Mountainburg

In 2012, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) answered an urgent call from the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office to assist with the relocation of 34 big cats from a privately owned facility in Mountainburg, Arkansas. The 72-year-old owner had hoped to care for the animals throughout their lives, but declining health made it increasingly difficult to meet their needs.

As conditions deteriorated, the situation became critical. Rotting den boxes, unstable fencing, and aging infrastructure threatened the safety and welfare of the animals. Many were already facing the challenges of advanced age, making their need for proper veterinary care and secure habitats even more urgent.

For TCWR, the mission was clear: provide these animals with the safety, dignity, and specialized care they deserved for the remainder of their lives.

Our team immediately began preparing for their arrival, rearranging existing habitats to accommodate six tigers while undertaking one of the Refuge’s most ambitious construction projects.

Between November 2012 and March 2013, our team made 15 trips to Mountainburg, safely transporting 27 tigers and one cougar to their new home at Turpentine Creek.

Every animal was considered geriatric, with the youngest already 14 years old. Years of inadequate care had left many with serious medical concerns, including abscessed teeth, infections, arthritis, tumors, and nutritional deficiencies. Initial veterinary treatments alone exceeded $6,000.

For these cats, sanctuary meant more than a change of location. It meant nutritious diets, individualized veterinary treatment, pain management, and habitats where they could rest, explore, and engage in natural behaviors without the dangers of their former surroundings.

The Mountainburg rescue, including beloved residents like Indy II, became a defining chapter in TCWR’s history and reinforced an important truth: **an animal’s age or medical condition never diminishes the value of its life.** Whether a big cat needs decades of care or comfort in its final years, our responsibility remains the same.

Thanks to the dedication of our staff and the generosity of our supporters, these aging survivors received something every animal deserves: a safe place to call home and compassionate care for the remainder of their lives.

The Birth of Rescue Ridge

The urgency of the Mountainburg rescue presented TCWR with an extraordinary challenge: how could we safely accommodate dozens of aging big cats when our existing habitats were already occupied?

The answer was **Rescue Ridge**, a dedicated 4.2-acre expansion that would not only provide immediate refuge for the Mountainburg cats but also transform how TCWR cares for animals with specialized physical and behavioral needs.

With little time to spare, our team began clearing land and constructing an eight-foot perimeter fence. Rather than waiting for every habitat to be completed, we developed Rescue Ridge in stages. Smaller, secure yards were built first, allowing animals to be relocated from dangerous conditions as quickly as possible. As construction continued, these initial spaces were expanded into larger, natural habitats.

In just 128 days, the team established a sanctuary area with twenty habitats, each originally measuring approximately 20 by 50 feet.

But Rescue Ridge was designed to serve a purpose far beyond this single rescue.

Located away from the public areas of the Refuge, Rescue Ridge provides a quieter environment for geriatric animals and those requiring additional behavioral support. Its relatively flat terrain is particularly beneficial for older cats experiencing arthritis, reduced mobility, or other age-related conditions.

**Perhaps one of Rescue Ridge’s most important features is its ability to support gradual behavioral rehabilitation.**

Many big cats arrive at TCWR having experienced prolonged confinement, neglect, chronic stress, or unpredictable human interactions. These experiences can influence how an animal responds to unfamiliar environments, sounds, people, and even the opportunity to explore a larger space.

For some, immediate access to an expansive habitat can be overwhelming.

Rescue Ridge allows our Animal Care team to introduce new environments gradually, based on each animal’s behavior and individual needs. A cat may initially be provided access only to a secure nighthouse, where staff can establish predictable routines and monitor its response to its surroundings. As the animal demonstrates greater comfort, access can be expanded to an adjoining yard and eventually to its full habitat.

This carefully managed process gives animals opportunities to acclimate at their own pace while allowing our team to observe behavioral changes, reduce unnecessary stress, and encourage natural exploration.

Over the years, this approach has helped numerous rescued animals adjust to sanctuary life, particularly those arriving with significant behavioral challenges associated with their previous living conditions.

What began as an emergency response to save aging big cats became an enduring investment in compassionate, individualized animal care.

Rescue Ridge stands as a testament to TCWR’s belief that true sanctuary is not simply about providing more space. It is about providing the right environment, the right care, and the time each animal needs to experience a better quality of life.