tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Do most of you remember about 2 weeks ago a man in Ohio who owned an exotic animal sanctuary let his animals go free and then killed himself? Well, there is another such sanctuary just south of Eureka Springs Arkansas called Turpentine Creek. They take in exotic animals from all over that people either owned, traded for on the black market, or from other places that went out of business.

These animals are well cared for and doctored. It runs solely on donations and from ticket proceeds which run at $15.00 apiece. It is very sad but well worth it. Individual people have no business owning such animals even though some of them mean well.

These photos I took I consider rather poor only because of all the fencing used to contain them gets in the way of most shots as you can see here. None of these animals can survive in the wild. The good news is that the people who volunteer here are very dedicated to their well being and try to make their lives as comfortable and healthy as possible.

The king of beasts.


This is not a wild White Tiger. Some One bred this on purpose. When it was brought in, she was pregnant by one of her own cubs. Since they were inbred, they all died shortly after birth.


Probably the best shot I got of a Tiger.


a Liger. No way can this animal survive in the wild because its' instincts are all screwed up.


This one was awake.


This was a pet. I knew a woman in Kansas City who owned a couger. She became pregnant (not by the couger ) but was unwilling to get rid of it. She refused to believe that this wild animal could turn on her. It would definiteley be interested in a crying baby. The only reason that she got rid of it was because a family member threatened to take her to court over it. Stupid woman.

stina3246 Loc: Orlando

There is a place like this in Florida, donations are only about $10. It's very small but the animals are well cared for. There's another that had to be closed down due to lack of funding, such a shame. So horrible what people do to these amazing animals. I think your pictures are good, shows what these poor animals look like behind bars. I want to volunteer for one of these places so bad, I want to do education programs to teach people (kids mainly) how to respect animals like this and leave them in the wild where they belong. Thanks for sharing your shots, didn't mean to get off on a rant, it's one of my hot buttons.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Thank you. I am still affected by the situation every time I look at these and the other photos I took that day. My wife wasn't all that excited about going here but afterward she told me that it was money worth spent and how profoundly it had affected her also. Here, I have a few more.

a pet Bobcat.


another pet. Hopefully, not bored out of its' mind.


a Brown bear. Now why would some one try to make this a pet?

Kathy1632 Loc: Virginia

As an animal lover, I hate to see what happens to the animal kingdom by man, whether wild or domestic.If it wasn't for the situation these animals are in, I would say they are wonderful photos of beautiful wild felines. My passion for animals and photography are ideally suited to one another and I want to dedicate my animal photography to animal rescue - the challenge is marketing and contacts.

BTW, I love your introductory photo of the gorgeous black horse, stina3246. Is he yours? Looks like you're a horse person. So am I and I love taking pictures of them, especially at local events and am working on contributing proceeds to a local equine rescue organization.

Kathy1632 Loc: Virginia

Your photos are heart-wrenching and I couldn't bare to see such an emotional and miserable sight in person. They are pleading for help and you had a lot of courage to support them with your visit.

stina3246 Loc: Orlando

Thank you and Yes, his name is American Soldier. He's a 7 year old Arab stallion and the apple of my eye. I also have a 21 year old quarter horse gelding I've had since he as 4 months old and my husband has a percheron gelding. The perch and the Arab are rescues. I often volunteer my photographic services to rescues and fundraisers (animal and human) It's very rewarding!

BGenie Loc: Sacramento, CA

There was this pet store in Cocoa, FL called 'Incredible Pets' that I loved until one day I walked in and they had a small monkey in a small cage, with no toys or anything to do. A month or so later I went again, it was still there, still with nothing to do, in the same small cage. At first I thought someone had boarded the animal while they were on vacation. Then I talked to the employee/manager and said that keeping the monkey like that was abusive, they are smart and need something to do and they need companionship. She told me it is their new 'mascot' and they are going to keep the animal just the way it was. I told her that she just lost my business, left my items, and walked out.
You should have seen the look on it's face, eyes glazed over and resigned to a fate worse then death.

stina3246 Loc: Orlando

Just thinking about that brought tears to my eyes

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

Couldn't resist this one. Just a little exposure correction in Topaz

original

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Ah yes, Topaz. What you actually corrected was part of the incloser that I just could not quite get away from. Very good.