Fostering Great Felines

Simba, a 350-pound Bengal tiger at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary (IEAS) in Boyd, Texas (pop. 1,099), walks lazily across his enclosure toward the sanctuary’s executive director, Richard Gilbreth. The 13-year-old tiger stops and calmly lies down with his back to Gilbreth.

“He’s extremely trusting,” says Gilbreth, 55. “You’ll never see a tiger walk up and lie down with his back to you. Many of these animals have been mistreated or abused (by previous owners), but they trust us.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture seized Simba, who was malnourished and confined to a 10-square-foot enclosure at a Texas petting zoo, and brought the big cat to the 17-acre sanctuary in 1997 to be nursed back to health and given room to roam.

Most animals at the sanctuary have a similar story, with some originally purchased as pets, while others were born in shelters or sanctuaries without the means to care for them.

For 62 big cats and six bears, IEAS is an oasis in rural northern Texas, where Gilbreth and his staff of 11 work tirelessly to ensure that animals’ needs are met and to educate the public about the importance of their conservation.

IEAS’ efforts were recognized in 2001, when it became the nation’s first sanctuary to be certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of accredited zoos and aquariums in the areas of animal care, wildlife conservation, education and science.

“Sanctuary is one of the most misused words,” says Gilbreth, who’s worked at IEAS since 1997. “Animals can come here and have true sanctuary. We’re not breeding them or taking them out for photo shoots and things like that.”

The sanctuary, founded in 1988, does, however, offer educational tours to the public in exchange for donations that are used to help care for the animals, which include Amur leopards, Bengal tigers, cheetahs, cougars, jaguars, grizzly bears and American black bears.

Keepers of the carnivores
George Talbot, 56, of Rhome, Texas (pop. 551), who coordinates the sanctuary’s 30 volunteers, loves to see animals enjoying their man-made habitat.

“To see an animal genuinely appreciate something I worked on, by using it, is the greatest reward,” he says, “whether it’s a house, a perch or a pool.”

The sanctuary usually has construction under way, whether it’s building a new enclosure or repairing those already in use. Volunteers, such as Talbot, and interns help the staff complete those projects.

Intern Rachael Anderson, 25, of Lawton, Okla., never envisioned herself being a big cat keeper, but now she has a greater appreciation for the animals.

“You can see how the cats are portrayed on TV, but now I’ve been able to see the other side where they connect with you,” she says. “I’ve enjoyed building up a relationship with them.”

Staff, interns and volunteers are encouraged to establish bonds with the animals through an emotional enrichment program, and Christi Gilbreth—lead keeper, assistant animal behaviorist, and Richard’s wife—feels these relationships set their sanctuary apart from other facilities.

“We sit outside their cages with them for a while in the evenings to provide a feeling of comfort, companionship and social security,” says Christi, 28.

Interns and volunteers keep journals documenting each animal’s behavior, so staff can review the information to ensure a particular form of enrichment is soothing to the animal rather than agitating.

“They’re not pets and never will be pets,” Richard says, “but we have a mutual respect for each other.”

As part of the behavior enrichment, the cats are given items to play with, including balls and tires, as well as seasonal treats such as pumpkins in the fall.

Christi recalls her surprise at seeing a snow leopard—an animal that is primarily sedate in the sweltering Texas heat—play with a pumpkin.

“When we gave the snow leopard a pumpkin last year, she literally started doing flips,” Christi says. “I couldn’t believe it. It was a chance to see typical snow leopard behavior that you never see (in captivity).”

A long-term commitment
The need for homes for big cats is never-ending. Richard Gilbreth estimates that he receives about 20 calls per month, from agencies such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, seeking animal placement. Without IEAS and other similar facilities, many of these animals would be euthanized.

“The real valuable mission in Boyd is to take in and rescue big cats,” says Steve Feldman, 42, spokesman for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, in Silver Spring, Md. “It’s important to have facilities like this so the cats have a high quality of life and can be cared for.”

“We won’t take anything that compromises the well-being of the animals that we already have here,” Gilbreth says. “You can’t let your heart get bigger than your pocketbook.”

Agreeing to care for just one of these animals is a huge financial commitment. Lions and tigers live at least 20 years, their care costing about $7,000 annually, not including upkeep on their large enclosures, some as big as 16,000 square feet. An enclosure costs $10,000 to $40,000 to build, depending on the size of the animal, and $1,000 to $10,000 per year for upkeep.

The sanctuary accepts donations and also posts a wish list on its website (www.bigcat.org) for potential donors.

Gilbreth is dedicated to creating an environment where animals can thrive, and his goals for the future include expanding educational efforts and continuing his work with interns to ensure that IEAS’ programs will continue.

Volunteers and interns share his passion for saving the animals, and Talbot says volunteering at the sanctuary is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “I could be at the airport with 1,000 other people and be the only one that gets to mow grass with lions and tigers,” he says. “This is my hobby, my exercise and therapy. It’s everything.”

Likewise, IEAS caretakers see to it that the sanctuary is more than just a place to live. As Gilbreth says, “This is their home.”

Story by Kristen Tribe of Decatur, Texas.

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