Carolina Tiger Rescue

I have the honor of working with these fantastic animals and people every day! It is amazing to be able to see the care, love, and work that goes into taking care of all the animals that reside here. From working with our awesome volunteers to seeing members of the public learn about our animals for the first time, Carolina Tiger Rescue continues to amaze me!

I have the privilege of introducing people to these amazing animals. I live for the joy of hearing people gasp when they see their first tiger up close, hearing them chuffle or roll in a puddle or spray the fence! ;) Many of these animals have sad pasts, but at Carolina Tiger Rescue, they are fed healthy diets, live in comfortable enclosures, receive excellent medical care, enjoy stimulating enrichment, and live their best lives. I would give Carolina Tiger Rescue six stars if I could!

Carolina Tiger Rescue is a wonderful organization with knowledgeable and helpful staff that make the experience special. I've been on a number of tours and have also volunteered with them. They do wonderfully impactful social campaigns to bring awareness to the harm done by palm oil consumption and cub petting

I thought I'd update my review from 2020. Carolina Tiger Rescue continues to be a truly amazing place. I have been volunteering there for four years as a Tour Guide. During the wrap up talk, I tell my guests that I have volunteered at various non-profits over the last 47 years and I have worked at a non-profit. CTR is far and away the best non-profit I have ever had the pleasure of working with. They provide excellent care and provide a wonderful experience for volunteers. It is truly my happy place and I recommend it as highly as I possibly can.

The first time I went to the Carolina Tiger Rescue was 2007, and I'm still a huge fan. It's such an incredible place to see and learn about so many majestic creatures. I love how all the volunteers are always so knowledgeable and often offer their own perspectives and stories during the tour. I'm so grateful for the work everyone here does in giving so many animals the opportunity to live out their lives happily and safely. I 10/10 recommend the tours, especially the twilight one!

I am a homeschooling mom that attended a tour at Carolina Tiger Rescue with a co-op group.

The staff was wonderful and super informative. You can tell that the staff has the drive to educate and it made the experience engaging for my kids.

Carolina Tiger Rescue does such amazing work with endangered animals who might otherwise be overlooked or euthanized. It's hard work, but so rewarding, and we follow their daily work through social media and donate our charitable contributions to them. We are so proud to have this outstanding sanctuary in our home state of North Carolina.

Absolutely love Carolina Tiger Rescue! It's clear how much they care for their animals and everything they do, they do it for the wellbeing of the animals. Enrichment, quality food, roomy enclosures with terrain that the animals love, shelter inside the enclosures, toys and interactive items for the animals, quality medical care, all while supporting a zero-contact environment. They also do a great job in spreading awareness about big cats (dangers of private ownership, negatives of breeding big cats, loss of natural habitat of big cats) and are very involved in their community. Absolutely love having such a compassionate and educational Rescue so close!

I volunteered here in Animal Care for 18 months while living in Raleigh. The staff are so professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. The other volunteers made me feel so welcome! At times, I really couldn’t believe that I was actually helping to care for the amazing animals they look after at the sanctuary. I would not hesitate to recommend volunteering here! I only left because I was relocating.

I have had the privilege of being a volunteer for Carolina Tiger Rescue for 7 years. I am very proud to work with such knowledgeable, caring and compassionate people.

The heart of what they do is education and safety in every way - volunteers and public tours. Helping educate people in understand the impact we have on these animals in the wild and in captivity.

The staff have a true passion for what they do. The care and dedication they give these animals is outstanding. This rescue is accredited by GFAS for a reason, they uphold the high standards required to be part of this federation.

#predatorsnotpets!

When I first heard about Carolina Tiger Rescue, I was floored that such an organization existed so close to home. I always loved animals and dreamed of working with tigers as a kid. I skipped the visit and applied for the internship. I did not have much experience, but they only required hard work and passion. I learned so much about animal welfare and laws around exotic animal ownership. I was blown away every single day by all the knowledge, care, and compassion the staff had. Now I take any opportunity to pop into conversations about exotic animal ownership to give a little extra information. People are always shocked, and I encourage them to visit Carolina Tiger Rescue. There is so much to learn there and so much great work is done each and every day. I volunteered for months after my internship before moving too far to make the trek. But I love to see the animal updates, donate when I can, send folks to the sanctuary, and keep up with how the wonderful keepers are doing. CTR embodies all that a sanctuary should be and slashes the Tiger King stereotype. Definitely one of the best places on earth!

The care and dedication the animals receive at Carolina Tiger Rescue is evident. These animals often come from difficult backgrounds but now, thankfully, do not have a care in the world. They get to bask in the sun and wait for the food truck to arrive. The only way to see the animals is on a guided tour and the guides on the tours I have been on are extremely knowledgeable and clearly enjoy their work. I highly recommend Carolina Tiger Rescue and am thrilled to have an accredited sanctuary so close by.

Carolina Tiger Rescue is staffed by the most dedicated bunch of people I have ever met. They are truly committed to educating people about the plight of the amazing animals that they care for and improving the lives of these same animals both in captivity and in the wild. The tours are educational and fun and the work to connect the average person to these animals in such a way that the guests feel the desire to help save these animals, too!

I visited CTR several years ago. I was very impressed with the facility, the tour and the caring staff. This is a true sanctuary where the well-being of the animals comes first. Many road-side sanctuaries are focused on the profit motive, not what's best for the animals. CTR deserves your support. They do wonderful work.

I am a donor and loyal supporter of CTR. They excel at educating the public about the needs of wild animals and they provide walking tours of the sanctuary where you get to see the big cats in person, in a manner that is safe for both the animals and people. CTR is an amazing organization!

I love this place because the cats are in size appropriate enclosures, are treated like the wild animals they are, i.e., no human contact and they receive the enrichment necessary. This place is better than any zoo I have ever seen!

This is a great rescue of many abused animals. The care they receive is wonderful for a natural way of living.

I discovered this organization around 2016 and drove there from Hampton Roads Virginia with my daughter. We love the place. It educates guests about the harm of cub petting facilities/road side zoos, teaches about GFAS-accredited organization how to find GFAS organizations, and then guides guests on a tour to see the wild cats in a manner that is safe for the animals and the guests and tells the rescue story of each of their animals. This is a favorite place for my daughter and I to visit and we’ve brought friends with us on subsequent visits.

My daughter and I visited with her girl scout troop. It was a great time learning the stories of each cat and seeing how their lives have changed since moving to the rescue. The tigers were especially fun to watch! We had a fantastic time and plan to visit again, soon! Highly recommend!

Great service Carolina Tiger Rescue provides to these Beautiful Animals. They are expertly cared for while maintaining their Wild Nature. Great Providers and Educators.

Carolina tiger rescue is an amazing organization. Their rescued animals are thoughtfully housed and cared for lovingly. Their tours are educational and help the public understand the cruelty involved with keeping these majestic animals as pets.

I volunteered with Carolina Tiger Rescue for almost exactly 5 years. I spent most of that time as an animal care volunteer under the amazing animal keepers, enjoyed several summers as a summer camp counselor as part of the education program, helped out with special events, and was fortunate enough to observe or participate in several veterinary procedures.
In every facet of this organization, I encountered dedicated, hard-working, compassionate, selfless, intelligent, and loveable people - both staff and volunteers alike. This was truly my home away from home while living in North Carolina, and I miss it every day. It is a rare thing to be surrounded by a group of people who not only share values but are also willing to step up to any challenge and work seamlessly together.
The animals who call CTR home have the best life possible in captivity, with all of their physical, emotional, and behavioral needs consistently met and exceeded by the animal care team. These are creatures who were taken from abusive backgrounds and had often never experienced a natural environment or any kind of enrichment in their lives before. Watching them learn, explore their surroundings, and grow was one of the most rewarding experiences I will ever have.
The other critically important service that CTR provides is educating the public through guided tours and summer camps, sharing information about what it means to be an accredited sanctuary, as well as information about each of the animals housed there. This is an amazing opportunity to learn about wild cats and the challenges that each species is facing in the world, while also meeting individual animals (from a safe distance!) and seeing their unique personalities.
As a young veterinarian, CTR has had an immeasurable impact on my professional identity, allowing me to see true animal welfare in action and learn what it means to help animals live their best life. This will forever be the yardstick against which I measure other animal sanctuaries and zoo facilities, understanding how much work and dedication it takes to provide a good life to captive wildlife.

We love visiting the Tiger Rescue! Learning the stories of the animals and seeing how much the staff and volunteers are invested in creating a space the is comfortable for them gives me so much hope. It is especially rewarding to come back and see the same animals again and again and see how they are doing.

One time, when we were visiting, Saber followed us back and forth along the fence and then he jumped in the water and splashed around. He was so playful and carefree just like he is described on the website.

Absolutely LOVE Carolina Tiger Rescue. Started volunteering about a year ago. I have learned so much about the animals here, but most of all a new sense of respect for these animals. Learning each of their stories made me want to contribute to make their lives the best they can be and to educate others on what they can do to help not create situations that cause the need for rescues.

This sanctuary is so special—everything is done with the welfare of the animals as top priority. The big cats are never touched by humans unless it is for a veterinary exam, and they are not included in public tours unless it has been determined the animal is social and enjoys the (distant) company of humans. The cats get enrichment to keep them mentally and physical stimulated, and are never caged—they live in large enclosures with natural landscaping. The sanctuary engages the public with school tours, educational programs, and much more. Truly unique!

Carolina Tiger Rescue (CTR) saves big cats in need. They have rescued animals that private individuals owned, some have come from road side zoos, circuses or other shows and in many cases the animals were confiscated by the authorities due to mistreatment. Each animal may come to CTR a different way but Carolina Tiger will be their forever home. These animals will be able to live out their lives happy and healthy at this Federally accredited sanctuary. CTR's mission is saving and protecting wild cats in captivity and in the wild. That mission can only be achieved by educating the public. CTR is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. 100% of your donation supports Carolina Tiger Rescue’s mission-based programs.

Besides taking tours of Carolina Tiger Rescue with my grandchildren, I am very happy one of my grandchildren was able to attend a summer camp session at Carolina Tiger Rescue. I was very happy with both the experience she had and impressed with the information she learned. She really focused on the importance of habitat conservation and has become a very informed consumer regarding how the extensive use of palm oil is leading to loss of vital habitats for many animals.

Seeing the animals at Carolina Tiger Rescue was one of the most awesome experiences I have had. You never really comprehend how big and majestic a tiger is until you see one close up. Thank you, Carolina Tiger Rescue, for taking such great care of the animals.

I didn't know anything about Carolina Tiger Rescue until my daughter was selected for a summer internship before her application to veterinary college. She took our family on a private tour while working there and we were all enthralled! The condition of the animal habitats, the strict adherence to "no contact," their devotion to animal enrichment and the diligent attention to staff and visitor safety were all impressive. As a former resident of Florida, I was too familiar with the other ways carnivores can be kept and exploited, and I have become an annual supporter of this great organization.

Carolina Tiger is an inspiring organization. From the volunteer opportunities available to the chance to get to know and understand the amazing animals to the absolute professionalism shown by the organization, they are top notch. They are always working to come up with new and creative ways to completely care for the animals and it shows in the animal's behavior. It is a great pleasure and privilege to be part of Carolina Tiger.

Touring the sanctuary and seeing the animals healthy and happy was a magical, life-changing experience. I had never been as close to wild animals before, and knowing that they are not handled by humans and have in fact been rescued from terrible circumstances made my heart feel good. Blessings to all the staff, volunteers and donors who make it possible for these cats and others to live out their lives in as natural a way that is possible for captive creatures. I live in Michigan, but each time I go to North Carolina I will be visiting the sanctuary!

The first time we visited Carolina Rescue we were so impressed and learned so much that we became members that day. Such much dedication, love, and passion...and that's just the cats! lol. Great group of people; great mission!

I fell in love with CTR the moment I walked through the volunteer gate my first shift. Protecting wild cats in captivity and the wild has always been a passion of mine, and to be lucky enough to have a such an upstanding facility give me the chance to continue my journey through experience and education leaves me forever grateful. Carolina Tiger Rescue is the epitome of a wild cat sanctuary and a true safe haven for so many neglected, abused, and exploited animals. The animals will always come first, they will always have a safe place to lay their heads, and the suffering is over once they walk out into their new homes for the first time. I highly recommend visiting and falling in love yourself.

My first trip to the rescue was about a year and a half ago. A dear friend and tour guide took me out and I was instantly ready to be involved. Within a month or so of my visit, I signed up to volunteer and adopted one of the Bobcats. With experience in small animal veterinary care, I was impressed with the rescue and the dedication to educate. My favorite part is not only what I have learned, but seeing the impact this rescue makes.

The first time I visited Carolina Tiger Rescue was 4 years ago, I had just moved to North Carolina and I went on a public tour with my dad. Fast forward to the present and I have been a volunteer for two years and adopted one of the cats in January. As a volunteer tour guide I love helping to educate the public about wild cats. One of my favorite moments as an adoptive parent was the first time my adoptee (Beau the cougar) purred at me when I brought him meat. I am so fortunate and blessed to be a part of this wonderful community.

I have been a volunteer at this organization since 1994. Over the years, I have seen it develop into a highly professional, well managed nonprofit with a clear mission to save and protect wildcats, and strong core values that oppose exploitation and breeding for profit. The sanctuary provides excellent care for the animals who live there, and visitors receive a great educational experience.

I have had the opportunity to spend time at the Carolina Tiger Rescue. The work that they do is amazing. On a tour, I have seen the care that they take with the animals. And the environments that the animals live in are large and clean.

I am also impressed with the education that the Carolina Tiger Rescue does — to ensure that people (particularly the next generation) know about the animals and the impact that humans are having on the the animals and their natural habitats.

I have been a volunteer at Carolina Tiger Rescue for four years now. I wouldn't work that many hours for free if it weren't a great place to be! CTR believes in giving animals the most natural experience they can have while educating the public on these amazing creatures. They value safety for the animals and people above all else. They always have the animals best interest at heart.

I became aware of CTR in 2003 when my husband and I had a date night at a twilight tour; I've since been a member, a volunteer, and an adoptive parent. The organization provides much-needed education and outreach about biology, ecology, behavior, history, and current issues regarding its inhabitants. As an AZA-accredited facility, the sanctuary works ethically to provide the best lives possible for its residents and to work toward eliminating the need for future rescues and improving the lives of captive exotics nationwide through advocacy and accurate information. I am honored to live near such a stellar nonprofit doing incredibly important work.

Learn why wild animals should not be pets!

Carolina Tiger Rescue does that and more!

Carolina Tiger Rescue educates the public through tours, videos and social media.

Carolina Tiger Rescue rescues exotic cats and gives them a forever home!

Carolina Tiger Rescue’s personnel are well educated and very attentive to their cats!

Carolina Tiger Rescue will touch your life!

Volunteered here for a week over spring break and it was the best experience of my life. The coordinators were very knowledgeable and experienced and allowed 12 students to safely assist with many aspects of the compound. It really felt like we were making a difference and helping these animals. They really educate you on the animals and each of their own histories that brought them to CTR and it really broadens your horizons to the animal entertainment industry. Can't express how much love I have for this organization.

I just made my third visit to Carolina Tiger Rescue and had such a wonderful and AMAZING experience!!! Each time I learned something new, including how much LOVE, HARD WORK AND DEDICATION is given to every resident there. Each cat, and kinkajou, are treated like they are the only one and are very special! Words do not truly express just how wonderful it is at Carolina Tiger Rescue and ALL they do to make sure they are allowed to be what they are, WILD and BEAUTIFUL!!!

My husband and I have been to this place two times. Our first visit, we were not expecting much, but both walked away extremely impressed. They take excellent care of the animals, and their dedication is very impressive. The numbers may or may not dictate that they spend more than they should on advertising, however, even if they do, I will continue to support this wonderful charity. It costs money to advertise, and without it, they will not get the visitors for tours, and the donations to keep taking care of these animals or have the means to grow and rescue more. If you have not been, seeing is believing. Do yourself a favor and go visit. What humans have done to these poor animals we can give back and contribute to saving a few.

U all r the best. U all take care of the pets great.

I discovered Carolina Tiger many years ago when my daughter volunteered there. She took us on tour and we were blown away by the wonderful service these folks are providing. I don't live in NC (and neither does my daughter anymore), so I don't get to visit often anymore, but I have to say it made a huge impression on me and I continue to keep it on my "donation list". I so enjoy the newsletters and keeping up with the new rescues on the website. A truly soul enriching place to visit.

I've been out to Tiger Rescue several times. The first time was with my Girl Scout Troop. Then later, when we built picnic benches, and again and again over the years. Finally, this year, we've adopted Maggie, after my younger daughter did her Girl Scout Silver Award out there. We love CTR, and it's mission. Love the cats, and it is a wonderful place.

This place is AWESOME & how they help wild cats! Keep up the good work!!!!

I first visited Carolina Tiger Rescue on a tour in 2003. I became a volunteer and adoptive mom of one of the resident tigers there. I have watched Carolina Tiger Rescue grow and increase its scope of education, rescue, and outreach. The staff and volunteers are wonderful, beyond all words! Folks of all ages will take something of value away from a visit, tour, or community presentation. I recommend a tour and involvement in any way possible to anyone. Your heart will be touched, and your mind and spirit will be inspired to join Carolina Tiger Rescue in making our world a better place!

Incredible staff and volunteers doing incredible work. CTR speaks to a crying need in our state and country--a safe and stimulating forever home for the big cats that come to this non-profit from agonizing years at roadside zoos, circus and shows. The tours are informative and great fun, the animals are respected and protected, and visitors are made to feel a welcome and important part of this grand foray into kindness and care.

Loved going to visit the tigers! :) I definitely recommend going for a visit and donating to help with the cause!

Carolina Tiger Rescue is a gem in the heart of Chatham County! They provide an extremely valuable service to the community through education, while at the same time providing an invaluable service to the big cats and wildlife they harbor and care for. This organization has high integrity, and devotion from their group of volunteers, pretty much operating on a shoestring. Visiting CTR is always a highlight and never redundant, no matter the frequency, as each guided tour always lends a new perspective and the animals are always amazing...sometimes the horrific stories of the animal backgrounds and the lax legislation that allowed for it fills me with discouragement for the human race, but then I look at the good good work going on, the dedication / knowledge of the employees and volunteers, and the enriched environment provided for the animals and seeing them thrive builds hope for us all.

Awesome place pretty much sums up Carolina Tiger Rescue. They perform a much-needed mission on a very tight budget with a lot of integrity and enthusiasm. The animals there are well cared for and much loved by the staff. I highly recommend a visit to not only see the animals, but learn about their natural habitat and the threats they face when owned by individuals who cannot properly care for them.

The penalty I was given for a speeding ticket in Orange County required that I complete some time in community service for any non-profit of my choice. A friend suggested I volunteer for Carolina Tiger Rescue. Having been on one of their tours, I knew a little about the place, so I called them up to see if they could use me. Turns out that they have a well-organized program that makes use of those needing to do community service. You walk away with a letter to the judge that includes an accounting of your time and activities.

I spent several Sundays working at CTR, helping out with a bunch of necessary work, including efforts to improve the cats' enclosures. I love the site manager, Dan Munn, and all the good people with whom I shared time while working off my hours. They are exceptionally concerned about visitor safety and treat the animals with the respect that big predators deserve. I like the philosophy they've adopted that the cats in their care are not circus animals, there to entertain visitors (although sometimes the cats can't help but be entertaining). It probably already says this in some way or another on their website, but based on my in-person observation I can affirm that the intent of the organization is to provide humane care for big cats that should never have been in captivity (or treated as domestic pets) and cannot return safely to the wild. Having created the best possible environment they could, to this end, they are also uniquely positioned to educate the public about the realities for big cats in the wild, in forced breeding programs, imprisoned and abused in sideshows, or mistakenly adopted as domestic pets. I hope to help out with this educational effort in my job as a volunteer.

We had a wonderful visit at the Carolina Tiger Rescue today. The staff members were friendly and helpful. Greg and Shazir gave a great tour, sharing facts about the animals as well as each animal's story. They answered every question kindly and with respect. It was great to see the animals looking healthy and happy. We will be back!

The animals were fabulous! Very exciting to see these wild animals so close. The staff, however, was extremely rude, inconsiderate and condesending to anyone who would ask questions. Just because the "general public" isn't that knowledgable when it comes to the overall care and conditions the animals arrive from, the guides DO NOT have to be so rude about it.

My family, children and other visitors on the tour were very disappointed in the attitude of the staff at the facility. We will NEVER recommend people visit this place again. It's terribly unfortunate since it does help the animals, but wouldn't give a dime to your people ever again.

Definitely need to make some staff changes or the future of these amazing animals may be in jepordy!

Shame on you ALL!!!

This organization goes above and beyond the call of duty to care for these animals. they further expand their mission by educating the public about the plight of wild animals living in unsafe and inappropriate conditions.

I am a volunteer at Carolina Tiger Rescue and it is just an awesome place. The staff from the director, animal curator, volunteer coordinator and construction crew are so dedicated to making CTR a place of honor and love for these huge cats. They are totally dedicated to each other and the animals, to the point of taking injured vultures to a local rehab if they are caught by one of the cats and just harmed and not killed. I dont have enough kind words to say about this place. They orient volunteers on a daily and weekly basis and are always kind, loving in there interactions with us. No matter how stupid our questions may be. I would recomment a visit by anyone and volunteering or employment also. Great place. Great people and magnificant animals.

I have been a volunteer at Carolina Tiger Rescue for close to 10 years. You would not believe some of the situations from which we have gone in and rescued animals. Tigers, lions, leopards, cougars - even smaller cats that people think make "great" pets, have all come to us in desparate need of care. We pluck them from junkyards, roadside attractions. We rescue them when they have been abandoned and just walking along the side of the road. These creatures, both great and small, should never be these situations. We give them our best care as faithful stewards for their welfare. We educate people who visit us about the plight of these animals in captivity, and we try to ensure that, one day, our grandchildren will never have to ask "what is a tiger". Conservation, education and sanctuary is what we do. I've seen it work, and work well for 10 years. It's a great place to connect with great people and amazing animals.

Carolina Tiger Rescue is a top-notch facility providing excellent care to their rescued animals. A definitely worthy cause to support.

I have always enjoyed being around animals big and small, and I enjoy being outside. When I first started to volunteer as a Tour Guide, I had heard stories of volunteers connecting with the animals and vice versa. I can say that there are a couple of tigers that I have connected with. Especially Carmelita - even though she has a cancerous tumor on her leg. She continues on everyday, as to not let the tumor get in her way. It has reinforced in me the strength to stand strong in my fight with cancer. Seeing Apache respond and be less tense at the sound of my voice or chuffle. Being a volunteer with CTR has opened my eyes even more to what is going on in the wild with the natural habit of the big cats. I think that the mission of CTR is so wonderful. They are allowing the cats a chance to be in a some what "natural" environment yet still be observed by the public. The animal facts and their personal stories can be shared. And to help those that can not help themselves, whether it be rescue or relocate.

Carolina Tiger Rescue is hands down the best facility I have had the pleasure of visiting. Our family was given a membership at the holidays a few years back, and we would visit every other month on tours. The facility, the staff and the animals are all wonderful. I have been so impressed with their position on rescue and the best for their animals, that I have started volunteering. It is a fantastic place, and even though there are plenty of creatures that will roar and make your knees quake - it is one of the most peaceful places I have been to.

The work these people do for these poor animals is nothing short of amazing. The staff, the facility, the entire organization is beyond words.

I have been a volunteer at Carnivore Preservation for almost 8 years. When I started there I thought I was giving my time and energy to help the Big Cats, but what I found was that I was getting back 100 times more then I was giving. It is a wonderful place for our Tigers, Lions,Caracals Ocelots, servals ,binterongs and Kinks and Bobcats live in a forever home. Each and everyone of our animals has the absolute best medical care, food, and habitat. We don't have cages at CTR we have large enclosures in the compound, where these beautiful 4 legged people can be who they were meant to be. They don't have to do stupid people tricks, they are never exploited.These cats have a Staff and Volunteers who are completely dedicated to them and work long hard hours to make sure they are well taken care of and thier every need is met. They have enrichment to entertain them and tours where they can be seen by the public. CTR is an amazing place to visit and bring your family and friends to get an education and enjoy these beautiful animals first hand. Also if you want to do something great for yourself volunteer or visit CTR you will have the time of your life!!

Carnivore Preservation Inc (Carolina Tiger Rescue) has made a huge impact on myself and my family. The stories of the tigers and other animals housed at CTR are touching, heartbreaking, inspiring and motivating. To know that these neglected, abused and mistreated exotic animals have found a safe home is comforting. On my last visit to CTR, I was touched by the new lions housed at the facility - lions that had been mistreated and kept as props for photo ops. The volunteers and staff at CTR have worked so hard to give these lions a second change, and it is rewarding to hear about their progress in the CTR newsletters. CTR provides an invaluable resource for conservation education for people of all ages. The educational programming there will hopefully make an impression on the greater community and encourage responsible pet ownership and concern for the plight of exotics.

The Carnivore Preservation Trust (aka Carolina Tiger Rescue) is a really special organization. They provide safe, appropriate, and enriching homes for so many beautiful animals who have been abused or abandoned, or who simply couldn't be cared for in their previous locations. And visitors like me come to see the tigers and lions but end up learning about caracals, servals, binturongs, ocelots, kinkajous, and bobcats (Collins the bobcat is my favorite!). I always bring visiting family and friends to CPT. I'm extremely impressed with their professionalism and their attention to the safety of the animals, staff, and visitors. They are always coming up with new ways to enrich the animals' daily lives, from giving them donated Christmas trees to play with to creating new structures for rest and play. I'll never forget seeing one of the tigers in his giant "pool." It's wonderful to have such a great organization nearby, which is why I donate whenever I can.

Carolina Tiger Rescue (Carnivore Preservation Trust) is an amazing facility. Tucked away in Pittsboro, North Carolina, the facility was originally founded to help breed endangered species of jungle cats from Central and South America, but since the year 2000 has been rescuing as many large cats as it can comfortably hold. The tigers and lions have very adequate space to move, and are treated extremely well by the number of full-time, well-educated keepers that the facility has on staff. There are also two vets that share time at the facility making sure that all the 60+ large cats get proper medical care. The facility is in the process of expanding (but not to completely max out usable space so that they can still accept possible future rescues), and all the animals are given appropriate individual attention. This facility is well worth any donation, as their main mission is to help educate the public about how difficult/dangerous/inappropriate it is to raise a large cat in captivity. Many of the tigers at the facility lived for years in areas no larger than an average garage, and had never stepped on dirt or grass their entire lives. What Carnivore Preservation does for this animals is give them a comfortable, safe place to live out their wonderful lives in peace. It only took me one trip to the facility to be drawn into the incredible things that occur each day at this facility.

My teenage son and I were visiting NC and we share an interest in big cat preservation, so a friend suggested we visit Carnivore Preservation (aka Carolina Tiger). It was a wonderful experience for us, and obviously a better experience for the tigers, lions, and other big cats and carnivores who are so well cared for. All of the animals have big, wooded enclosures and are given lots of enrichment. The tours they offer (we did the twilight tour) are detailed and informative. It is a great organization.

Carolina Tiger Rescue is a safe haven for tigers, lions, servals, ocelots and other "carnivores" in need of a safe haven to spend the rest of their days. As a volunteer for over 5 years, I have watched the staff and other volunteers pour their hearts and souls into caring for the animals, protecting their welfare and educating the public through tours and outreach. Carolina Tiger is where I first looked deeply into the eyes of a leopard and saw something very tangible - intelligence, cunning, life. It's also a place I go to feel part of something bigger. To watch a child on a tour come face to face with this wonder, to meet an adult who just didn't know there are only 3000 tigers in the wild, to be a part of the process of helping these animals is the greatest gift I know.

Carolina Tiger Rescue gave me a life-altering experience in my time as a volunteer. I was both a tour guide and an animal care volunteer. As a tour guide, I learned how important it is to inform the public about conservation and endangered species, became more comfortable with public speaking, and began to recognize my desire to teach. In animal care, I was able to become more knowledgeable about the individual animals and species cared for, and discovered a passion for animal nutrition that led me to pursue a career in comparative nutrition. If it were not for Carolina Tiger Rescue, I may never have decided to enter graduate school to earn a PhD.

Carolina Tiger Rescue has been fantastic to me. As a volunteer tour guide, I'm thrilled to be up close to tigers. They've inspired confidence, improved my teaching skills, steeled my nerves, and I'm making a difference by instructing guests that tigers are on the verge of extinction.