Rajah Tiger

							
							
							

Born
July 15, 2004

Rescued
January 11, 2005

Passed away
February 13, 2021

Rajah’s Story

Rajah and another tiger who we named, Kaela, were rescued from the side of a county road outside of Charlotte, North Carolina in 2005, when they were about 6 months of age. An off-duty officer came upon them on a weekend day and called 911. Animal control responded, but at that time, Rajah and Kaela were on opposite sides of the road, putting them in two different counties which meant two different animal controls had to respond and pick them up. The North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro held them in quarantine until their enclosure here at Carolina Tiger Rescue could be built for them. No one is sure how the cubs got there and no one has ever stepped forward to claim them.

Rajah’s Passing

February 17, 2021

​It is with the heaviest of hearts that I come to you today. For the past few weeks, we have been monitoring Rajah Tiger. He became lethargic and had GI issues that we treated with medications. Last week we performed a physical on him and ran bloodwork and took X-rays. We made changes to his medications, but he did not improve. We decided to get him down again to do more supportive care and to perform an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed tumors on his spleen. Unfortunately, given the diagnosis of a hemangiosarcoma, we made the decision to let him go.

Rajah is probably one of the most well-known tigers at Carolina Tiger Rescue. He was likely one of the first tigers you ever met. He was front and center, ready and waiting for the next tour guest, volunteer, adoptive parent, or staff member to come by for a visit. He likely followed you along the fence line as you made your way around Oak Hill. He may have plopped on his side and rolled onto his back, watching you with relaxed contentment. If you have enjoyed an enrichment tour or camp, you almost certainly saw him playing with enrichment or painting a Pawcasso; painting Pawcassos was probably his most favorite thing to do in the world!
 
Rajah’s rescue story will forever live on as a part of Carolina Tiger Rescue’s legacy. Found on the side of the road outside of Charlotte, NC, he was fortunate to find his way here. He lived a life where he was loved and cared for by a wonderful group of people. He will live on as an example of why we believe tigers should not live as pets. He will remain an illustration of why North Carolina should have laws in place to protect both our residents and exotic animals.
For me, Rajah has an even more poignant side of his story. I have been fortunate enough to be a part of Carolina Tiger Rescue for over twenty years. During those twenty years, I have watched Carolina Tiger change and grow and become a place that I am proud to call home. For many years we had closed our doors to accepting new animals. We were working through the loss of our founder and trying to find our way. We struggled and fought to find our new mission and to become financially stable. When we got the call that there were two tiger cubs in need of rescue, we were ready to open our doors and accept Rajah and Kaela (his enclosure mate who passed a few years ago) into the fold. They were the first tangible step towards who we are today. For me, they will live on as a symbol of how far we have come and the work we still have left to do. I will forever cherish my memories of them.
 
I know that I will not be alone in my grief. I know that this year in particular has not been easy on anyone. We have suffered losses and missed celebrations. Though we will not be able to grieve together, know that you are not alone. It’s times like these that I truly appreciate my Carolina Tiger Rescue family.
 
With much love and appreciation,
Kathryn Bertok, Assistant Director

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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Caracal at Carolina Tiger Rescue
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CARACALS
Coatimundi at Carolina Tiger Rescue
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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
NGSD at Carolina Tiger Rescue
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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
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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
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Activities
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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.