shanti deva

Shanti Deva and two other lions arrived from the Catskill Game Farm in New York just before Christmas 2006. With the closure of their animal park, the game farm auctioned off 950 animals and made east coast and national headlines.

Animal welfare activists worried that some of the animals would wind up in the hands of unscrupulous dealers, or that animals, such as deer or goats, would go to people who run 'canned shoot' operations where hunters pay to shoot fenced-in animals. Many groups intervened and negotiated the purchase and placement of animals in sanctuaries to ensure a safer fate. It is described as one of the largest animal rescues of its type.

Shanti Deva is such a sweet soul. She greets the keepers with a deep moan and rub along the fence. She is always the first to eat and runs the show when it comes to Aslan's pride. No one must have told her that the male usually does that.

Pine County Tiger Bears Burden of Big Cat Boom - Star Tribune Article - 1/7/2007

Just Look at Us Now - Life after the Catskill Game Farm Auction - Fall 2007