Build Habitats for Rescued Lions, Tigers, & Bears

Upcoming on October 19th-22nd is our Founders Day event for those who have donated to support Habitat Creation or Land Acquisition at the Refuge. Located in Springfield, Colorado, the Refuge is a nearly 10,000-acre property which provides large-acre habitats as big as 300 acres. Currently home to over 200 animals, the property is still being fully developed with more 5,000 acres of land still to be utilized. Unlike the Sanctuary, the Refuge is not open to the general public for visitation year round. The Founders Day event is the only chance for supporters to take a driving tour through the property and see the growth they've funded. 

Already home to many of our recent rescues, including the tigers from Tiger King, the lions from Ukraine and the bears from South Korea, the Refuge will be at the heart of our lifesaving work for years to come. We're thrilled to have the space to grow as needed to ensure we'll be able to continue rescuing animals far into the future. But it's not enough to simply have the space enough space. At the end of the day, it is our supporters who make each and every rescue possible. From their passion to their willingness to fund our efforts, we're beyond grateful to have their dedication to our mission.

Please see the link below if you'd like more information on how to support the Refuge!

Links:

• Support the Refuge

We recently welcomed a new addition to the Sanctuary, providing us with an excellent opportunity to shed light on the often overlooked challenges involved in creating animal habitats. Let us introduce Duke, a young tiger cub who joined us a few months ago.

At our Sanctuary, we have a policy of not allowing animals to reproduce in order to prevent the addition of more captive wildlife. Consequently, it is quite rare for us to have younger animals in our habitats. Due to Duke's small size, we couldn't place him in a regular habitat as he would easily slip through the fence! Rescuing tiger cubs presents particular challenges due to their specific habitat requirements. In Duke's case, we initially housed him in a hybrid habitat connected to the Veterinarian Clinic. This arrangement allowed our staff to provide hands-on care while still giving the cub enough space to adapt to his new surroundings.

It is common to find habitats of various sizes at the Wild Animal Sanctuary. The animals we rescue do not come from vast, open spaces where they can freely roam. Instead, they have often spent years in cramped enclosures, growing accustomed to confined spaces. Placing a newly rescued tiger in a 20-acre habitat could be incredibly stressful and cause further trauma to the animal. Therefore, we gradually introduce the animal to larger spaces, observing their reactions for signs of curiosity or fear. Only when they display interest and curiosity in a larger habitat do we allow them to move into it.

We had the privilege of witnessing this process unfold with Duke over the past few weeks. Being a young cub, he adapted more easily to different environments. In just a few months, Duke progressed from the vet clinic to a regular-sized habitat complete with a pool! Other animals that we rescue at an older age often take much longer, if ever, to adapt to larger spaces. We never force an animal into a bigger habitat. If they show no interest in moving, they are allowed to remain in their current habitat size. Nonetheless, they are still given further opportunities to become comfortable with additional space in the future.

Links:

• Donate to Habitats at the Refuge