Xena's Story

Xena 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 meant to contain these apex predators. Additionally, they existed on compacted dirt and woodchips, with 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.

Xena lives in one of two natural black bear habitats TCWR completed in 2018. The concept behind these state-of-the-art habitats was to completely fence in a large area –a combined three acres of woodland – so that the black bears in captivity could behave like the native bears in Arkansas. Xena’s caretakers still provide her daily food, maintain her in-ground pool, and monitor her closely. Upon arriving at TCWR, Xena experienced extreme hair loss and was diagnosed with the skin condition Dermatophytosis, commonly known as mange. After extended treatment, her hair grew back in a beautiful glossy black. Xena likes to spend her time playing in the trees, finding the perfect spots to nap, and foraging for extra snacks growing out in her habitat. In winter, she can torpor in the heated den TCWR provides.