AROUND EAST TEXAS: Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge

Tyler Texas

Founded in Tyler Texas in 1995, Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge is an animal sanctuary for great cats that have been abused, neglected or displaced. Tigers and Lions were the original emphasis of the sanctuary, but has now expanded to take in and care for Leopards, Servals, Geoffroys, Bobcats and Cougars. Tiger Creek has recently branched out from only cats to include Madagascar Lemurs, parrots, raccoons, and a petting zoo area for kids that includes Goats, miniature Donkeys and Horses and of course the Tiger Creek house Pig: Kevin Bacon.

Tiger Creek is home to a few celebrity big cats – Siberian Tigers Sarge and Lilly were featured in Animal Planet’s “Growing Up Tiger”.

The sanctuary has also taken in Michael Jacksons tigers as their trainer was killed in a car accident and no other home was available to them.

Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge is located just north of Tyler Texas – near Tyler State Park- and you can find their schedule and events at tigercreek.org