Tessa Stripes is our newest animal keeper here at Carolina Tiger Rescue. She studied wildlife biology at Virginia Tech. Before coming to Carolina Tiger Rescue, she interned at Wildlife Safari. Her favorite animals to work with are tigers! She enjoys giving the animals at Carolina Tiger Rescue a safe and appropriate home for them. It’s a hard and dirty job, but she loves it! Her favorite time of year at the rescue is the fall, when all the animals get pumpkins for enrichment!

Keeper Tessa’s Blog 9/30/2021

Keeper Tessa here with an exciting animal update! We recently moved servals Mick, Dylan, Bowie, Cher, Stevie, and Queen to new enclosures. Mick, Dylan, and Bowie moved into the enclosure across from caracals Kitwana and Zari, where Stevie, Cher and Queen used to be. Stevie, Cher, and Queen moved into the enclosure near the lions Roman and Reina, where Mick, Dylan and Bowie used to be.

In December of 2019, we rescued seven servals from a backyard breeder in British Columbia. The breeder was keeping the servals in RV’s in their backyard, with no natural sunlight, no ventilation, and extremely unsanitary conditions. After arriving at Carolina Tiger Rescue, the seven servals spent time in quarantine before being moved to enclosures off the tour path. Once they had a chance to settle in and gain some confidence, we decided to try six of the servals on the tour path and they have been doing great on tour ever since!

In order to provide a change of scenery and enrichment for the animals, we will occasionally move animals to different enclosures around the sanctuary. Providing stimulating enrichment helps prevent boredom in captive animals and allows them to engage in natural behaviors. A new enclosure in a different part of the sanctuary can provide many new scents, sights and smells for the animals living there. All six servals are still along the tour path and have been enjoying seeing visitors as they pass by and are getting to know their new neighbors as they settle into their new enclosures.

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.