In a heartwarming full-circle moment, Shakira the tiger has reunited with her sister, Jasmine Magnolia, at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR). On October 7, 2025, Shakira arrived after the closure of Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary in Missouri, where she had lived in comfort and safety for several years. Thanks to the close collaboration between accredited sanctuaries, the sisters are now together again—able to see and hear each other from neighboring habitats, their bond rekindled after years apart.
Born April 9, 2010, Shakira and Jasmine Magnolia – her charming middle name given by Kenny Fellowship member Stacey C., who sponsored her for the year with a $10,000 gift – began life at Joe Exotic’s facility before being transferred to a small roadside zoo. Life there was stressful, and when tension between the sisters escalated, TCWR was asked to rescue Jasmine Magnolia. The zoo admitted it had no way to separate the tigers—or shield the frightened Jasmine Magnolia from the public, who unknowingly rolled baby carriages past her enclosure.
When the zoo later closed, TCWR reached out to fellow Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance member Crown Ridge to provide Shakira with the safe home she desperately needed. There, she received expert care for digestive issues caused by metabolic bone disease from her cubhood.
Now at TCWR, Shakira is settling beautifully—chuffing softly, stretching contentedly, and delighting staff with her love of “old-lady perfume.” Living near Jasmine Magnolia’s tranquil Rescue Ridge habitat, she’s thriving on a specialized diet and supplements, a testament to compassion, collaboration, and second chances.
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