Did you know there are 7,000-10,000 tigers living in backyards and fake zoos and sanctuaries in the United States? That, in comparison to the less than 4,000 tigers left in their natural habitat, is an alarming number. This is dangerous for both the animals and the people involved because if a tiger gets out of someone’s backyard, it puts the public and the cat at risk. The best place for a tiger is in their natural habitats in Asia or, if they can’t be in their habitat, in an accredited zoo or sanctuary.
TCWR isn’t the only big cat sanctuary in the US, so let’s highlight some of the other organizations that help rescue big cats as we celebrate International Tiger Day.
First, there are overarching organizations that are in charge of licensing and accrediting facilities. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the governmental department responsible for animal care and welfare standards. The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) is the only global animal sanctuary accreditation program. GFAS holds sanctuaries to a certain standard for caring for their animals and protecting people. GFAS currently recognizes 15 verified and accredited exotic big cat rescues in the United States and 4 internationally.
There are also alliances that work to support sanctuaries and their animals, with a goal towards ending the exotic pet trade by working as one voice. The Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance (BCSA) is specifically geared towards the protection of exotic big cats in the exotic pet trade in America. BCSA pulls together not just sanctuaries, but organizations like GFAS and the Humane Society as well. BCSA members are held to high standards, and they’re unified by a goal to end exploitation through education and policy work.
The American Sanctuary Alliance (ASA) acknowledges the abused and neglected animals across the US as well as the places and people that work towards giving them safe places where they are treated with care and compassion. They also accredit sanctuaries based on a set of standards, and work to connect alliance members to ensure that each animal in need is given a home. ASA works with a variety of animals, and while TCWR isn’t a part of the ASA, other wildlife sanctuaries are.
True Sanctuaries
So for this International Tiger Day, we’re sharing the love with other sanctuaries like TCWR!
- Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, FL – USDA licensed, GFAS accredited, BCSA member
- Black Pine Animal Sanctuary in Albion, IN – USDA licensed, GFAS accredited, BCSA member
- Carolina Tiger Rescue in Pittsboro, NC – USDA licensed, GFAS accredited, BCSA member
- Black Beauty Ranch in Murchison, TX – USDA licensed, GFAS accredited, BCSA member
- Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary in Ste. Genevieve, MO – USDA licensed, GFAS accredited, BCSA member
- In-Sync Exotics in Wylie, TX – USDA licensed, GFAS verified, ASA member
- Lions, Tigers, and Bears in Alpine, CA – USDA licensed, GFAS accredited, BCSA member, ASA member
- Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in Galt, CA – USDA licensed, GFAS accredited, BCSA member
- Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary in Imlay, NV – USDA licensed, GFAS accredited, ASA member
- The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone MN – USDA licensed, GFAS accredited, BCSA member, ASA member
- Tucson Wildlife Center in Tucson, AZ – USDA licensed, GFAS accredited
- TCWR in Eureka Springs, AK – USDA licensed, GFAS accredited, BCSA member
- Wildcat Ridge in Scotts Mills, OR – USDA licensed, GFAS verified, BCSA member, ASA member
- Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in San Antonio, TX – USDA licensed, GFAS accredited
Resources:
USDA: https://www.usda.gov/
GFAS: https://www.sanctuaryfederation.org/
BSCA: https://www.bigcatalliance.org/
ASA: https://www.americansanctuaries.org/
Big Cat Rescue: https://bigcatrescue.org/
Black Pine Animal Sanctuary: https://www.bpsanctuary.org/
Carolina Tiger Rescue: https://carolinatigerrescue.org/
Black Beauty Ranch: https://www.humanesociety.org/blackbeautyranch
Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary: https://crownridgetigers.com/
In-Sync Exotics: https://www.insyncexotics.org/
Lions, Tigers, and Bears: https://www.lionstigersandbears.org/
PAWS: http://www.pawsweb.org/index.html
Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary: https://safehavenwildlife.com/
The Wildcat Sanctuary: https://www.wildcatsanctuary.org/
Tucson Wildlife Center: https://tucsonwildlife.com/
TCWR – https://www.turpentinecreek.org/
Wildcat Ridge Sanctuary: https://wildcatridgesanctuary.org/
Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation: https://wildlife-rescue.org/