Zeus and Keisha (Big Cat Rescue)
In 2014, Big Cat Rescue agreed to take on four rescue tigers from a pseudo-sanctuary in New York that had been cited by animal welfare officials for years. When the team from Big Cat Rescue arrived at the pseudo-sanctuary, they took in the gruesome scene; crumbling plywood dens and rusty, makeshift wires held together dangerously inadequate cages. Road kill littered the many barren cages, apparently as a food source for the listless exotic animals housed inside. Big Cat Rescue even reports that, “…the owner [of the pseudo-sanctuary] said her cat had died, so she had thrown the cat into the cage that housed the 4 youngest tigers.” The atrocious care provided for the animals bred tragic results; Big Cat Rescue soon discovered that one of the tigers they had pledged to care for was already dead, and they heard conflicting reports that led them to believe she may have died years before. Kimba, another of the tigers they had arrived to help, was severely ill and sadly passed on only 17 days after her rescue.
There are more captive wild and dangerous animals in unlicensed and “backyard” facilities (like the one in which Zeus and Keisha were born) in the United States than there are in sanctuaries. No one knows the exact details of the tigers’ early lives, but it isn’t difficult to speculate: tiger cubs are often bred for exhibition purposes. The unsuspecting public is excited by the prospect of snapping a photo holding a tiger cub, unaware of the abuse that happens behind the scenes. Thankfully, Keisha and Zeus were given a second chance.
Once Keisha and Zeus arrived at their new home in Tampa, the mistreatment they had suffered in the pseudo-sanctuary became even clearer. Zeus was diagnosed with an ulcer in one eye and cataracts in the other, while Keisha was missing part of her tail and pieces of her ears after bad encounters with some lions at the pseudo-sanctuary. Despite their serious conditions, both Keisha and Zeus were unmistakably relieved to have space to move around. Both tigers explored their new homes and revealed their gratitude to the Big Cat Rescue team with playful behavior. After intensive medical care, both underweight tigers finally became healthy. Now, they have the ability to play and explore their runs every day – and they always have enough food and compassion from those caring for them.
Keisha and Zeus found their sanctuary at Big Cat Rescue.
All photos are courtesy of Big Cat Rescue.
To read more about abuse issues concerning big cats like Keisha and Zeus, click here. To get involved and help put a stop to such abuse, click here.
