Roman and Reina Lions

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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.

 

World Lion Day is August 10

Roman and Reina Lions joined the Carolina Tiger Rescue Family in June 2012.

Roman (Right) and Reina (Left) Lions were formerly housed at a rescue in Ohio. After a 2011 incident in Zanesville, Ohio, when a man released 56 dangerous, wild animals that had to be killed in order to protect the public, Ohio enacted stricter laws around owning wild animals.

As a result, the facility could not keep up with the new legislation and continue to financially support its animals.  

Taking care of these cats is a huge responsibility. At Carolina Tiger Rescue, it costs $80,000 a year just to feed the animals.

Roman and Reina’s former home wasn’t considered a true sanctuary, because the owner purchased animals.  Carolina Tiger Rescue is the only sanctuary in the state of NC that fits the definition of a federally-defined sanctuary.

  • Roman and Reina follow the traditional roles of lions. Around the sanctuary, Roman is the boss. He eats first, as male lions do in the wild. 
  • Reina keeps a close eye on her surroundings with an unbreakable focus, tapping into the watchful female lion role. 

Lion Fun Facts 

  • Lions are the only social cats. They live in family groups called prides which can include as many as 40 lions! The males protect the territory while the females do most of the hunting.
  • There is a visual difference between male and female lions because the cats are sexually dimorphic. Only males have manes around their necks. 
  • Lions are very lazy. In the wild, lions will sleep up to 20 hours a day!

Sheba and Sebastion Lions joined the Carolina Tiger Rescue family in November 2010.

Both Sheba (Left) and Sebastian (Right) were used for entertainment purposes. Sebastian was chained and used as a prop in a haunted house in Texas. This haunted house also contained tigers, bears and wolves. 

Sheba was a pay-to-play cub that was walked along Mexican beaches on a leash until she was about 6 months old and became too much to handle. She was rescued and sent to Texas’s Wild Animal Orphanage, which shut down in 2010. 

The life of animals used for entertainment is very stressful and often short. As cubs, they are taken from their mother within hours of birth, so the mother will go back into heat and produce another litter that can be exploited.

Even a cub can unintentionally hurt a person with their sharp claws and teeth. They are often underfed to keep them small and eager to eat when people pay to bottle feed them, and they’re often sedated so they won’t be too playful. 

  • Sebastian is the largest animal at the sanctuary at a whopping 600 pounds. Despite his size, he lets Sheba boss him around. Sebastian lacks a mane due to being neutered. 
  • Sheba is food aggressive and patrols the pride’s territory but will also show affection to Sebastian by laying with him in the den box, rubbing heads with him and grooming him. 

TAKE ACTION

You can help captive lions by:

  • Avoiding places that exploit the animals for entertainment purposes and money.
  • Not patronizing movies or watching TV shows that use real lions in their films.
  • Not patronizing places that allow direct contact with lions or their cubs.
  • Supporting organizations that are committed to saving and protecting lions in captivity.

You can help wild lions by:

  • Not supporting companies that allow, aid in, or promote trophy hunting.
  • Not participating in canned hunting.
  • Supporting organizations aiming to help protect wild lions and their habitats.

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
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BOBCATS
Caracal at Carolina Tiger Rescue
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CARACALS
Coatimundi at Carolina Tiger Rescue
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COATIMUNDIS
Cougar at Carolina Tiger Rescue
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COUGARS
Kinkajou at Carolina Tiger Rescue
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KINKAJOUS
Lion at Carolina Tiger Rescue
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LIONS
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NGSD
Porcupine at Carolina Tiger Rescue
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Porcupines
Raccoon at Carolina Tiger Rescue
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Raccoons
Red Wolf at Carolina Tiger Rescue
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Red Wolves
Serval at Carolina Tiger Rescue
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SERVALS
Tiger at Carolina Tiger Rescue
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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.