Day Tours
There
are lots of ways to see the World's Largest Accredited Big Cat Rescue Facility.
We are a sanctuary, not a zoo, so our animals come first. We do not allow people to wander around unescorted.
We offer guided tours on Monday through Friday at 9:00 a.m. and again at 3:00 p.m. for adults and children 10 and over. These are walking tours and take about an hour and a half and the cost is $25.00 per person. On Saturday we offer tours at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. for adults and children 10 and over. These are walking tours and take about an hour and a half and the cost is $25.00 per person.
If you have children under the age of 10 you can ONLY visit on our Saturday 9:00 a.m. Kids Tour. It is a one hour walking tour and the cost is $15.00 per child for kids under 10 and $25.00 per person for ages 10 and older. All prices are subject to change.
In Florida, weather is always an issue. In the summer it rains frequently, but often only for a few minutes. If you have paid for a tour and get rained out during your tour, we will give you a free pass to come back. Because the cats are spooked by umbrellas, they are not allowed but you should bring a rain coat or poncho if it looks like rain. Tours will be canceled during lightening storms. Paths are frequently muddy so closed toed, old, comfortable shoes are recommended. You may bring your own cold drinks or buy ours but either way, be prepared for the heat. Ask for the free use of a golf cart if an hour and a half outside isn't something you think you can do.
You are welcome to take photos and video on the tour, but leave the tripods at home, or schedule a photo tour. We ask everyone on the tour to stay together, no smoking, no cell phones and respect the tour guides warnings so that you have the best possible experience.
If you are traveling with pets, you cannot bring them onto the property. Florida law (and common sense) prohibit you from leaving them in your car, even with the A/C running.
Click on the button called Visit Us to find out more about all of the exciting ways that you can have fun and help save the wild cats! We offer Feeding Tours, Night Tours and Keeper for a Day tours.
We
are often referred to as Tampa's best kept secret. Big Cat Rescue is unlike
any tourist attraction. This one of the most fun things to do in Tampa. Here
you can see behind the scenes operation of the world's largest accredited big
cat rescue facility in action.
If you are traveling with pets, you cannot bring them onto the property. Florida law (and common sense) prohibit you from leaving them in your car, even with the A/C running.
Your donations are tax deductible and go directly to the animals.
German Translations
Tägliche Führungen Day Tour
Help Us Win $10,000!
Thanks to YOU who participated in the March Goodness contest last year, Big Cat Rescue was the grand prize winner of $10,000. The contest starts this year on March 15 and will be in 2 rounds. In these lean economic times it really helps to be able to win contests that have prize money and this one has $10,000 on the line!
Round 1 winners are decided based upon the charity that gets the most unique donors from Mar. 15 till Mar 31. The minimum donation is $10 and that is all we are asking you to donate during round one. Since $10 is what you would spend on a couple of magazines, we are hoping you will ask all of your friends and family to donate $10 too because the winner will be determined by the most people and not the most money.
We have to win Round 1 to compete in Round 2 (with other regional winners) and in Round 2 the winner is decided by the charity who raises the most money between April 2 and April 6, 2010. We can't count any of the money raised in Round one, so save your big bucks for Round 2 where they can do the most good. Please make a $10 donation here via Razoo (powered by Network for Good) and the best part is that Razoo never charges any processing fees to the charity.
http://www.razoo.com/story/Mg2010-South-Big-Cat-Rescue
Rescue of Narla the Cougar:
RI Woman Gives Up 13-year-old Pet Cougar
Marilyn Loppi had been searching for a home for her husband’s pet cougar for several months. Thirteen year old Narla, a 90-pound cougar, had been living in a cage in the Loppis’ Rhode Island backyard since she was a kitten. But when Marilyn’s husband Robert passed away in May 2009, Loppi decided she no longer wanted the cat. Robert Loppi had a permit for the cat, which he had gotten from a friend. It was legal in 1997 for private citizens in Rhode Island to own exotic cats, but authorities say they would not issue such a permit now, except to a zoo or other accredited facility.
Unable to find a facility that would accept the cat, Loppi finally contacted Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida, which agreed to take the cougar if Loppi surrendered her exotic pet license. Loppi lured Narla into a carrier with shrimp, and the staff from Big Cat Rescue came early in the morning of January 7th to take her back to Florida. Originally, Animal Control officers and a film crew from Animal Planet were supposed to accompany the rescuers. However, the crew from Big Cat Rescue was afraid Loppi might back out at the last minute, due to the media attention, so they came an hour early and quietly took the cat.
Cougars, also called mountain lions, pumas, catamounts, and panthers, are the largest cats in North America and can weigh up to 200 lbs. They are hunted for sport in many states, and are scarce in the Midwest and eastern United States. In Florida, the panther teeters on the brink of extinction, with only 100 cats remaining. The cats are tawny brown in color, built for running and jumping, and highly elusive in the wild. They are the largest of the purring cats.
At Big Cat Rescue, Narla is one of many cats who were former pets. When their owners no longer want or are able to care for them, the sanctuary offers the cats a comfortable home for the rest of their lives. Narla is currently in a large outdoor habitat, where she enthusiastically greets keepers with the signature cougar chirp.
by Willow Hecht
Photos of the rescue here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigcatrescue/sets/72157623173290048/
You can help provide for her care here: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/donate.htm
CFC Participant? Generous donations through the CFC program have become one of our major sources of funding. Our CFC number is 10766. On behalf of the cats, sincere thanks to the many Federal employees who have helped us provide the best possible home for the cats by donating through this program.
Big Cat Times Magazine! Check out the most recent issue of The Big Cat Times in this online magazine format HERE
March Issue of AdvoCat: The latest edition of the AdvoCat, our monthly E-zine is HERE
Win an Animal Lover's Dream Vacation: If you love animals, you have got to see this fabulous trip HERE
Follow us on Twitter and see what is happening moment by moment at Big Cat Rescue and in the world of lions, tigers, bobcats and other exotic wildcats. @BigCatRescue
Other Ways You Can Help Today
Big Cat Credit Card
You can give more without spending more by turning your everyday spending into meaningful donations with a customized Big Cat Rescue Capital One credit card. Share your passion and donate to Big Cat Rescue with your everyday purchases. We've partnered with Capital One® Card Lab Connect to bring you our newest fundraising program, which helps us earn money doing what you do every day! Just carry one of our custom credit cards (it comes with a competitive rate and no annual fee), and 1% of purchases made with the card will be donated to Big Cat Rescue.
Not only will you be donating to the cats with each purchase you make, you'll be helping to spread the word when people see your wildly unique card, designed specifically for Big Cat Rescue. Three custom cards are currently available featuring Cameron the lion, Cheetaro the leopard, and Shere Khan & China Doll the tigers! What a great way to share the cats' stories every time you pull out your credit card. Tell others too by downloading Credit Card Flyer
Sharing your passion and your support is easy and automatic. Apply today!
https://www.cardlabconnect.com/Big Cat Rescue
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Text $5 From Your Phone
To donate $5 that will appear on your cell phone bill, put 20222 in the TO line and the word Tiger in the body of the text message. You will receive a text message back asking to confirm your donation. Or you can type your cell number into the box below to have a $5 donation added to your phone bill.
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A one-time donation of $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Messaging & Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of the “Big Cat Rescue” by the Mobile Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.hmgf.org/t. You can unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP to short code “20222”; Reply HELP to “20222” for help.