Over the years, animals have been rescued from circuses, zoos, the entertainment industry, and private custody all over the world, including from Austria, Bulgaria, Congo, France, Gaza, Germany, Iraq, Jordan, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, Switzerland, Syria, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Despite spending up to 15 years in horrific conditions on a train compartment in Argentina, four Bengal tigers have now been returned to their natural habitat in a South African open-air enclosure.
At the Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa’s central Free State region, the Tigers have moved from their crates into open-air enclosures after traveling from Argentina for more than 70 hours. Intensely curious about their new surroundings, the tigers quickly surveyed the perimeters of their fence-enclosed enclosures and munched on meat left outside as a welcome gift.
Refugees were delighted to finally have the Big cats but warned that they might be reluctant to leave their enclosures. They did, however, leave right away. Cats, by nature, explored the area, smelling the grass, and tasting it.
Two distinct enclosures are being used to keep the tigers in pairs, which seems to be working so far. Within the next few weeks and months, the tigers will be observed and given any veterinary treatment they may require.
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In order to have a better outcome on this voyage for both cats, the team plans to spend more time with them, feeding them and getting to know them.
In addition to the tigers, Hildegard Pirker, keeper of Lionsrock Sanctuary, which is home to lions, leopards, tigers, and a cheetah, says that they will be enclosed in large enclosures that will be at least several acres in size.
Each enclosure includes grassland, shrubs, and trees, as well as protected natural areas where the animals can rest and find shelter from the weather. The enclosures are circular in design and follow the natural curve of the terrain, so the cats do not feel confined.
The Lionsrock conservation reserve in South Africa is the proposed home for the big cats, and the public is invited to visit them in their new environment.
