Tiger Plush Reveal - Meet Septemberâs Roar Box friend â the tiger plush in a safari vest! đ
đ Missed out? You can still get your paws on one for a limited time.
Shop Now: shop.turpentinecreek.org/
#TigerPlush #WildlifeMerch #RoarBox #AnimalCollectors #WildlifeSanctuary
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Good night from Rambo the Hyena
ANIMAL FACTS - While spotted hyenas are famous scavengers, often seen eating the leftovers of other predators, they are also highly skilled hunters. In fact, they hunt and kill most of their food.
Typically, spotted hyenas hunt in groups and are capable of taking down large animals such as wildebeest, antelope, zebras, and young hippos. They also include smaller prey in their diet, which can consist of birds, fish, snakes, lizards, and insects.
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Sasha Cougar - ANIMAL FACTS - Cougars have claws that can retract, which helps them climb trees and catch their prey. This also means you donât usually see claw marks on their tracks.
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Camp Style Ceramic Mug - Start your mornings wild! Our Camp Style Ceramic Mug is perfect for your favorite hot drinks â now on sale for just $12! Durable, cozy, and ready for any adventure (even your kitchen table).
Grab yours before theyâre gone: shop.turpentinecreek.org/collections/on-sale/produâŚ
#SupportSanctuary #WildlifeMug #MorningVibes
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Good night from Lucy Lion
In May 2025, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) responded to a critical rescue after a California facility lost its permit due to repeated animal welfare violations. Partnering with the USDA and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, TCWR helped relocate eight wild animalsâincluding Lucy, a young lionessâto lifelong sanctuary in the Ozarks.
Lucy had known only confinement and neglect before arriving at TCWR. Raised in cramped, unnatural conditionsâfirst on bare dirt, then on cold concreteâshe was severely malnourished during her critical growth stages. As a result, she now lives with the effects of Metabolic Bone Disease. Her legs are bowed, her stride is uneven, but her spirit is unshaken. With a playful heart and boundless curiosity, Lucy explores her new home with joyful energy, seemingly unaware of her physical limitations.
Due to her unique medical needs, Lucy was placed in a medium-sized cat habitat in Freedom Field, where she enjoys soft grass beneath her paws and plenty of room to move freely. During her intake examâperformed while sedated prior to safe transportâshe was treated for roundworms, microchipped, and had her overgrown claws trimmed. Her weight was within a healthy range, and she quickly began adjusting to sanctuary life.
But Lucyâs most remarkable transformation isnât just physicalâitâs emotional. For an animal who had never known compassion, learning to trust takes time. That process began the day she met Emily McCormack, TCWRâs Animal Curator.
Emily visits Lucy daily, offering her calm presence, gentle words, and patience. There are no demandsâonly consistency and care. What began with distance and wariness has slowly blossomed into moments of genuine connection: a lean into the fence, a soft moan of recognition, a gentle head press. âSheâs already showing signs of comfort,â Emily said. âSheâs playful, curious, and full of personality. Watching her come out of her shell has been deeply moving.â
Today, Lucy naps in the sun, strolls through grass, and watches the world from her perch in the Ozark foothills. She is safe. She is healing. Andâfor the first timeâshe is learning what it means to be loved.
But Lucyâs journey is far from over, and she still needs you.
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Combo Teaser - One more day to get your paws on Septemberâs Roar Box! đž Order by midnight Aug 31st before itâs gone!
Click here to sign up! withfriends.co/tcwr_subscription_clubs/join?utm_caâŚ
#RoarBox #WildlifeSanctuary #TigerTease #AnimalCollectors #WildlifeMerch #FurryFriends
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Combo Teaser - One more day to get your paws on Septemberâs Roar Box! đž Order by midnight Aug 31st before itâs gone!
Click here to sign up! withfriends.co/tcwr_subscription_clubs/join?utm_caâŚ
#RoarBox #WildlifeSanctuary #TigerTease #AnimalCollectors #WildlifeMerch #FurryFriends
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Good night from Lucy Lioness. Does your cat ever sleep in odd positions?
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** CAPTION THIS ** Can you add some FUN captions to these comical photos of Chloe Lioness.
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** NEWS / PRESS RELEASE ** Good morning, friends!
We're excited to share groundbreaking news in global animal rescue.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (Eureka Springs, AR) and Carolina Tiger Rescue (Pittsboro, NC) have teamed up with Little French Key Resort in Honduras to rescue eight big cats - five tigers and three lions - and bring them to permanent, safe homes in the United States.
This operation, Flight to Freedom, represents an extraordinary international collaboration built on compassion and commitment.
Carolina Tiger Rescue will welcome the five tigers.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge will provide forever homes to the three lions.
Both sanctuaries are GFAS-accredited and have decades of rescue experience, but this mission marks a new milestone in international animal welfare.
The cats' journey involves specially designed travel crates, thorough veterinary care, can carefully planned quarantine before joining their new habitats. Every step is guided by one priority: the health and safety of the animals.
Please see the full press release and contact me if you are interested in an interview about this breaking story.
Thank you, and have a great day!
Operation Flight to Freedom
Eight Big Cats Rescued from Facility in Honduras
Eureka Springs, AR and Pittsboro, NC, (August 28, 2025) â In a landmark international rescue, Carolina Tiger Rescue (Pittsboro, NC) and Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) (Eureka Springs, AR) have partnered with Little French Key Resort (LFK) in Honduras to give eight big cats â five tigers and three African lions â a permanent, safe home in the United States.
The joint effort represents a powerful commitment to global animal welfare, with each sanctuary leading a coordinated transport and care plan. Carolina Tiger Rescue will welcome five tigers to its facility in Pittsboro, while Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge will provide a forever home for three African lions. Both organizations, accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), have launched fundraising campaigns to help cover the extensive costs of this operation.
Leonardo Lahijani, who oversees the zoo and animal care at Little French Key and is the son of the resortâs owners, initiated the rescue as part of a major transition for the property â shifting away from housing exotic species toward focusing on native wildlife conservation. âI love all the animals very much. I consider them my family,â Leo shared. âIâve been fighting for three years to move them. Itâs like sending your family away, and itâs going to break my heart, but at the same time, I realize that weâre very limited in what we can offer them because weâre in a very small area.â
âWhen Leo first reached out in May of 2024, we knew we had to do whatever we could to help them. Our Freedom Field development prepared us for this situation. Most sanctuaries are already at capacity, but working through our Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance network, we engaged with Carolina Tiger Rescue. This is an extraordinary collaboration built on trust, transparency, and a shared goal of giving these animals the lives they deserve,â said Tanya Smith, President and Founder of Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. âFor the lions, this will be the first time theyâve known safety, stability, and a true forever home.â
âThis is what real collaboration looks like,â said Kris Marino, Executive Director of Carolina Tiger Rescue. âWeâre incredibly grateful to Leo for his willingness to partner with us and prioritize the well-being of these animals. This marks a powerful new chapter for Carolina Tiger Rescue and for global sanctuary collaboration.â
The cats will travel in specially designed crates, undergo full veterinary evaluations upon arrival, and begin their quarantine periods before integrating into their new homes. Every step â from permits and flights to long-term care â has been designed with their comfort and safety as the top priority.
Both sanctuaries have decades of rescue experience, but this operation marks a milestone for international collaboration. âWeâve always said weâll go wherever the cats need us,â said Kathryn Bertok, Assistant Director of Carolina Tiger Rescue. âThis rescue reflects not just what we do, but who we are â as GFAS-accredited sanctuaries driven by compassion, professionalism, and hope.â
âInternational animal rescues are complex operations involving numerous logistical, legal, and regulatory considerations that can evolve quickly. Above all, the health and safety of the animals is our highest priority, and we take every precaution to ensure their well-being throughout the process,â Tanya Smith explained. âWhile we work diligently to minimize risks during transfer, we ask for your understanding that unforeseen challenges can arise on any front. We remain committed to transparency and encourage everyone to follow us on social media for ongoing updates as the rescue progresses.â
Supporters can help cover the costs for both rescues by visiting:
About Carolina Tiger Rescue
Carolina Tiger Rescue is a 501(c)3 nonprofit wildlife sanctuary whose mission is to save and protect wild cats in captivity and in the wild. Located in Pittsboro, North Carolina, and accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the organization provides lifelong sanctuary to wild cats and works to end the private ownership and commercial exploitation of these majestic animals through rescue, education, and advocacy. Learn more at CarolinaTigerRescue.org/Flight-to-Sanctuary
About Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
Founded in 1992, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and rescue operation protecting survivors of the exotic animal trade. The 459-acre Refuge, located 7 miles south of Eureka Springs, is an ethical animal tourism destination accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). They are members of the American Association of Zoo Keepers and licensed by the USDA and the Arkansas Game and Fish. Their mission is to rescue and provide lifetime sanctuary for captive wild animals. Since its inception, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge has rescued and provided sanctuary and assisted other accredited sanctuaries and zoos in rescuing and transporting over 500 animals. For more information, visit www.turpentinecreek.org/international-rescues/
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Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is striving to see the end of the big cat and bear trade, within our lifetime. Allowing these magnificent animals to enjoy life without fear, abuse, abandonment, or neglect; letting them be the wild animals they were truly meant to be. Through education, advocacy, and quality care for our current rescues, we are making strides in changing the mindset of a nation. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, our mission is to provide lifetime refuge for abused and neglected âBig Catsâ with emphasis on tigers, lions, leopards, and cougars. We have created a place that these animals can finally get the care and piece of freedom that they deserve. With your help, we will be able to expand our public educational outreach, education programming, and continue to rescue animals in need.