Association’s Species Survival Plan for the critically endangered Mexican Gray Wolf. After a 20-year absence in the wild, this animal is being reintroduced to its former range following a successful captive breeding program. The sanctuary is a housing facility for wolves not yet ready for release
Tiger (Panthera tigris) Status: ENDANGERED "Samson" arrived in February of 2003. He had been a pet in Texas , but his owners no longer felt that they could properly care for him. Tigers are usually solitary, except for a female with cubs, or during the breeding season. The territories of males do not overlap those of other males, nor female territories with other females. But, the much larger male territories will overlap those of several females. They will eat whatever they can catch, but prefer larger hoofed mammals like deer and wild pigs. "Samson" is fed a commercially prepared carnivore diet, along with a variety of other meats. Of the eight subspecies, only five remain. The Bali , Javan, and Caspian, are now extinct. The remaining five (Amur or Siberian, Bengal , Indo-Chinese, South China , and Sumatran) cling to survival over a greatly diminished range. In spite of laws to protect them, they are illegally hunted for certain body parts, which are mistakenly believed to have medicinal purposes, as well as for their beautiful fur. Habitat destruction is another serious threat to their continued existence.
Mountain Lion (Puma concolor) "Abbey" was about 6 months old when she came here in 1990. She had been found in a Forest Service burn pile in Montana. She recovered from her burns, but was too imprinted on humans to be released. Mountain lions range from North America to Central and South America. They have long hind legs to help them leap through the rocky outcrops that are their preferred habitat. The mountain lion is the largest of the "small cats" and can purr loudly. They also make a chirping sound and a loud scream, but they don't roar. They have large retractable claws to help them catch food in the wild. They usually eat deer and elk, but will also eat rodents and other small mammals and birds. We feed "Abbey" a special exotic feline diet, as well as deer, elk, beef, and other meat scraps. They are gone from much of their historical range due to hunting and habitat destruction. A subspecies, the Florida panther, is endangered but beginning to recover with help from the Fish and Wildlife Service.