Introducing A New Era
at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Changing and evolving is vital for the Refuge and in life.
We are proud to announce big changes in our focus here at the Refuge, summarized below in three core pillars.

EDUCATION

RESCUE

ACTION

EDUCATION

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge will be expanding on 3 core education initiatives:

Growing our educational programs in our local communities and internationally through digital platforms.

Becoming a resource for the Big Cat Public Safety Act, educating the public on how to report violations.

Scaling to pioneer new best practices in veterinary medicine, animal husbandry, and animal welfare.

Virtual educational tours at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Virtual Tours at TCWR

Education is one of the most important aspects to our organization. Without education, it would be impossible to change the…Read More

Big Cat Public Safety Act

On December 20, 2022, the Senate passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act into federal law. The 10 year-long battle…Read More

Metabolic Bone Disease

The cub petting industry is damaging for many reasons, but one of the most common ones is Metabolic Bone Disease …Read More

Ground Breaking Research

Animals rescued from the exotic pet trade come with rare and challenging health conditions from inbreeding, poor genetics, and abuse. As a result, our innovative Team has become a pioneer in the industry. We have created treatments, protocols, and husbandry practices to improve the worldwide veterinary community. One example is of the first tiger to ever receive chemotherapy for cancer through vulnerary blood draws. Another is the rehabilitation of flexor tendon contracture, as seen in our documentary film “Uncharted.” We will continue to improve, providing new practices and education to our animal community and the world.

RESCUE

For over 30 years, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge has been a sanctuary for big cats, committed to rescuing those in need and offering them a lifetime of compassionate care. A rescue is just the first step in our mission as we dedicate each day to providing lifelong care. During this process, their lives are transformed from situtations of abuse, abandonment and neglect into a second chance of freedom after being rescued from…

A Private Owner

Emma now lives in her habitat, rather than in a basement, and receives proper diet and nutrition. She also had a large mass removed from her back, that until now had been going untreated.
For more on Emma’s story, see her bio here.

A Breeding Facility

First used in magic shows, Shakira spent most of her life breeding and producing at least 4 litters. Now, she lives on her terms, and our team schedules around her to keep her stress level at zero.
For more on Mama Shakira II, see her bio here.

A Roadside Zoo

Bagheera was housed in a habitat the size of a shipping container, along with two other adult lions that bullied him. Now, he lives in his own habitat and hoards his toys in his night house.
For more on Bagheera, read his bio here.

As we enter a new era, we remain dedicated to evolving and enhancing animal welfare in captivity. Our partnerships with universities, accredited zoos, and animal welfare groups have allowed us to pioneer innovative veterinary practices and treatment plans, setting new standards in animal care.
With the passage of the Big Cat Public Safety Act, our role expands even further as we collaborate closely with law enforcement and government organizations to provide refuge for animals involved in witness protection cases.
Join us in this mission of rescue, refuge, and renewal.

ACTION

What Your Monthly Support Means

Together, we can accomplish anything for big cats. While our mission is to rescue, our success is measured by our ability to provide animals with lifelong care and refuge. You help us accomplish this, one month at a time. As we approach the end of the year, consider the measure of your donation related to achieving Rescue to Refuge.