Strawberry Tiger

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In the habitat directly before you with the large den in the back, is BaBuVa, a female Tiger. BaBuVa, is known as a golden, or tabby, or strawberry-colored Tiger due to lighter coloration.  She and sixteen other Lions, Tigers and big cat hybrids as well as two Grizzly Bears were rescued by The Wild Animal Sanctuary from a facility in Indiana that was cited for dozens of violations of the Animal Welfare Act and Endangered Species Act.  Following a court order to remove all of the animals from the property, including primates and other big cats that went to other sanctuaries, BaBuVa came to her new home at TWAS where she has only known comfort and ease – relaxing in the lush tall grass, or in the stream that runs through her large acreage habitat.

 

The Four Ring Habitats

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On your right are four ring habitats for some smaller animals.  In the second ring live Bobcats with a couple of them coming a private-owner situation and another rescued from a shopping mall in Des Moines, Iowa. The fourth ring has an older Coyote from that same shopping mall and a female Coyote rescued from a private owner situation in Colorado.

 

A Kodiak Grizzly in Florida?

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Directly to the east or behind the last ring lives the Sanctuary’s largest animal—a 1,600 pound Kodiak Grizzly Bear named Jake! This incredible animal, in his mid-20s, was rescued from an amusement park and animal menagerie in Silver Springs, Florida. As one can imagine, living in the hot Florida climate was very difficult on an animal that evolved to live in Alaska. Photographs and video footage show this Bear with little or no fur much of the time before being rescued. To the right of the large den is a concrete-lined swimming hole which Jake enjoys immensely in the warm summer months. If you look closely, often times you will see his large head just above the surface of the water. Of course, if it’s wintertime, he is more than likely tucked away in his den hibernating like all of the Sanctuary’s Bears do in the colder months.

 

Uruguay Lions

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Behind you, in the triangular habitat along the service road is the beautiful Lioness, “Luna”. She, along with other animals, were rescued from a zoo in Uruguay many years ago that was closed to the public and then began experiencing deteriorating conditions. Concern for the welfare of the animals prompted zoo and city officials to approach the Sanctuary who gladly agreed to give several animals there a new home. In the warmer summer months, Luna loves to lay in the shade underneath the ramp structure in the middle of her habitat. As with all of the Lions, you may have to look closely in the taller grass where she often lays, but can be difficult to spot. We encourage you to take your time and find animals like Luna so as to get more used to looking for them in habitats. Believe it or not, they are in there!