Every once in a while, here at TheConstantRambler, we take a tour somewhere and leave that place a changed person. The most recent example of this was the Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida. We entered the Big Cat Rescue expecting to find something like a zoo; smallish pens, animals on display, and a focus on giving visitors a big bang for their buck. We left the Big Cat Rescue feeling like we had just left a monastery where we were intruding on the sanctuary created for these beautiful felines. The owners and staff have done an amazing job putting together a place where abused, abandoned, and injured big cats can recover and live out their lives in peace and relative solitude.
It all began with the search for a pet…
I have always wanted to visit the Big Cat Rescue in Tampa. I love animals and I love people that try to do the right thing when it comes to an animal’s well-being. Big Cat Rescue’s founder, Carole Baskin, definitely falls into that category. Interestingly, she didn’t always fall on this side of the proverbial fence. The roots of Big Cat Rescue actually lie in an admittedly misguided plan to purchase a bobcat as a pet. While taking a trip from Florida to Minnesota to buy the pet bobcat, she realized that the seller wasn’t breeding the cats as pets. He was a furrier who would occasionally sell a few, then slaughter the rest for their furs. Seeing the conditions they were kept in, and knowing their fates, Carole and her husband took action and did the only thing they knew to do. They bought all 56 bobcats and made a deal with the furrier that he would no longer buy big cats to use as furs. Over the next several years, through many trials and learning experiences, Carole and her husband Don, came to realize big cats should never be kept as pets and the Big Cat Rescue was born.
…that became a lifelong mission.
Touring the Big Cat Rescue brings a visitor face to face with nearly 100 big cats of all different species and backgrounds. There are so many sad stories that you encounter while touring the facilities. It is very easy to get on board with their views when you hear some of the tales of these amazing kitties.
These two cats are Cameron (Male African Lion) & Zabu (Female White Tiger). They were recused from a roadside zoo in 2004. Their former owner kept them together with hopes of breeding them to get Liger cubs to sell. The Big Cat Rescue built a 3-acre “cat-a-tat” (that’s a cat habitat for the uninitiated) designed specifically for Cameron and Zabu. The Big Cat Rescue needed to have Cameron neutered so he could be reunited with his tiger friend. There was a strong possibility that he would lose his gorgeous, thick mane if neutered, so they chose for him to undergo a vasectomy instead and he remained separated from Zabu (who was spayed) until it was certain no breeding could take place. Now they are two of the most popular cats at the Big Cat Rescue. They are pretty much inseparable and can be seen snuggling in their new home.
Say hello to Desiree. She is an African Serval and was rescued in 2009. Desiree was found limping along the Arizona desert by the Tucson authorities. She was dehydrated and missing a rear leg. Someone just abandoned her on the highway and left her to die. Now she has a happy home at the Big Cat Rescue. She is walking and well-fed. :)
Meet Tonga. He is a White Serval. Tonga and his brother, Pharaoh are the only two known white servals in the world. Their white coats are the effects of inbreeding, this is not a natural occurence. Tonga was 15 years old when he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. After much testing, the Big Cat Rescue decided that he needed to have his nose removed so that he could live out the rest of his life in good health. The surgery was performed and Tonga is now cancer-free and happily basking in his habitat.
There are so many cats and so many incredible stories at the Big Cat Rescue and they can all be found here… Big Cat Stories
Education is key to victory…
The Big Cat Rescue has over 100 volunteers and interns. These people go through extensive training to learn how to work with these big cats. The Big Cat Rescue educates there staff and believe in ongoing training. The staff take online courses to keep themselves up-to-date and well-informed. Then the staff turns around and shares this education with the public. Global change for these cats can only change through engaging and educating the public.
…however, the need for Sanctuary will never change.
Carole and her team at Big Cat Rescue learned something quickly over the years. For each big cat they could save and provide refuge for, there were hundreds of cats that were living terrible lives across the US. Because of this, they have begun and supported several initiatives to introduce legislation to prevent the ownership of various species of big cats. Doing so will help prevent this abuse and solve the problem at it’s root. If you want to help advocate and participate in moving this legislation through at the state and national level, go to www.BigCatBan.com for more information. It is critical that each of us does whatever we can to help support these beautiful creatures and prevent their abuse.
It takes over $10,000 to properly care for a tiger for a year. This is in a normal situation if the cat has no issues. After one visit to the sanctuary, I was smitten. These cats and the people that care for them have touched my heart and Kenin and I are willing to do everything in our power to help raise funds and awareness.
If you are interested in making a donation to Big Cat Rescue, please do so on their donations page, or you can find other ways to support Big Cat Rescue by getting involved. If you are planning a visit to the Big Cat Rescue you can also click through for a coupon here.
All of my favorite new friends couldn’t fit in this post, but I did include our best photos in the gallery below. :)
Details for the Big Cat Rescue
12802 Easy St
Tampa, FL 33625
813.920.4130
bigcatrescue.org
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If you liked this post about the Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, FL you might want to take a look at our Tampa trip planner for more great things to do in Tampa.
Meow!
Huge cat fan here :) Always love to see reserves taking care of endangered species and animals that need the care. Thanks for sharing!
This was completely my pleasure to share. I love seeing a post I do get traffic for a place I know is doing good things in the world. Big Cat Rescue is one of the first places I’ve visited that gets this involved in the legislature side of saving big cats.
simply exquisite post. I am a huge fan of Big Cat Rescue. Your photos are amazing! I just tweeted this!
Thanks so much for the love and sharing Caren. We really appreciate it!!! :)
You should also check out the rescue at Turpentine Creek near Berryville in Arkansas. I have been to both Big Cat in Tampa and Turpentine Creek and they are both wonderful places for the cats (bears, coyotes, etc)
Margaret, If we are ever in Arkansas, we will make sure to visit :) Thanks for the tip.
It is absolutely amazing to read this post and to realize how much Carol and Don have already accomplished and how many big cats are under their care! I’m inspired! The image of Cameron and Zabu is absolutely beautiful! I am so glad that you took on the challenging of sharing their work – and that you included so many images of the cats under their care in your article!
Mary, you and I share a love of conservation. I can’t write a post about every one out there, but I can try to do as many as possible. :) This one is very near and dear to me and I will continue to support the Big Cat Rescue in any way I can. Thanks for the love!
I too have visited BCR and came away feeling like I had had a religious experience. It was right after a downpour, I was sloshing around in water up to my ankles and I didn’t care. It is an amazing place.
Please do what you can to support the legislation currently in progress (see BigCatBan.com). This legislation is designed to prevent tragedies like the one in Zanesville, OH, where the guy let all his animals out, sawed the doors off their cages so they couldn’t be put back in them, and then killed himself. The animals all had to be shot, dozens of them. I hope I never have to hear about something like that again.
Tess, we have a link to the legislature on the post. It is something I intend to share over and over again because I believe that these wild creatures are just that, wild! They don’t need to be hand-fed circus performers that are there to amuse humans. Thanks for commenting.
Amazing the kind of work these people are doing. It’s so frustrating that there are still many that believe that wild animals make great pets or entertainment (don’t get me started on circuses) and inevitably contribute to the abuse.
Thanks so much for the support and sharing with this post. Small steps can change the world when we create a chain reaction. This place was amazing to visit and see the work that they are doing. I have a feeling this is going to become my favorite charity to support.
Most Important Big Cat Bill Ever… This bill called the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act HR 1998 is the most important piece of legislation to ever be introduced to protect lions, tigers and other exotic wild cats from being kept as pets and in miserable roadside zoos. Please ask your member of Congress to Co-Sponsor this bill now! Click here, enter your zip and it auto creates email to your representatives.. https://www.votervoice.net/BCR/Campaigns/30111/Respond
You can also help through this program, anyone can recycle their empty inkjet and laser printer cartridges, cell phones and other small electronics like GPS units and MP3 players to benefit Big Cat Rescue. Email INK@BigCatRescue.org for more information! View the full list of acceptable items at http://www.BigCatRecycle.com.
Thanks for this info Monica. Everyone can help out. Small steps can lead to huge changes.
Such a heartwarming story. Over on the Canary Islands, we have more of a problem with abandoned cats and dogs. As well as visiting old-school circuses whose performing wild animals have so obviously been mistreated.
I used to love the circus as a child, but then I grew up and got an education in how the animals were obtained and how they were treated. It’s a very sad thing.
Awesome post – such an inspiring place! I love “authorized purr-sonal” and ducky – apparently the world’s bravest bird! Please bring us more of these posts!
Will do Vanessa! :) We love places that strive to do good. They make it very easy for me to get a good post going.
Wow, what a place. WE’ve visited quite a few rescue centers, especially living in Central America, it feels like most people come here to open them up due to the amount of animals and lack of gov’t funding for them.
But none that are solely for big cats. I always find these types of places super special and almost magical.
Marina, it was pretty magical. The amount of heart and soul that the people pour into their work here is amazing!
What an incredible place! It boggles my mind that people are able to keep these gorgeous creatures for their own personal entertainment and financial gain – especially considering that many of them are endangered species. It’s sad that BCR needs to exist, but I’m so very thankful there are people like Don and Carole who care enough to make such a difference in these animals’ lives.
Heather, I am making it my own personal mission to see that my post keep getting circulation to help The Big Cat Rescue on their mission to get legislation passed and raise funds so they are able to keep doing their amazing work.
I absolutely *LOVE* hearing about places like this — thank you two so much for sharing. Amazing photos as well. I still think about the tips that Kenin gave me at TBEX every time I am snapping shots :)
It’s an awesome place doing some really good and important work. I’m glad my photo tips are helping you out :-)
What a great facility! I’m so glad to see you getting behind this and helping to raise funds the rescue center. I’m doing a similar project since we’re so passionate about conservation for bears and their habitats.
It’s nice to know there are places like these that don’t treat animals as they seem to at most zoos.
This is awesome! What a great experience too – I would love to go there :)
You should definitely plan on it if you are ever in the Tampa area.