of room to roam. George and I were busy with our cameras, of course.
First - some big views of the compound...for over 230 cats it is the big place it needs to be ....peeping through the trees you can see 3 tigers lounging on their 'tree'. The yards for the cats are really big, have nice paths through the brush, have shelters, water tanks (apparently for drinking as well as sitting in) and plenty of space to get away from each other.
Some pictures of the grounds, it is not fancy and commercial for sure but it definitely suits the needs of the cats, as it is intended to do:
So - how close are you to the big cats? Darned close!!! Really close!!! Like, a poke of your finger through the chainlink fence close!
Close enough that the staff/volunteers make sure you understand you will be hauled out by the back of your collar if you get within 3 feet of the cats and never be allowed back! So close that you can't wander around on your own, you can only go through on a tour led by a volunteer.
George and Deb, although I am not sure who is watching who here...the cats are pretty relaxed about the whole thing and seem to think the humans coming through are there for their personal entertainment..
Deb and a Tiger (they all have names and stories but, of course, I can't remember who was who and what happened to who)
I am sure Deb and the tiger are discussing weighty matters here. I am glad the tiger has Deb to talk to.
In fact, George and I were of the opinion that Deb was also discussing Yoga poses with this lioness.....I am sure of it - she has us do that same thing in our Yoga classes!
We were pretty lucky to have George with us. George is very familiar with the center and has even developed a relationship with a leopard...Rodney. George and Rodney are so close that George has a place of honor....they share the space well. You can see Rodney just above his name plate - gazing down adoringly at George who is standing under his own name plate.
Lots of lounging, sleeping, yawning, going on.
And quite a bit of roaring and rumbling!! One will start to roar or rumble and the others will join in..
And a whole new meaning to 'Tiger in Your Tank'!
Ahhhhhh.....a hot day, a cool place to splash and a little drowse in the sun....does it get any better than this?
What a place! So very cool and I am so lucky I had the chance to go with Deb and G!
If you do get to go - watch for this sign on the road - it means you are suddenly there:
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