Collection: Chuff

Rescue Story: On December 7, 2009 Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge received an email from a man representing a facility formerly open to the public. The email explained how the facility had to part with 7 big cats, a black bear, and a coatimundi in order to be eligible to reopen to the public. Accessing the three tigers (Chuff, Abigail, and Athena) would be challenging, so the decision to anesthetize them and physically carry them to the rescue trailer was determined to be the safest for all involved. When they first came to the Refuge, Abigail and her siblings were very aggressive and difficult to manage. With a lot of time and incredible effort from our team, they were able to settle down a bit.  They are still some of the more aggressive animals we have on the Refuge, but they are much more tolerant (probably because they now live a life of sanctuary rather than exploitation). 

More about Chuff: Chuff was very apprehensive when he first arrived, however given time, he has become much more comfortable with keeper staff. He thoroughly enjoys any type of enrichment item from boomer balls to cardboard boxes with fragrances. When he is not lounging in the grass, he can be found sliding down the hill of his habitat or attempting to bring his massive and heavy Boomer Ball up the hill and inside his night house (he doesn’t seem to understand that large round objects are difficult to roll up a hill).