Chuff's Story

In March 2010, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) rescued three tigers from a roadside zoo in Branson, MO. The facility failed to implement proper safety protocols, which led to a young keeper entering an enclosure to take photos of three tiger siblings, Chuff, Abigail, and Athena. Unfortunately, the young keeper slipped and fell, provoking the tiger’s natural instincts, and they attacked, leaving the keeper paralyzed for the remainder of his life. After the incident, the facility needed to place its mammals, including the three tigers, into new homes. The roadside zoo called TCWR, and we immediately left to rescue the animals.

When Chuff, Abigail, and Athena arrived at the Refuge, they were aggressive toward people. Over time, Chuff and Athena calmed down, but Abigail did not and frequently fought with her siblings. TCWR staff decided to separate Abigail from her siblings and moved her to a quiet habitat at Rescue Ridge. Chuff has a very independent personality, even though he still lives with his sister Athena. His favorite activities include splashing in his pool or wrestling his boomer ball. He has a dominant personality and shows his keepers his wild side with growls when they shift him between his enclosure and night house area. He often follows these moments of aggression with a chuff or two.