Our Values

We believe the ideal home for wildlife is in the wild.

  • It is critical to conserve native habitats for wildlife.
  • Wild cats and dangerous animals should not be kept as pets.
  • Captive breeding should ONLY be done in accordance with official Species Survival and Population Management Plans.
  • All wild animals, both captive and in their native habitats, deserve to be treated with respect and not exploited for entertainment and commercial purposes.

At Carolina Tiger Rescue, our values drive all our decisions. Those values can be seen in our rescue decisions, our educational programs, and even in our marketing. Everything we do, we strive to do with the utmost respect for the animals.  

Our Positions

Many aspects of having wild animals in captivity, and how to care for them, are controversial. Carolina Tiger Rescue has established positions that guide our decisions, clarify our message, and distinguish us from other facilities.

Private Ownership

Carolina Tiger Rescue is opposed to the private individual ownership of all wild cats and dangerous wild animals as pets for any other private purposes.

Captive Breeding

Carolina Tiger Rescue believes that captive breeding is necessary and appropriate only when it can be used to save a species from facing extinction, and that is should only be done in accordance with Species Survival and Population Management Plans. Carolina Tiger Rescue is opposed to captive breeding for any other purposes that does not promote the welfare of the species.

Entertainment

Carolina Tiger Rescue is opposed to the use of wild animals for purposes, including but not limited to:

  • Circuses
  • Television and film
  • Pay to play (cub petting for example)
  • Commercial photo ops
  • Traveling animal shows

Animals in Captivity

Carolina Tiger Rescue believes that the ideal home for wildlife is in their natural habitat. Carolina Tiger Rescue’s position is that captivity is necessary and appropriate only when:

  • A wild animal has already been removed from their native habitat and cannot survive if returned.
  • A wild animal has been abandoned or is injured and unable to survive unaided in their native habitat.
  • Removing individuals from the wild becomes necessary for captive breeding in order to save the species from extinction.
  • An individual was born or lives in captivity and cannot survive or be safely introduced into the wild.

Hybrids (ligers, etc.)

Carolina Tiger Rescue is opposed to breeding hybrid species such as the Liger (tiger/lion), designer animals such as the Savannah Cat, and the breeding of wildlife for color selection or other recessive traits, such as white tigers. It is often detrimental to the health of the animals produced. The creation of these animals depletes resources that might otherwise be devoted to rescuing other wildlife or working to save wildlife species in their native habitats.

Selective Breeding (white tigers, etc.)

Carolina Tiger Rescue is opposed to breeding wild animals for color selection or other traits, such as white tigers. Such breeding is usually detrimental to the health of the resulting animals and results in the destruction of countless unwanted animals.

De-clawing and De-fanging

Carolina Tiger Rescue takes no position on de-clawing domestic animals, but is opposed to de-clawing and de-fanging (which includes filling down teeth) wild animals unless it becomes necessary for the health and welfare of the individual animal.

Hunting

Carolina Tiger Rescue takes no position on most legal hunting (see exceptions below), but is opposed to poaching and other forms of illegal hunting.

Canned Hunts

Carolina Tiger Rescue is opposed to canned hunts.

Trophy Hunting

Carolina Tiger Rescue is opposed to trophy hunting of all wild cats and any species officially designated as Threatened or Endangered.

Vegetarianism

Carolina Tiger Rescue takes no position on vegetarianism and veganism.

Use of Animal Products (Fur, Leather, etc.)

Carolina Tiger Rescue takes no position on the purchase and/or use of legally obtained animal products unless the products were obtained:

  • From species officially listed as Threatened or Endangered
  • Through poaching and other forms of illegally obtaining wild animals or their byproducts.

Sanctuaries

In the United States, Carolina Tiger Rescue, supports only sanctuaries that meet the federal definition for a wildlife sanctuary. Federally accredited sanctuaries:

  • Must be recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation
  • May not buy, sell, or commercially trade in prohibited wildlife species, their offspring, parts, or products
  • May not breed prohibited wildlife species
  • Cannot allow direct contact between the public and prohibited species (lion, tiger, leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard, cheetah, jaguar, cougar, and any subspecies and hybrid combination of any of these species).

About Carolina Tiger Rescue

Carolina Tiger Rescue is a 501(c)3 nonprofit wildlife sanctuary whose mission is saving and protecting wild cats in captivity and in the wild.

Carolina Tiger Rescue

1940 Hanks Chapel Rd. Pittsboro, NC 27312 (919) 542-4684 (919) 542-4454 info@carolinatigerrescue.org

Wildlife should be in the Wild

Rescue

Education

  • We believe the ideal home for wildlife is in the wild.
  • We believe it is critical to conserve their native habitats.
  • We believe wild animals should not be kept as pets.
  • We believe captive breeding should ONLY be done in accordance with Species Survival plans.
  • We believe all wild animals, both captive and in their native habitats, deserve to be treated with respect and not exploited for entertainment and commercial purposes.

Visit Carolina Tiger Rescue

Tiger at Carolina Tiger Rescue

Public Tours

Twilight Tours

Coming out for a tour is a great way to learn more about the animals that call Carolina Tiger Recue home. We offer many different types of tours.  Public tours are great for adults and families. Twilight tours are for adults only (18 years of age and older). Tiger Tales are a perfect option if you want to bring out really young children. Find the tour that is right for you and enjoy a walk through the sanctuary.

For all tours, tickets must be purchased in advance.

Have Fun Learning at Carolina Tiger Rescue

Field Trips

Field Trips

Virtual Field Trips link

Virtual Field Trips

Education is key to our mission.  We enjoy teaching "kids" of all ages!  Our field trips, both virtual and onsite, are ideal for groups of kids.  Our "Kid for a Day" Adult Camp provides a unique learning opportunity while allowing adults to channel their inner child.  While all of these opportunities are structured differently, in the end we want everyone to walk away knowing more about the animals we care for and what they can do to help protect them.

Bobcat at Carolina Tiger Rescue
Learn about
BOBCATS
Caracal at Carolina Tiger Rescue
Learn about
CARACALS
Coatimundi at Carolina Tiger Rescue
Learn about
COATIMUNDIS
Cougar at Carolina Tiger Rescue
Learn about
COUGARS
Kinkajou at Carolina Tiger Rescue
Learn about
KINKAJOUS
Lion at Carolina Tiger Rescue
Learn about
LIONS
NGSD at Carolina Tiger Rescue
Learn about
NGSD
Porcupine at Carolina Tiger Rescue
Learn about
Porcupines
Raccoon at Carolina Tiger Rescue
Learn about
Raccoons
Red Wolf at Carolina Tiger Rescue
Learn about
Red Wolves
Serval at Carolina Tiger Rescue
Learn about
SERVALS
Tiger at Carolina Tiger Rescue
Learn about
TIGERS
Animals
Games
Activities
Keeper Stripes

Get involved at Carolina Tiger Rescue

Individual volunteering at Carolina Tiger Rescue

Individual Volunteering

Group volunteering at Carolina Tiger Rescue

Group Volunteering

There are so many ways to be a part of Carolina  Tiger Rescue.  Individual volunteers are able to help in many aspects of our work, including animal care, tour guides, construction, and gift shop assistance.  Work groups come from community groups, colleges, work places, and more!  It’s a great way to spend a day and it helps care for the cats.