Jinx's Story

Jinx was born at the Refuge after we rescued his mother, Priscilla, from Tiger King Park in Oklahoma. In 2021, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) President Tanya Smith coordinated with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance (BCSA) members to facilitate this rescue of 68 big cats. Ten cats came to the Refuge, including Jinx’s mother, Priscilla. Within days after her arrival, Priscilla gave birth to three cubs: Jinx, D.O.J., and Rosie. All three cubs were born with flexor tendon contracture, a shortening and hardening of the connective tissue in their legs, leaving them unable to walk. Their diagnosis was the first documented case of this condition in tigers. With euthanasia on the table, our team worked for three months to implement our groundbreaking treatment through aggressive physical therapy. TCWR documented their dramatic journey in our documentary called “Uncharted.”

Now, as a large adult male, Jinx and his siblings have fully recovered. Outside the daily rounds of physical therapy, TCWR allowed Priscilla to raise the cubs on her own. As a result, Jinx and his siblings are incredibly aggressive toward people and have personalities that best reflect wild tigers. Jinx has a uniquely strong personality among his siblings as he is much more curious about his surroundings. He enjoys stalking his keepers as they walk by and running along the fence line with his neighbors. Stalking is an innate behavior and a key reason big cats are so dangerous, particularly when their target—a person or animal—has their back turned and is unaware of their surroundings. These instinctual actions are vital in captivity, as they provide essential cognitive stimulation for tigers like Jinx, helping them maintain mental engagement and overall well-being. If he is not playing in his pool, he typically naps at the bottom of his habitat or plays with their toys.