Rescued Tiger Bigelow Plays in His Pool

Описание: Tigers love water. Watch Bigelow playing in his pool as it's being filled with water. The pool was a gift from generous donors and made in memory of their beloved dog Mason.

In 2017 the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) welcomed the "Colorado Eight" tigers – Bigelow (featured in this video), Marin, Pharaoh, Nimmo, Wilhelm, Sawyer, Rosemary and Morris – to our 2,300-acre ARK 2000 sanctuary in Northern California. The tigers were among more than 100 animals in need of immediate placement after a roadside zoo in Colorado closed down. The tigers had been used to produce litters of cubs so the zoo could charge the public to play with and take photos with the babies.

Dozens of roadside facilities and pseudo-sanctuaries across the U.S. are engaged in the inhumane practice of cub petting. You may also see cub petting offered at county or state fairs. Cubs are forcibly taken from their mothers at birth, confined in small cages, often fed a nutritionally deficient diet, and denied proper veterinary care. They may be abused by handlers, who slap, shake and hit them for “acting up.” Cubs grow quickly, becoming unsafe to handle. The few that are kept for breeding are sentenced to a life of confinement in small, sterile cages. The rest are deemed unprofitable and may be discarded, sold or given to other unscrupulous people, and often live the rest of their lives being neglected or abused.

Today, the Colorado Eight live a far different life at ARK 2000. Rather than spending their days pacing in small, barren cages, they now prowl among bushes and shady oak trees, stretch up to scratch on trees (yes, like a scratching post), swim in their pools, or lie on their backs soaking up the sunshine, immersed in the sights and sounds of nature.

At PAWS, the tigers have found a new life where they are treated with respect, and where their dignity and individual needs are honored. In this environment, their individual personalities have emerged, ranging from spunky and talkative to being more calm and confident. All of them have become very comfortable in their new home.

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Founded in 1984, the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) operates three sanctuaries in Northern California, including the 2,300-acre ARK 2000 natural habitat refuge, that are home to a large variety of species including Asian and African elephants, big cats, bears and other exotic animals rescued or retired from circuses, zoos and the exotic pet trade. PAWS established the first U.S. elephant sanctuary and is the only one to care for bull elephants.

PAWS is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. It is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, and is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and received an "A" rating from CharityWatch.

PAWS sanctuaries ARE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC but we do schedule a limited number of special events throughout the year. Visit our website calendar of events page to learn more.