SAFE HAVEN ACCEPTED ITS FIRST SIBERIAN TIGER IN DECEMBER 2007.

Tigger is available for sponsorship in our Adopt-an-Animal program.

Tigger, Safe Haven's first tiger, was brought to our sanctuary the week before Christmas in 2007. We transported him from Nebraska, where he and two female tigers had been privately owned and exploited for breeding purposes. They were living in conditions of extreme deprivation, in cages that were only 10x12 ft. with inadequate protection from harsh weather. Tigger's "den" was no more than an empty steel pipe. Age 15 at the time of rescue, Tigger had been living in this cage since he was a cub.

We selected Tigger after screening the dozens of tigers awaiting placement, looking for an animal in the greatest need. Captive tigers live up to 25 years, and Tigger deserves to live his remaining years with dignity and respect, in the best possible environment, to compensate in some measure for all that he has endured until now.

(The photo above and the two photos below are courtesy of Judy Mosby. Additional photos of Tigger are available on our Enrichment page.)

Tigger's rescue was a coordinated effort among Safe Haven, Conservation Officer Jeff Jones and staff from Nebraska Fish & Game, the Nebraska State Police, and the local sheriff's office. Staff of the Loup City Animal Clinic also assisted at the rescue site, where the three tigers, two black bears, and about fifty domestic dogs were housed in deplorable conditions. These unfortunate animals had come to the attention of authorities when one of the black bears escaped and was found on a neighbor's property.

Originally we planned to place a Siberian tiger living as a “pet” in Missouri. However, the current owners ultimately decided not to surrender him. In November, 2007 we informed The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS) that we had space for a tiger. Within half an hour, we received 87 placement requests—a woeful commentary on the number of animals that are victims of the illegal pet trade.

The tigers' cages (above, left) were rarely cleaned. They were living in their own feces, surrounded by old animal carcasses. Some of the animals were caged with no shelter at all to protect them from the harsh weather. All of the animals were malnourished. The bears, housed in cages even smaller than the tigers had, were begging for food (above, right). Even the dogs at the site were fed roadkill instead of dog food. The "owner" took pleasure in banging on the animals' cages to get a rise out of them.

The owner had been asked not to feed the tiger the day before the rescue, as we planned to use food to entice Tigger into our lockout without sedation. However, he intentially ignored our request and threw in part of a deer carcass. Tigger dragged the carcass into his metal pipe "den," and saw no reason to come out, leaving sedation as the only option.

A local veterinarian sedated Tigger so he could be maneuvered from his cage onto a tarp and into our lockout (below, left), which was used as a transport cage. After securing the transport cage inside the enclosed trailer, Safe Haven's Dave Sugasa drove straight through the night from Nebraska to Nevada, where we were all standing by to help care for Tigger once he arrived.

Below, right: The rescue team, with tarp, waits for sedation to take effect so they can remove Tigger from his pipe "den."

When Tigger was introduced to his new 10,000-sq. ft. enclosure, he was initially a bit intimidated. Never having left his 10x12-ft. cage in Nebraska since he was a cub, he didn't quite know what to do with all of this new space. He walked the entire perimeter of the enclosure with our staff reassuring him that all was well. He was so accustomed to not having any room, that he paced for the first two days in a 10-ft. area.

However, Tigger quickly learned to use his den, pool, and platforms, which were designed and built as an Eagle Scout project. We partially filled his pool and he immediately took his first "bath"—never having the opportunity before.

Once Tigger discovered his beautiful 6x10-ft. insulated den, he positioned himself in the entrance where he could survey his new territory.

After a lifetime of having nothing to call his own, Tigger is quite possessive of anything that is placed in his enclosure. He now has access to a seemingly unlimited supply of intriguing collectibles, such as water bowls, which he stashes in his den. Instead of a water bowl, we've even tried giving him a large pail weighted with a cement block. Undaunted, he dumped the cement block and ran off with the pail in his mouth. He had to tilt it sideways in order to fit it through the den entrance and add it to his collection.

Above right, Tigger tackles a bowling ball, which he carries by placing his teeth in the finger holes.

The cougars at our sanctuary initially ignored or shied away from Tigger's efforts to socialize by calling out to them. However, after several days, they began venturing out to watch him. Monty seems particularly fascinated by him.

Tigger now "chuffs" continuously, letting us know he is happy and well in his new home. One day some neighboring cattle strayed onto our property and strolled right up to his enclosure. This event was probably more enriching for Tigger than any activity we could devise. As for the cattle, they could only stop and stare!

We thank the Tiger Emergency Fund donors and sponsors who made Tigger's rescue possible.