Today happens to be Global Tiger Day and purely by accident we are taking a tour of the National Tiger Sanctuary in Saddlebrook, Missouri, about an hour from where we are staying.

The sanctuary began in 2000, when Keith Kindade and Judy McGee founded a non-profit organization to keep the animals’ needs at the forefront of every decision no matter the cost. They recognized education as a vital tool for improving conditions for animals both in the wild and in captivity. Beyond education, they also wanted to teach about environmental conditions affecting the earth’s ecosystems and solutions that benefit all species of life.

Our tour was wonderful and other than a personal wish to replace the wire fencing with something more photographically acceptable to get a better close-up shot of these wonderful cats, which, of course, I know is financially impossible, I could happily visit every day for ever more!

Meet Merlin.  Merlin was rescued from a magic show in 2011 where he lived indoors in a small, concrete cage. He is 11 years old and weighs in at around 400 pounds. When Merlin is not sleeping in the sun, he enjoys playing hide and seek and tag with the keepers.

Niara arrived at the sanctuary in 2013, with four other African lions. She is the largest, and likely the oldest, female in the pride. Niara is a social butterfly of the group and gets along well with everyone (lions and human!). She loves to rub against the fence and get attention from the staff.

 

Princess and her sister Precious found their home at the sanctuary in 2014. Born in 2005, Princess weighs-in at around 250 pounds. Her stripes are brown and go darker in colour without sunshine. Princess was simply incredible to watch and thank heavens she and her sister are now safe and can live-out their lives in peace.