Elizabeth is a female tiger who was initially part of our Witness Protection program. She and another tiger named Noah arrived at the sanctuary in 2023.
Though we don’t know exactly the date she was born, we know she’s at least 10+ years old based on an old news story we found. She and Noah were released by the Department of Agriculture and their former owner to live permanently at The Wildcat Sanctuary.
Our team drove to pick them up for their journey back to our sanctuary. Noah and Elizabeth were social, but understandably a little nervous of the transport crates. With a little patience, both walked into the crates themselves and needed no sedation.
As soon as they were in the transport trailer, both were relaxed and took long naps on their way home to the sanctuary.
Life at the Sanctuary
Elizabeth is a very nice and confident tigress, even though she’s much smaller than Noah. At first, she was hesitant of the other tigers at our sanctuary and asserted herself. But now, she thinks the more the merrier.
It’s nice to see she’s already got a favorite spot – up on the zig zag platform in the back of her habitat. Elizabeth and Noah both adjusted well to their large outdoor habitats and heated indoor bedrooms here.
We were told Elizabeth was originally bred and used as a football mascot in Ohio. For decades, Massillon’s Washington High School was famous for acquiring a new tiger cub (known as “Obie”) every year to be dragged out in a cage on the field, traveling with the team, subject to fans gawking over them.
The school would get the cubs at the beginning of the school year and use them just for that one football season. The next year, they’d acquire another one.
This one high school was responsible for fueling the breeding, cruel and exploitative cycle of so many cubs being taken from their mothers and disposed of when they were no longer a draw.
Thankfully, Elizabeth is now safe at our sanctuary. Yet tragically, many former “Obies” weren’t as lucky.
That’s why, seeing her playing and happy, is the best feeling of all!
How You Can Help
Our sponsorship program is what makes top notch care possible for our residents, like Elizabeth. She’d love to have you as her sponsor parent! Or even a one-time donation toward her care would help so much, too.
You’ll find buttons at the top of this page if you’d like to help Elizabeth in a very special way and be a part of her life. Thank you!
