This Texas wildlife sanctuary is home to 35 tigers and other exotic rescue animals
In Wylie, Texas, a wildlife sanctuary called In-Sync Exotics is home to over 75 exotic cats, including lions, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, lynx, servals, an ocelot and 35 tigers. Many of the tigers at the facility had been used as attractions at unlicensed zoos or were rescued from homes where they were living as backyard pets. In fact, it may surprise you to learn that more tigers now live in American backyards than in their natural habitat in the wild.
Tigers are not meant to live in captivity, and though some people believe that tigers can be domesticated from a young age, according to In-Sync Media Director Angela Culver, their natural instincts never really go away.
In order to provide a comfortable and engaging environment at the sanctuary, In-Sync Exotics utilizes large, galvanized steel stock tanks from Tarter Farm and Ranch Equipment for the tigers to play in and cool off.
Check out the video below to see the tigers in action:
Tigers In Captivity
According to the World Wildlife Fund in 2014, the United States captive tiger population — approximately 5,000 — exceeds the approximately 3,200 tigers who live in the wild.
The organization added that the captive tiger population results in thousands of big cats living in backyards, urban apartments, sideshows, truck stops and private breeding facilities.
Giving Tigers A Place To Thrive
In-Sync Exotics provides medical care for the cats at the sanctuary, as well as a balanced diet, and plenty of space for both rest and recreation.
Most of the cats at In-Sync Exotics were born and raised in captivity. That means they don’t have the skills to survive in the wild. Even if they had the appropriate skills, habitat loss means there’s not enough land for the number of cats living in captivity.
Notice something missing from this impressive yawn? Out in the wild a missing canine could severely impact their ability to take down prey. Though cats in our care don't have to hunt, we still make sure their teeth are taken care of. #WildlifeWednesday #WildcatWednesday #yawn pic.twitter.com/rCK06nReKP
— In-Sync Exotics (@Insync_Exotics) July 11, 2018
Because most of these cats are the result of cross-breeding and inbreeding, they have a number of health issues that make them unappealing to zoos. In-Sync Exotics offers a home for cats that have nowhere else to go.
Today is #GlobalTigerDay and our newest tiger #Kenobi is finally in his forever home after being smuggled across the border from Mexico… in a duffel bag! #Wildlifetrafficking is a huge problem for tigers. Read more here: https://t.co/gepcOt24kc pic.twitter.com/Z4Z2osvtLs
— In-Sync Exotics (@Insync_Exotics) July 29, 2018
We’re so glad these beautiful animals have a place to call their forever home!