Tigers in Our Hearts Again Tiger in My Heart

Marcus, a male tiger, arrived at the sanctuary in November of 2020. He's estimated to exist about five – viii years old, though we don't know for sure.

Our sanctuary had been chosen upon to assist iv large cats. They were located out-of-state and 1 of their caretakers had passed away. Though many other people were coming forward, trying to take the cats, sell them or send them to a pseudo-sanctuary for more than breeding or display, we were so grateful to exist at that place for them.

Every bit shortly as we arrived, we knew this wouldn't be easy. A single lane, curvy clay road through the woods, led up a quarter of a mile to the cages of these lions and tigers.

We knew there was no mode our transport trailer could make it upward that hill. And with piles of scrap metal, cars and other collections lining the road, there was nowhere to turn around or come back downward either.

The terrain was so rough that the tires on our transport crates bent and could not make it upward the hill on their own. It was obvious, we had to come up upwards with an alternative programme right away.

Nosotros had no other pick than to sedate these four big cats individually, put each of them into our vehicle, bulldoze them down to the city route and load them into our trailer a quarter of a mile away.

This would all accept to be done quickly, earlier the cats woke up. Not an ideal manner, only the simply manner, given the circumstances.

Their Previous Years

Cubs had been bred at this location for years. They'd been sold on the internet, as well equally for cub petting profit. Thankfully, the decision had been made to finally give these remaining cats sanctuary.

Years of producing cubs, having them pulled abroad to be sold – this would be the end of that wheel.  Our hearts broke when the story of Sara, 1 of the king of beasts cubs born hither, was shared with us.

"In 2014, I started working selling cubs.  This was my commencement panthera leo cub I held and idea this was so cool. I thought I located a great home for her.  Information technology was a roadside zoo, a petting zoo. They destroyed her when she got too old to pet and it bankrupt my centre! She was 4 months old when they destroyed her.  She would have been most vii years old today."

Marcus had lived with his mate Winona in this cage at the facility. We were told that Winona had given nativity only five months ago. Like then many others, that cub had been sold.  You tin imagine how shocked we were when, as nosotros were loading cats, we discovered she had just given nascence again!

Tiger Cub Nuance is Discovered

In the wild, tigers have a litter approximately every two years. But in captivity, when breeders pull the cubs from their mother, their mother goes back into estrus. This means she can be bred several times a yr.

Nosotros were devastated. This poor cub, we named Dash, still had his umbilical cord fastened and weighed simply a few pounds (pictured above in the den with mother Winona). If we'd had any idea, we would've postponed the pick-up for the health of Winona and her cub.

Simply every bit nosotros discovered the cub, so did Marcus who Winona shared her cage with. He quickly tried to go after the cub.  We were informed that he had killed offspring in the past. We had no choice but to continue the sedation and loading process to save all the cats, including the cub.

All were loaded safely, but Winona was understandably distraught from recently giving birth, defending her cub from Marcus, being sedated and loaded into her transport.  Information technology was not safe to put the cub back with her at this time.  That was the virtually devastating of all.

Pay-to-play cubs are taken from their moms before long after nascence and so they can exist hand raised.  Every bit a sanctuary, nosotros experience wholeheartedly that mother tigers should raise their young. Then, when we knew this couldn't happen based on Winona'due south reaction, it hurt united states of america to the core.

The only peace nosotros feel is knowing this cub would not be sold and knowing Winona would never accept to become through losing a cub ever once again.

Life at the Sanctuary

Caretakers at the sanctuary had also been busily preparing habitats for the big cats while we were abroad. Once we arrived with them, the cats were all safely unloaded. Nosotros watched over them closely for days as they adjusted.

Marcus has been neutered, vetted for broken canines with exposed roots, and treated for a bacterial infection and several wounds.

Now, he can finally live wild at middle here at the sanctuary, the life he always deserved.

How Yous Can Help

Rescuing large cats like Marcus is such an expensive commitment. It can cost every bit much as $ten,000 every yr to support just ONE big cat! That's why our sponsorship program is so of import. Information technology helps provide the best life possible for those nosotros're able to rescue.

Thank you for considering becoming Marcus' sponsor parent, or even giving a i time donation toward his care.  At that place are piece of cake buttons at the peak of this page y'all tin can click to assistance. It makes such a difference for him!

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Source: https://www.wildcatsanctuary.org/resident/big-cats/marcus/

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