California Rescue

In May 2025, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) answered a critical call for help from California. After a facility lost its permit due to repeated animal welfare violations, eight exotic cats were suddenly left without a safe future. Working alongside the USDA and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, TCWR stepped in to ensure these animals would never face neglect again.

The rescue brought eight wild cats to our accredited sanctuary: four African lions (three females and one male), an African leopard, a serval, a caracal, and our very first fishing cat. Many arrived with serious, lasting medical challenges stemming from years of improper nutrition and substandard care, including metabolic bone disease (MBD). Today, each resident receives a customized care plan tailored to their unique physical, behavioral, and medical needs.

Here is how these resilient survivors are doing in their forever home:

• Lucy: This playful, goofy lioness lives with shortened, bowed legs caused by metabolic bone disease. Despite her physical challenges, she runs, explores, and greets caregivers at the fence with unstoppable enthusiasm and deep, frequent caroling.
• Samson: Arriving with severe front-leg deformities from MBD and muscle atrophy, Samson’s mobility and comfort have improved significantly thanks to targeted pain management and specialized veterinary care. He is a curious, affectionate lion who loves rubbing along the fence to greet staff.
• Leyah: Believed to be both blind and deaf, fifteen-year-old Leyah has adapted remarkably well to her habitat on Rescue Ridge. She confidently navigates her space using scent and touch, bats boomer balls from her benches, and joins in the lions’ evening caroling.
• Amari: Resilient and chatty, Amari lives with left-sided facial paralysis likely caused by an untreated ear infection. She enjoys weekly enrichment, keeps a watchful eye on her neighbors, and frequently leads the pride in booming caroling sessions.
• Axle: A fourteen-year-old black leopard who loves napping on his high platforms and playing with toys. His care team closely manages his chronic kidney disease, heart murmur, and MBD pain, ensuring he stays comfortable while enjoying his favorite treat: chicken leg quarters.
• Zeus: Likely struck by a car in his past, ten-year-old Zeus lives with neurological challenges and limb deformities. He is a calm, observant caracal who loves napping in his dog igloo, basking in the sun, and eagerly trotting over for medicated treats.
• Kaia: TCWR’s first fishing cat, Kaia arrived showing severe stress-related hair loss. Today, she has transformed into a happy, confident cat who loves perched atop her den to survey her habitat and leaping into her pool after toys and treats.
• Chapman: Once severely underweight and wary of humans, Chapman the serval has made an incredible recovery. Now at a healthy weight, he is one of the most vocal residents at Rescue Ridge, greeting caretakers each morning with chirps and mews.

At Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, these eight cats have left behind a past of neglect for a life filled with spacious natural habitats, expert veterinary attention, proper diets, and daily enrichment. Their rescue marks our lifelong commitment to providing the safety, dignity, and compassionate care that every wild animal deserves