Simba's Story

Originally, Simba 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. Simba and two other tigers – Max 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 agreed to take 33 wild cats from the Florida sanctuary, accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. One of those animals was Simba. Simba enjoys his independence and various enrichments, such as cardboard tubes, spices, and seasonal items like pumpkins, leaf piles, and Christmas trees. Sometimes, he can be spotted sprinting around his habitat with the pumpkins. He also loves to run along the fenceline as staff vehicles drive by. Regarding nap time, Simba prefers to wander off to the far end of his habitat, away from his noisy neighbors, to sleep quietly.