Max's Story

Originally, Max was rescued from the Hermanos Ponce Circus in Guatemala by Animal Defenders International (ADI), a renowned animal welfare organization. In April 2018, ADI helped pass a new law banning the use of animals in circuses in Guatemala. Furthermore, due to the copious amounts of defiant circuses, the Guatemalan government invited ADI to help enforce this new law. Since tigers are considered endangered, an accredited Florida facility was required to apply for an import permit. The facility filed for the permit in August 2018 with the United States Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS).

Throughout the long 15 months of awaited approval from the USFWS and the Guatemalan authorities, the Florida facility’s supporters rallied together to fund the care for the three tigers at a temporary ADI holding facility in Guatemala. Max and two other tigers – Simba and Kimba- arrived in November of 2019 on a cargo plane in Miami, FL. The Florida team arrived in Miami with their transport trailer, which completed the three tigers’ journey to Florida.

In early 2023, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) agreed to take 33 wild cats from the Florida sanctuary, accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). One of those animals was Max. Max adapted quickly to life at TCWR. He is naturally curious and has embraced the solace of ultimate freedom, running and stalking through his habitat. Stalking is an instinctual drive and is one of the many contributing factors that make big cats so dangerous, especially if an animal or person has their back turned and is unaware of their surroundings. Tigers like Max need to engage in these natural behaviors for cognitive stimulation. He also enjoys sleeping on his elevated benches in his habitat. Max is a social tiger, chasing the trucks as his keepers drive by and interacting with his neighbors.