Collection: Xena

Rescue Story: In 2016, the owner of a Colorado based cub petting and breeding operation was diagnosed with cancer, and could no longer run his profitable business. Turpentine Creek acquired the 12-acre closed-down exhibition facility to enable our rescue of the 115 animals onsite. There, we found big cats suffering in cramped cages with flimsy plywood dens that were dangerously exposed to public areas. Onsite records showed very little history of veterinary care, but revealed that the owner had ties to Joe Exotic, and was breeding his big cats to supply other entities within the cub petting and entertainment industries.

TCWR staff and interns spent six months both onsite caring for the animals, and in the relocation of every animal to accredited sanctuaries throughout the nation. After 6 months, and many miles traveled, all animals were placed in forever homes for a second chance at life and 34 of those animals came to Turpentine Creek. Xena is one of those 34 animals. 

More about Xena: Xena lives in a state of the art, all natural black bear habitat with some other bears. Since black bear are native to Arkansas, the concept was to completely fence in a large acreage area of forest so that the bears can behave like wild bears!  They are still fed, have their pools cleaned and are looked after by Animal Care Staff, however they can be found climbing trees, foraging for their own food, building dens, and doing other natural bear behaviors.  When Xena reached maturity, she started displaying even more natural black bear behaviors. Despite growing up with and sharing her habitat with her sister Koda G., the two get very territorial in the summer and divide their habitat.  In the winter, however, the two cuddle together to keep warm.