Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge welcomes seven new tigers rescued from Nevada

Yahoo

15-04-2025

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge near Eureka Springs is now home to seven newly rescued tigers.
'As much as we want to highlight these new tigers and celebrate their rescue, we can't—not yet,' said Tanya Smith, founder and president of Turpentine Creek. 'They're still considered evidence and essentially in witness protection until the case is resolved.'
The tigers were removed from a private residence in Nye County, Nev., where they lived in questionable conditions. In just six days, a nine-person team from Turpentine Creek traveled more than 2,800 miles round trip to bring them safely back to Arkansas. Smith said the effort involved extensive logistics and securing special permits to transport the big cats legally across state lines.
'They're doing well,' she added. 'They're just starting to come out and explore their new habitats—touching grass for the first time, stretching their legs in wide-open spaces.'
The rescue comes amid growing enforcement of the federal Big Cat Public Safety Act, which was passed in 2022 and went into full effect on June 12, 2023. The law bans private ownership of big cats and prohibits public contact with them.
Following the law's passage, Turpentine Creek added over 40 new enclosures, anticipating an influx of rescues. But in 2024, not a single call came in.
'I think everyone who had these cats illegally went underground,' Smith said. 'But I think that's going to change this year.'
Turpentine Creek frequently partners with law enforcement and federal agencies during emergency rescues—often with little warning.
'Two weeks' notice is rare,' Smith explained. 'Sometimes, we get a day. If an animal is loose, we get a couple of hours.'
In this case, the team arrived in Las Vegas the night before the seizure and met with the Nye County Sheriff at 6 a.m. to finalize safety protocols.
'The goal is always the same: keep the animals and the officers safe.'
The journey back wasn't without its challenges. The rescue caravan had to divert around a blizzard and drive through heavy rain that later flooded much of Arkansas.
'We were worried about the cats the entire way,' Smith said. 'They had to be sedated, kept calm, and monitored. Once we got them settled at the refuge, most of us slept until noon. We'd been up for more than 20 hours.'
Later that day, staff began medical evaluations and worked to acclimate the tigers gently to their new environments. One of the tigers may need extensive dental work, but the rest were in good shape, considering their previous conditions.
'Some of them were scared of the rain,' she said. 'They've never experienced anything like this begin out in a barren environment. Most of them were kept in spaces smaller than 400 square feet. Here, they have 10,000.'
Turpentine Creek began as a family operation. Smith's parents rescued their first lion while living near Hot Springs. Then came another.
'We had two lions in our backyard while my parents worked, and I was still in school,' Smith said, laughing. 'It wasn't ideal. We'd always loved the Eureka Springs area and figured it might be a 'someday' dream—but soon we were selling everything to buy the land.'
From there, the sanctuary grew. Today, Turpentine Creek operates as a nonprofit with a $7 million budget, 40 full-time staff, and up to 15 interns on-site at any given time. But at its core, it's still a family affair. Smith works alongside her husband, three kids, and a community of interns and staff she considers family.
Interns come from around the world, many pursuing careers in biology, zoology, or veterinary medicine. Smith says that roughly 85% of interns land their dream jobs after completing the program.
'I'm about as proud of that as I am of our rescues,' she said. 'If we're not learning and teaching others, we're only doing half our job.'
Turpentine Creek is one of just 14 certified big cat sanctuaries in the U.S., collectively caring for over 1,000 big cats. Since opening, Turpentine Creek has provided care for over 500 in the past 30-plus years.
The animals can't be returned to the wild. Many have been mistreated, malnourished, or bred in captivity. In ideal conditions, a tiger can live 20 years in a sanctuary setting—more than double its typical lifespan in the wild.
'It's a lifetime commitment,' said Tammy Thies, executive director of The Wildcat Sanctuary, another rescue facility. 'These animals need space, enrichment, and water—tigers love to play in pools.'
It's also expensive. The big cats at Turpentine Creek eat about 10,000 pounds of meat a week. Though Tyson Foods continues to donate meat from its Springdale location, the refuge must pay to store extra inventory off-site. After 9/11, Smith said they developed contingency plans to ensure food security in emergencies.
Turpentine Creek has also become a world leader in geriatric care for big cats.
'We're giving them freedom and dignity,' said Thies. 'They may never return to the wild, but with a reputable sanctuary, we can give them the next best thing.'
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is open year-round (except Christmas) and offers tours, a gift shop, and overnight lodging. Smith said these services generally cover operational costs, so all donations go directly toward animal care and rescue efforts.
You can learn more about how to support Turpentine Creek at:
Donations
Adoptions & Sponsorships
Memberships
Turpentine Creek is also one of the founding members of the Big Cat Alliance.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Tigers rescued from abuse now roam free in Arkansas sanctuary