Collection: Mauri

Rescue Story: As a member of the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) and a founding member of the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance (BCSA), Turpentine Creek is often called in by Government Organizations to handle high profile cases. In September of 2020, Turpentine Creek rescued four tigers and four lions from Tim Stark’s Wildlife In Need, a cub-petting scheme operating as a pseudo-sanctuary. A federal judge ordered the animals be removed from the Indiana facility due to Stark’s inhumane declawing practices and his practice of prematurely removing cubs from their mothers. The haphazard rescue involved missing and abandoned animals, as well as an angry and on-the-run Tim Stark. We required assistance from the U.S Marshals, who had to sweep the property before we were even allowed to enter, and stood guard throughout the rescue. All the cats were immediately treated for health issues; they were arthritic from being declawed, invested with intestinal parasites, and had other individual health concerns.

More about Mauri: Unfortunately, Mauri has some major issues due to a very poorly performed declaw surgery, causing her to limp. She is on our pain management program and closely watched by our staff. Declawing is a horrible thing to do to big cats and creates a lifetime of complications.  Despite this, she is still very playful and loves playing with toys. She is very vocal and will talk with the team often, in addition to chiming in with the other lions during their daily caroling.