Khaleesi's Story

Khaleesi arrived at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) with 33 other animals during the Colorado Project of 2016-2017. TCWR acquired a closing, 12-acre roadside establishment with 115 animals living in deplorable conditions with minimal veterinary care. Due to health issues, the previous owner needed to find a new home for all the animals he had acquired. Many enclosures had access doors made of rotting plywood and a padlock to contain these apex predators. Additionally, they lived on compacted dirt and woodchips with nails and little shade from the glaring eastern Colorado sun. Our team worked on-site for six months and collaborated with other accredited Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) sanctuaries to transport and provide lifelong refuge to these animals. During this period, TCWR assisted in founding the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance (BCSA) to unite accredited sanctuaries for future rescues and to educate and provide awareness to the public about the plight of the growing wild cat crisis.

In Colorado, Khaleesi cohabitated with three additional big cats – Lakota (a Ti-Liger), Aurora (a white tiger), and Joey (an orange tiger). Because of their exotic variations and age, we suspect the four were used as a cub petting attraction or breeding. At the Refuge, the four remained together until they matured and were separated as they began to fight with each other. Khaleesi’s distinctive coloring is known as a ‘Golden Tabby Tiger’ or ‘Strawberry Tiger,’ a rare variation with an estimated population of less than 30 worldwide. This genetic variation is commonly caused by unethical breeding. Khaleesi is laid-back and enjoys long naps in the shade or high on her platform bench. She gets excited about playing and lying in her pool in the summer months.