Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge’s Post

We did it! Over the weekend, we celebrated the ribbon cutting of Freedom Field and our 32nd Anniversary. A special thank you to Big Cat Rescue and Pinnacle Fence & Outdoors, LLC for helping us complete the construction of 44 habitats, including 28 small cat habitats, 2 medium habitats, and 14 big cat habitats. Thank you to Representative Steve Womack for your support and Director of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, Marty Ryall. Be sure to come visit soon to witness this incredible accomplishment! https://lnkd.in/gZkmVf37 #tigers #bigcats #animals #animalrescue #conservation #csr #nonprofit #philanthropy #anniversary #milestome #nwa #arkansas #nwarkansas #ozarks #travel #wildlife #cats #esg #sustainability #partnership #community #volunteerism

From concept to reality. In just 13 months, our team is nearly complete with Freedom Field, including 28 small cat habitats, 2 medium cat habitats, and 14 big cat habitats. With 38 habitats on our tour loop in the main area and 22 at Rescue Ridge for geriatric and special needs animals, Freedom Field stands as a beacon of hope for the future of animal rescue nationwide. With such a milestone accomplished in just a year, imagine what we will do together over the next year. Join us all afternoon, starting at 12 pm CST, tours of Freedom Field for NWA Gives. For more information, visit https://lnkd.in/gfU4UFpY #bigcats #freedom #ozarks #animals #cats #veterinary #dmv #conservation #wildlife #photography #nwa #arkansas #ozarks #mountains #nonprofit #giving

Bagheera - A Story of Rescue to Refuge for NWA Gives Named after the black cat in the classic Jungle Book story, Bagheera (buh-gee-ruh) the jaguar was rescued by Turpentine Creek from the Oklahoma Tiger King Park in 2021. Until now, Bagheera has lived at TCWR as a witness protection animal; due to our 30 years of cooperation with law enforcement and government officials, we have honored the need to keep details of this rescue private. With the case finally over, we can now share more about his journey from Rescue to Refuge. We cannot be certain what Bagheera’s life was like before he arrived at TCWR, but we do know that it wasn’t a life in a grassy habitat where he could play with toys, swim in a pool, or sprint across raised platforms to replicate a jungle experience. At the Tiger King Park, Bagheera (a solitary animal) shared his 20’x40’ space with two white lionesses (social animals). The enclosure was barren, with a substrate of compacted sand. The much larger lionesses most likely tormented Bagheera; he stuck to a corner for safety and had hair loss on his hindquarters.  The hair loss could have been the lioness pulling his hair out, or more likely, stressing him out so much that he did it to himself as a pacifying behavior often referred to as plucking. In a recent visit to TCWR, Government Officials observed that by simply providing Bagheera with his own enclosure, his stress decreased and his hair grew back on his hindquarters. He also was originally aggressive towards cameras - no doubt a sign that he was exploited for the cub petting and pay-to-play industries in the past. Now, our photographer is able to take pictures and videos of him while he shows off by running after his toys. He loves his toys so much that he is notorious for collecting them all from his habitat and hoarding them inside of his night house. This is likely the result of him having lived with the two bullies at Tiger King Park and never having the opportunity to play with his own toys or enjoy enrichment without being outnumbered. Bagheera’s story is an example of the mental transformation that occurs post-rescue. Bringing an animal out of a bad situation and back to the Refuge is just the beginning. To completely “rescue” an animal and maximize their welfare includes addressing both their physical and mental trauma. Our Animal Care Team works hard to restore trust and provide the animals with proper care for the rest of their lives. Through your ongoing support, we can continue transforming the lives of the animals we rescue. Help Us, Help Them - https://lnkd.in/gfU4UFpY NWA Gives Arkansas Hospitality Association #spring #animals #nonprofit #arkansas #nwa #northwestarkansas #sanctuary #mission #missiondriven #animalrescue #education

Join us today for NWA Gives! For more information, visit https://lnkd.in/gfU4UFpY #spring #animals #nonprofit #arkansas #nwa #northwestarkansas #sanctuary #mission #missiondriven #animalrescue #education

Join us tomorrow for NWA Gives! For more information, visit: https://lnkd.in/gfU4UFpY #nonprofit #arkansas #charity #bigcats #wildlife #photography #missiondrive

We’re #hiring a new Director of Development in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Apply today or share this post with your network.

Why does Turpentine Creek have a 100% hands-off policy? So everyone goes home with their hands on!

Good work, Meredith!

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is in Northwest Arkansas!