TCWR’s Online Fundraiser
June 25, 2018
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge will host an online auction Friday, July 13, to support the “education” aspect of our mission.
Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” We at TCWR share that sentiment. Educating others plays an important role in putting an end to the exotic big cat trade and in protecting wild animals, whether they are captive or in a natural environment.
This year, we unveiled our new Education Department that has given us the opportunity to host special programs and accommodate more groups at the Refuge. We are also looking forward to making breakthroughs with our new Visitor Education Center. Combined with our informative tours, it is our hope that these elements can come together to provide insight, information, and inspiration to all who visit TCWR. Even if only one person a day leaves with the knowledge they lacked before and a newfound commitment to animal welfare, then we are slowly but surely changing the world. That “we” includes you!
Aside from visiting TCWR, participating in our auction will be a fun way to support our mission! There will be a variety of items to bid on including:
Artwork Jewelry Gift Certificates to Local Businesses And More!
For more information, please keep an eye on our Facebook event page.
Local business owners who would like to donate to the auction in order to promote their establishment while raising money to support TCWR’s animal residents are encouraged to email katelyn@turpentinecreek.org.
Outside of accredited zoos and sanctuaries, there are an estimated 10,000 big cats privately owner within the United States. These wild apex predators can be found in backyards, basements, corn cribs, horse trailers, roadside zoos, circuses, cub petting facilities, as personal pets, and hunting ranches throughout the country. There are more privately owned tigers in the U.S., around 5,000 – 7,000, than there are in the wild, roughly 3,800. The mass quantity of tigers being kept as “pets” is a major concern for big cat conservation and welfare.
The exotic animal trade issue stems from extremely loose laws that are not very well regulated, allowing thousands of big cats to fall into inadequate care. Those who obtain large dangerous carnivores as pets do not understand the requirements it takes to care for them, and that they cannot be tamed or domesticated by humans. The result is an animal that is abused due to lack of knowledge, care, and resources of the owner.
Creating change in the lives of big cats across the United States takes time, patience, and a lot of persistence. On June 5, 2018, the Big Cat Public Safety Act was introduced to the Senate and 
The supporters of The Big Cat Public Safety Act have done amazing things! Getting 30% of the House and introducing the bill to the Senate took a lot of support, but we aren’t done yet! Please continue to reach out to your Congressmen about The Big Cat Public Safety Act. Our Advocacy page has been updated to now include Senators. If you’ve already sent a message to your House Reps. we are asking 
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge will be kicking off the busy summer season with our first day camp on Wednesday, June 6th. We are looking forward to 3 days of fun programs and activities with the kids. Throughout the week, the kids will discover the world of wildlife and how they can be the voice for animals everywhere. We will work together to create enrichment for the animals that call the Refuge home, explore animal senses, go on a nature hike to journal what we see and hear, and so much more.
Exotic animal cubs are heavily overexploited and overbred due to the extreme desire to view their cuteness. There are no “behind the scene” episodes of where the animals come from, or what happens when they grow into powerful apex predators. If the public knew that “liking” and sharing social media videos, following baby animal posts, or actually visiting a place to play with cubs was actually harming them, would they still be so popular? This is the information that every big cat lover needs to know.
For big cat lovers, there is a safe and beneficial alternative to help victims of the exotic animal trade and cub petting industry. Visit true sanctuaries that do not buy, sell, breed, or trade animals and provide them with a forever home. It is much more satisfying to know that the admission fees are going to help protect the animals from further exploitation and neglect. To see the big cats running around in large grassy habitats and playing with enrichment toys, to have a life they deserve.
Inspired by the issues we see as a result of the exotic animal trade, as well as rampant homelessness among cats in NWA, TCWR will be partnering with local shelters to highlight adoptable felines! We will be implementing #MeetMeMonday across our social media channels and doing a special feature in our weekly e-newsletter that will give you the nitty-gritty on who might just be the kitty of your dreams!
The problem with endangered species is how they become endangered in the first place. There are many, but two main reasons animals are disappearing from the Earth: loss of habitat and loss of genetic variation. But why do endangered species matter to us? Extinction is a natural process, and history has shown “normal” rates to be between 1-2 species per year. Currently, the rate of extinction is estimated to be 1000-10,000 times this rate. This is due to human causes, and we are entering a new epoch in time: The Anthropocene: where our geological footprint will forever be engrained in the history and geological records of our planet.
Many of us remember the incident that lead to 49 wild animals in Zanesville, Ohio being put down by authorities after having been set loose in town by their owner. Tragically, 18 Bengal tigers, 17 lions, six black bears, two grizzlies, three mountain lions, two wolves and a baboon had to be killed when tranquilizer guns failed. It was especially heartbreaking to lose so many Bengal tigers, who are on the verge of extinction. These animals had been living in cramped filth; the ones lucky enough to be left in their cages were taken to a better life at the Columbus Zoo.
When you see the word, enrichment used in our articles or hear it mentioned in our educational talks, we are speaking of a very important part of responsible care for captive wildlife. Many of us can remember seeing animals in small roadside zoos pacing back and forth or crouched listlessly in a corner. When an animal is not able to take part in natural behaviors as they would in the wild it becomes damaging to both their mental and physical health.
Since most of the animals at TCWR would enjoy cooling off in ponds or rivers in the wild during warmer months, we provide summer pools for them to splash in. The benches we build for them provide shade to nap in and serve as a substitute for the natural rock formations they would climb and sun themselves on in nature.
For supporters who would like to do something special to celebrate, we are asking for donations to raise $1,300 for their newly-formed education department. The creation of this department is a major milestone for the Refuge and something we feel will continue to be an asset for us, the general public, and the animals of the world for years to come. We maintain that education is one of the most important tools in combating the exotic pet trade and protecting animal rights.