CAROLINA
TIGER RESCUE TOUR
In which Bob and
Camille fulfill their wish to visit the local big cat sanctuary. Click on
the photos to see larger images.
October 25, 2010
A GAGGLE
OF CAT LOVERS
Chris and Lynette
invited us to join them, their family and friends on a Monday morning at Carolina
Tiger Rescue. Tour guides Patrick and Suzanne shepherded us around the
property while giving us a lively and informative tour. From left: Jill, Andy,
Elizabeth, Sarah, Christine, Kevin,
Chris, Lynette, Patrick, Bob, Camille, Campbell, Rachel and Suzanne.
BEAUTIFUL
BEASTS
Tigers are one of
the most beautiful of all animals. Which explains why people try and raise
them as pets. They also like to play with pumpkins…
LOOK AT
THOSE TEETH!
It was easy to
stop thinking of these beautiful tigers as pets when Nitro opened his mouth to
take Pat’s offering of chicken! Carolina Tiger Rescue takes in dangerous
pets as long as their owners promise in
writing never to bring another wild animal into their home.
A FOOL
PROOF CHUTE
An impressive
series of cages, doors and chutes makes transport of the wild cats
possible. We’d been looking forward to this tour for weeks and thoroughly
enjoyed the opportunity to learn about some of the seventy-two animals at
CTR.
ON THE
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN AND VICE VERSA
As we walked
between the many large enclosures, we saw a few small, empty cages standing alone in the
open. When asked, Patrick told us that this is where the keepers and volunteers go in
the event that a big cat breaks loose. Or visitors, for that matter.
FORCE TO
BE RECKONED WITH
We all gained a
new respect for these powerful animals. Nitro was stunning in his golden
coat. Patrick informed us that Nitro is blind, which was hard to believe
as good-looking as he was. Young Silas took it all in, looking stylishly cute in
his leopard
suit.
SISTERS
Sarah’s sister
Elizabeth listens to our tour guide as Nitro paces his cage.
Cage mates
Carmelita and Lucky lounge around together while Elizabeth’s sister, Sarah
enjoys the day.
NOT JUST
TIGERS
CTR is home to six
different species: tigers, caracals, servals, ocelots, binturongs, and
kinkajous. A cute little ocelot named Magoo contemplates some meat on a
stick. Lynette, Chris, Jill, Elizabeth and Kevin watch the show.
HAPPY
TOGETHER
Camille and Bob
happily took advantage of Chris and Lynette’s offer to join them on this tour as
it had long been on their minds to investigate the big cats at CTR. A
Serval named Elvis plays catch with his meaty treat.
KINKAJOU
This cute fellow’s
name is Albert. We remember
kinkajous from Belize, although down there, they would be calling him Alberto. Patrick was impressed
that we’d seen a kinkajou but had hoped to stump us with
another animal.
BINTURONG
AND CARACAL
Suzanne feeds a
binturong some banana. Of all the animals at CTR, this is the only one we
had not seen before. Patrick was pleased. A very personable caracal
named Kiniki grabs his treat.
BABY FOOD
Lucky Tiger loves
baby food and Suzanne thoroughly enjoyed feeding some to him.
“Yum!”
He seemed to say.
Lucky licks the
baby food off his lips. You can see the tip of his tongue if you look
close it.
What a funny thing
to see – a tiger sticking his tongue out!
BACK TO
THE OUTSIDE WORLD
Our little group
heads back to the parking lot, heads full of new cat facts and fun memories.
And that’s the end
of this tale.
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