Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge rescues animals from situations of abuse, neglect, and abandonment from homes, fake zoos, and pseudo-sanctuaries. Sometimes multiple animals are rescued from the same small enclosure at these facilities. When we bring them back to Turpentine Creek do we keep them together or do we separate them?
Sharing a Habitat
When two or more animals are rescued together from the same enclosure, we try to keep them together once they make their way here. Oftentimes, if the animals are familiar and comfortable with each other and have been together for most of their lives, separating them can cause them more stress, which we ideally avoid. As long as the animals can remain safe and have the proper space while living together, they will share a habitat with each other.
Glacier and Ungowwa, a male white lion and female lion respectively, were rescued together from a facility in Indiana in 2020. They still remain in a habitat together and are able to interact.
When do we know it’s time to separate them?
Sometimes animals are rescued from the same enclosure and it is clear they were not getting along. They could have been fighting, been territorial, or been incredibly food aggressive. These animals will not share a habitat at Turpentine Creek.
Even when animals have gotten along their whole lives, there is still a chance they could change their minds. One day they might get along, the next they might hate each other. Sometimes, however, it is more gradual. If we notice two animals are starting to get more agitated with each other or start picking fights, we will separate the animals to keep them safe.
Alternate Access
Typically, when two animals stop getting along, we will start them on an alternate access schedule. This means the animals will be separated, but still living in the same habitat. Most of our habitats include two nighthouses. These are areas that can be closed off, allowing an animal to be in a separate space without access into the habitat, or into the second nighthouse. These nighthouses are spacious enough for the animals to walk around, eat, drink, sleep, and even play with enrichment. They also include a den area.
When two animals are on an alternating schedule, one will be in the nighthouse for a day, without access into the habitat. The other animal will have access into their own nighthouse as well as the grassy habitat area. The next day, their access will swap. This means that every other day each animal will have full access to the habitat and nighthouse on an alternating schedule. This is often a temporary solution until one of the animals is able to be moved to a different habitat. This allows both animals to have twenty-four hour access to a grassy area and nighthouse.
Separate Habitats
Many animals at TCWR have been separated to different habitats due to their inability to get along. Tigers and Ti-Liger Aurora, Joey, Khaleesi, and Lakota were rescued during the Colorado Project in 2016 from an enclosure together. For a while they got along, but Khaleesi and Aurora began to become more dramatic and irritable. The four were split into two habitats, Joey and Khaleesi in one, and Lakota and Aurora in the other. Khaleesi and Aurora calmed, and things went well for some time. Then Khaleesi went back to her old ways. It became apparent that Khaleesi would continue to pick on Joey if they remained in the same habitat. Khaleesi and Joey now live in separate habitats and are much happier having their own space. Aurora and Lakota still get along and can be seen sharing a habitat in the Discovery Area.
Mauri and Chief
Another example of using an alternate access schedule and separating animals is lions Mauri and Chief. They were rescued from a facility in Indiana in 2020 where they shared an enclosure. When they arrived at Turpentine Creek, Mauri was very young, just under four years old and Chief was fourteen. They started with an alternating access schedule in the hopes that they would be able to be reintroduced and share the habitat after some time.
When introductions happened, the ten year age difference between the two became apparent. Mauri was strong and young while Chief was older and thus less active and less playful. Mauri wanted to play, and she wanted to play hard. Chief did not. With the risk of Chief being hurt unintentionally by young Mauri’s exuberance, they were put back on an alternate access schedule. When space opened up they were separated into different habitats. They now live near each other at Rescue Ridge, but will remain in separate habitats.
There are many other ex-roommates at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. Come visit to learn more about them and what goes into deciding the best living situation for each animal we rescue!
*Published by Danika Torgersen on 10/25/25*