By Carolyn Howard
PassPort to San Diego
As an East County resident for 20 years, I have only recently realized that just 30 minutes east of me, in Alpine, lies one of the only accredited big cat and exotic animal rescue sanctuaries in the United States: Lions Tigers & Bears. While saddened and frustrated by the in-captivity abuse and neglect of these precious creatures prior to their rescues, I am grateful for the important work of Lions Tigers & Bears’ founder Bobbi Brink and her dedicated staff. Together they ensure that each resident — from regal African lions, Bengal tigers, bobcats, and black bears — relax and receive proper food and medical care.
We began our “Member-for-A-Day” experience with an informative video showing how these animals came to the ranch. Most seemed to come from people who thought they could care for exotic animals as pets and soon realized that once they begin to grow, the owners no longer had the means to care for them. As we toured the facility, our guide introduced us to each animal and shared the background on how they ended up at the ranch. Patrons were allowed to feed a big cat or bear of their choice (called “Feed a Wild One Experience,”) had they selected this in their ticket purchase.
The tour was very educational. My favorite part was viewing the feeding of the lions, where food was placed throughout their enclosure and they would run around to seek it out. Every animal at Lions Tigers & Bears is a rescue including a house cat. All animals have been fixed, so there is absolutely no breeding. On a rare occasion, this no-kill sanctuary will receive an infant or a pregnant female.
With such an overabundance of animals needing rescues, Bobbi cannot possibly place them all. Through donations, she is able to build more housing facilities to accommodate more animals. She also helps in relocating animals to other accredited facilities throughout the nation.
Lions, Tigers & Bears holds fundraisers throughout the year to pay for the feeding and caring of its residents. An upcoming event, “Wild in the Country 2016,” will be held from 3-7 p.m. May 14 and will feature a luau, live and silent auction, live entertainment, a catered meal and time to spend with the sanctuary’s animals. Guests may also book the facility for private events such as weddings, as well as book a private overnight safari at the luxurious White Oak Wild Nights Mountain Retreat.
Bringing awareness to the public about not raising animals in captivity is central to Lions Tigers & Bears’ mission. Bobbi’s selflessness has made a major difference in the lives of the animals at the sanctuary and throughout the world. To arrange a visit, call (619) 659-8078 or visit lionstigersandbears.org.