I am thankful for the blue sky above me and the grass beneath my feet. I have been fortunate to have known that all my 50 years on this earth. I am fortunate to be able to stretch my arms and not touch the walls of my home, and I am fortunate that I am not forced to do things for the entertainment of others.
But there are some that are not so lucky.
Flavio was a circus tiger. He lived all his life, 24 years, either in a 6′ by 4′ cage or in the circus ring being made to do things that tigers aren’t ever meant to do. Upon his retirement he was allowed to go to Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, FL. After intake and vetting and days of all the things they do to care for their cats, he was then lead through a “tunnel” and for the very first time in his life he got to touch the grass. In the 2 1/2 acre vacation enclosure Flavio spent the next weeks just breathing the air. He got to see the sky without looking through bars. He got to see what it felt like to be a free cat. His story is touching; the video of his first encounter with all those things that many of us take for granted, the open sky, the grass, a tree to climb and a water fountain to enjoy, is nothing less than a soul shaking experience.
Flavio’s freedom walk can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ai6y3C6czk
Have you ever seen a 24 year old tiger play in a water fountain? (I smiled for days after watching this.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZCC2-XlWm0
I later learned that the ‘vacation enclosure’ is occupied on a rotational basis. But when it was Flavio’s time to go back to his regular enclosure he was having no part of it! They knew he was okay, he was eating what they were feeding them, and he could be spotted at times on the high rocks in the sun. Now it must be said that the enclosures, indeed everything, at Big Cat Rescue (BCR) are as realistic to outdoor life as a big cat in it’s natural habitat would be accustomed to. There are many trees creating a natural canopy to keep the cats cool. There is no concrete. And the enclosures are not small. There is no caged feeling about it.
BCR rescues and cares for many different kinds of cats. A lion that came to them emaciated and very ill came from a drug bust where he was used to “guard the stash”. Cats with many beautiful coats that were rescued from breeders that raised them only to sell their fur when they got large enough. A declawed tiger that once belonged to a private owner. All of them have a story, and it’s a sad one. Particularly so since none can be released back into the wild and be expected to survive.
~ Photo courtesy Noelle B. Sparks
Read more about Tonga here: http://bigcatrescue.org/tonga/
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- This cage, according to the USDA, is legal for transporting big cats. It would be about the same as a 20 pound Maine Coon trying to take a cross-country trip in a small kitty carrier.
Not all of the BCR rescues are cats that must stay in their care. They do rescue cats in trouble, treat them then release them. Khaleesi is a favorite of mine. A bobcat kitten that was rehabbed and then released. You can expect to see her story in a future blog post.
“Big Cat Rescue’s dual mission is to provide the best home we can for the cats in our care and educate the public about the plight of these majestic animals, both in captivity and in the wild, to end abuse and avoid extinction.” http://bigcatrescue.org
I am thankful for getting to see a dream of mine come true. A dream of getting to visit a place that helps to right some of the wrongs done to these fabulous cats. ~Kelly Pusskitty~
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