A rare species of cat is now calling the Panhandle Home
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Bear Creek Feline Center, home to 21 big cats representing five majestic species, continues to offer rare, up-close experiences in a safe and educational sanctuary setting. The center's latest resident is Athena, a 4-year-old Caracal who is now thriving after a difficult past.
'Athena was rescued after living in less-than-ideal conditions with her previous owner,' shared Bertie Broaddus, BCFC's Co-Owner. 'That's what we do—rescue and rehabilitate. The Caracal is native to Africa and is a rare sight in many places. In our 20 years of operation, Athena is only the second Caracal we've had at the center.'
On Wednesday, students from Central High School visited the center to assist with setting up new enrichment equipment for the exotic cats.
'Today we're working on a platform post—something for the cats to walk on, rest on, and get closer to visitors,' said Central High School's Principal, Jeremy Knapp. 'In the past, we've built cots made from fire hoses and other activity-based items for the cats.'
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The project is part of an ongoing partnership supported by the St. Joe Community Foundation, which has been backing Bear Creek for several years.
'We're proud to support this initiative,' said St. Joe Foundation's Executive Director, April Wilkes. 'We're especially excited to see Bear Creek working with Chautauqua School and Central High School to build new spaces for the cats and connect with students through hands-on education.'
Students from Chautauqua Learning Center were also on site, engaging in both educational and service-based activities.
'A lot of what we focus on at Chautauqua is combining academic learning, life skills, and community service,' said Bob Kuchta, a Chautauqua Learning Center Counselor. 'This experience aligns perfectly with our mission, and just like Bear Creek honors the uniqueness of each animal, we aim to honor the uniqueness of each of our students.
Bear Creek Feline Center is a non-profit organization. To learn how to support these big exotic cats, click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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