We typically try to go on some sort of family adventure (kayaking, surfing, etc.) on Father’s Day to celebrate my dad’s Eagle Scout heritage. This year we stumbled upon something that was sure to top the list…playing with tigers.
But let’s back up.
It all started on Facebook about a month ago. (Doesn’t it always?) One of my creative writing buddies had posted pictures of two of the cutest bundles of fur I’d ever laid eyes on. I sent her a message, inquiring as to how she had met the wild little bundles of cute.
That’s how I found out about the St. Augustine Wild Reserve, home to some pretty wild animals like wolves, tigers, lions, mountain lions, Egyptian swamp cats, servals and lemurs. I cruised around the site for a bit, scheduled a tour, and arranged a way to kidnap my dad and little sister for the big day.
The reserve was started in 1995 as an alternative to euthanasia for unwanted exotic animals. While some of the animals, like the tiger cubs Turuk and Seze (pronounced ‘zhey zhey’), were born at the Reserve, most of the animals have a sad history of abuse or neglect.
Looking at Turuk & Seze, it’s not hard to imagine what some former owners of these exotic animals might have been thinking. How can you not fall down and worship at the altar of their undeniable cuteness?
Taking the tour and meeting some of their full-grown counterparts, however, quickly put the kibosh on whatever crazy ideas I might have been formulating up until then (much to my husband’s relief). Watching a 450 lb. tigress scarf down an 8 lb. dish of raw meat in a matter of minutes can be a quickly sobering display.
However, an equally intriguing (if less intimidating display) came when we met an 800(ish) lb. male tiger. When larger cats (lions or tigers) are are feeling affectionate and friendly, they make a rumbling noise called “chuffing.” Apparently, mountain lions are the biggest cats that still purr. Who knew?
As the trainers made the rounds during our tour, this 800 lb. tiger was chuffing his heart out and enjoying the chin scratches of his human family. It was all to easy to forget once more how different these big cats are from their “domesticated” counterparts.
But the undisputed group favorite for the day was our playtime with Turuk and Seze. You can check out some of their adorable antics below:
