Carolina Tiger Rescue, formerly the Carnivore Preservation Trust, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit wildlife sanctuary whose mission is saving and protecting wild cats in captivity and in the wild.






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Frequently Asked Questions

Tours

General

How to Help



Can I come see your animals? Is the only way to see them on a guided tour?

Yes! We offer guided public tours on the weekends throughout the year by online ticket purchase, and field trips and private tours during the week by reservation (requires 2 weeks advance notice).


You do have to be escorted by a trained staff member or volunteer at all times while visiting the animals. Carolina Tiger Rescue was designed to ensure that the animals stay in their enclosures; however, there are not the same barriers to control the public as you may see in a zoo. You will be able to get much closer to the animals, and because tours represent an interactive time in the animals' routine, the animals are more responsive to you. Guided visits also allow us to explain more about the circumstances that have affected each animal individually and the species they represent.

How is the Twilight Tour different from other tours?

In their wild habitats, wildcats typically hunt at dawn and dusk and are more active at night- so the animals do tend to be more active at this time. This tour is limited to a smaller group, and is geared towards adults (open to ages 13 and up). The animals included on the tour and the length of the tour are similar to the public tours.

What makes you different from a zoo?

Carolina Tiger Rescue is a refuge, providing animals a safe, comfortable home for the remainder of their lives. Zoos generally do not acquire animals from the public. Visitors to Carolina Tiger Rescue are escorted by a trained staff or volunteers.

When is the best time to see the animals?

Wildcats are most active from dusk to dawn, and often sleep during the day. They are also more active when the temperature is cooler. Here, they tend to take a siesta after their meal- just like we like to do! The animals are more likely to be active during the morning tour and the Twilight Tour. However, because the animals are not being observed throughout the day, and the tour is a "break" in their routine, they are generally more active than animals in a zoo.

Will I get to see an animal feeding during my tour?

Not necessarily. The schedule for feeding the animals is independent of the tour schedule, and occasionally the Keepers will be feeding during a tour. Tour guides can provide "treats" for the animals during their tour, but this is left at the discretion of the guide. Many guides prefer that the animals exhibit a more natural behavior during their tour.

Carolina Tiger Rescue does offer a "Feeding with a Keeper" experience, where visitors may escort a Keeper during feeding.

How do I reschedule or get a refund for tour tickets purchased online?

Tour tickets are sold through our online ticketing vendor, Etix. For questions relating to your ticket purchase, please contact them at 1-800-514-3849 ext.4 or via email at support@etix.com.


What is a "sanctuary"?

The federal definition of a "sanctuary" as it applies to lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, clouded leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, cougars, and any hybrids of those species was established by the Captive Wildlife Safety Act in 2003. The qualifications for a "sanctuary" under these guidelines are:

  • Must be a non-profit entity that is tax exempt under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Cannot engage in commercial trade in big cat species, including their offspring, parts, and products made from them
  • Cannot breed big cats
  • Cannot allow direct contact between big cats and the public at their facilities
  • Must keep records of transactions involving covered cats
  • Must allow the Service to inspect their facilities, records, and animals at reasonable hours

There are numerous facilities that refer to themselves as a sanctuary, with a broad spectrum in the quality of their animal care. Carolina Tiger Rescue encourages the public to educate themselves about the issues faced by wildcats in captivity before visiting and supporting any wildcat "sanctuary".

How to you acquire your animals

Many of our small cats and binturongs were part of a captive breeding program for underrepresented, threatened, and endangered species of carnivores during our history as a breeding facility. Carolina Tiger Rescue stopped breeding in 2000. Our big cats and some of our smaller animals were rescued, primarily from the exotic pet trade. Visit our Rescue page to find out why wildcats need rescue.

Who started Carolina Tiger Rescue and why?

Carolina Tiger Rescue began as the Carnivore Evolutionary Research Insititute in the 1970s, an organization founded by UNC geneticist Dr. Michael Bleyman to ensure the survival of specific keystone species from threatened/endangered ecosystems. He started a breeding program for caracals, servals, ocelots, and binturongs. He began rescuing big cats when the need for a sanctuary became apparent.


The Carnivore Evolutionary Research Institute was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1981, and the name was changed to the Carnivore Preservation Trust (CPT). CPT stopped its breeding program in 2000, and refocused its efforts on rescue. In 2009, CPT's name was changed to Carolina Tiger Rescue, reflecting its current mission and focus.

If your animals are endangered species, why did Carolina Tiger Rescue stop its breeding program?

The species that Carolina Tiger Rescue (then the Carnivore Preservation Trust) bred in the past are now bred at other facillities in accordance with Species Survival and Population Management Plans- plans devised by the environmental community to ensure genetic diversity in the captive population. For most of the species represented at Carolina Tiger Rescue, the primary threat to their survival in the wild is habitat loss- there is no place to release these species where they would be safe. Rather than breed wild animals that would live their lives in captivity, the organization devoted its resources towards rescue and conservation education. Carolina Tiger Rescue continues to participate in Species Survival Plans by lending or donating animals to other facilities that are breeding in accordance with those plans

What do your animals eat?

Carolina Tiger Rescue's animals are on a whole carcass diet supplemented with vitamins. Small cats are fed chicken quarters, rats, or mice. Big cats eat anywhere from ten to fifteen whole chickens a week that are donated from a local chicken plant. The binturongs and kinkajous eat a mixture of fruit supplemented with a source of protein (mice or dog food).

If your animals are carnivores, why do you have fruit eaters?

The word "carnivore" has two meanings. The first refers to the diet of an animal. A carnivorous animal eats meat. The second meaning refers to members of the order Carnivora. Members of this order all possess a specific set of teeth called the carnassial pair. These teeth originally evolved as sharp and pointy to shear meat and tendon. Some members of the order Carnivora have further evolved these teeth for specialized diets, including the binturong and the kinkajou- Carolina Tiger Rescue's fruit-eaters. Carolina Tiger Rescue's animals are members of the order Carnivora.

Why don't you have some wildcat species?

Carolina Tiger Rescue is foremost a rescue facility, and as such accepts wildcats that need a home. In its history, the facility has had a lion, cougars, leopards, margays, and more. However, tigers are by far the most common big cat in the pet trade, and are most likely to need a home. Some species do require resources to ensure a comfortable life that Carolina Tiger Rescue currently does not have, such as a cold-climate facility for lynx or snow leopards. Carolina Tiger Rescue would be willing to accept these species if funds are raised to add the infrastructure that those animals would need.

If I know of a wildcat that needs a home, what should I do?

If you know of a wildcat that needs a home, please contact our Curator of Animals at (919)542-4684.

There is a cougar/bobcat where I live, what should I do?

Carolina Tiger Rescue believes that the ideal home for wildlife is in their natural habitat, and cougars and bobcats are both native to North Carolina. Please review the "Sharing the Habitat with Pumas" guidelines put out by the Felidae Conservation Fund

How big is Carolina Tiger Rescue?

55 acres

How many animals to you have?

72 animals of 6 different species: tigers, caracals, servals, ocelots, binturongs, and kinkajous

How many people work at Carolina Tiger Rescue?

Carolina Tiger Rescue currently employs 10 full-time and 6 part-time staff, including 2 veterinarians. However, Carolina Tiger Rescue has approximately 150 active volunteers that are essential to its operation, assisting in animal care, tour guiding, construction, office support, gift shop support, event planning, and other areas as well.

Could I get tiger manure from Carolina Tiger Rescue to deter deer?

No, Carolina Tiger cannot provide manure to the public because of local waste disposal laws. These laws were put into place because carnivore manure has a higher concentration of bacteria and parasites that could be harmful. That said, the idea that tiger manure discourages the deer is most likely a myth, and certainly the deer in the area do not seem concerned about the close presence of large exotic predators.

How can I help?

Visit "How to Help" in the site menu. You will find information about helping an animal through the adoption program, about donating to specific projects, what items Carolina Tiger Rescue needs, how you can volunteer your time, and what your business can do to contribute.

Where does Carolina Tiger Rescue get its funding?

Carolina Tiger Rescue is primarily funded by donations from individuals, private foundations such as Earth Share of North Carolina, and corporate sponsors. Additional funding also comes from tour fees and merchandise sales.

Is Carolina Tiger Rescue a tax exempt organization? What is your nonprofit tax ID number?

Yes, under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code, operating under the legal name of "Carnivore Preservation, Inc.", Carolina Tiger Rescue's tax ID number is 56-1522499

Is my gift to Carolina Tiger Rescue tax deductible?

Gifts to Carolina Tiger Rescue qualify for tax exemption under the above-referenced IRS code. You should always check with your tax adviser regarding your personal circumstances and whether a particular gift will be deductible.

Do you accept donated deer?

Yes. Carolina Tiger Rescue does accept donated deer to feed the animals under specific circumstances. Hunters may donate deer, provided that the carcass has been kept under suitable conditions so that the meat has not spoiled. Roadkill deer are only acceptable if the person donating the deer witnessed the deer getting hit, and the carcass is fresh. Please call (919) 542-4684 to ask if your deer is suitable for donating.