Born
April 29, 2008
Rescued
October 4, 2016
Died
January 18, 2025
Kitwana’s Story
Kitwana came to Carolina Tiger Rescue as part of our largest rescue to date. He was rescued from a roadside zoo in Colorado that housed 110 animals on about four acres of land. Kitwana, along with 15 other animals, was brought to Carolina Tiger Rescue in the fall of 2016. For much of his time at the sanctuary, he lived with his enclosure-mate, Zari.
Kitwana could have words with Zari, but he was generally a very laid-back caracal. He was very social and generally very eager to greet guests, often with a chirp. He was food-motivated an loved taking naps in the sun.
Kitwana’s Passing
January 31, 2025
Hello Carolina Tiger Rescue Family,
Sadly, we have had a rough start to 2025. We have recently suffered the loss of Kitwana Caracal.
Kitwana was one of 16 animals that were part of the large rescue from Serenity Springs in Colorado. He quickly became a fan favorite on tour, always up for a visit with guests and charming them with his fantastic ears. For the past almost nine years, we have enjoyed his antics in the sanctuary as he made sure everyone knew that he was just as wild as his cousins in Africa. Sadly, as with many caracals, his kidneys began to fail. For a bit we were able to give him subcutaneous fluids and medication to make him feel better, but the effects began to only last for a day or so and required us netting him more and more often. While it’s hard to say goodbye, we never want to cause undue stress on the animals. The decision was made to say goodbye once we he needed fluids on an almost daily basis.
With Kitwana, quality of life became a regular discussion with the animal care team. When caring for animals, particularly those nearing the end of their lives, these discussions become more and more important. We talk about whether their health concerns are something that can be treated and fixed or if they are chronic and can only be managed. Have we done all that we can do medically for them? We talk about whether there are changes to their appetite, or mobility, or general pain control. We want to take into account any changes in their normal behaviors. Are they spending more time in their den box than normal? Are they enjoying their enrichment? While we never want to say goodbye to our animals, we are ultimately responsible for ensuring their quality of life. It will always hurt to make these decisions, but I am comforted that we can help make this transition peaceful for those in our care.
Looking back over our 50 years of work, the cycle of life becomes more and more apparent, even in the life of a sanctuary. As we look forward to spring, we are gearing up for enclosure improvements and builds. We are looking forward to working with our alliance in order to ensure animals in need of rescue find their forever homes. But the stories and memories of our past residents continue to fuel our mission to provide the home all animals deserve.
With a heavy heart,
Kathryn Bertok, Assistant Director