Tim Gress, 52, feeds Kali, a Bengal tiger, at the Augusta Conservation Education sanctuary in Augusta, Georgia, U.S. He rescued the big cat 15 years ago from a breeder who abandoned its mother in unsanitary conditions.
Tim Gress, 52, feeds Kali, a Bengal tiger, at the Augusta Conservation Education sanctuary in Augusta, Georgia, U.S. He rescued the big cat 15 years ago from a breeder who abandoned its mother in unsanitary conditions.
Robert Shaw
Gress says: "There are always going to be tigers in captivity in the U.S. You're never going to stop it. There are too many that they don't even know exist." Gress opened his sanctuary about 22 years ago while working full time as an electrician.
Gress says: "There are always going to be tigers in captivity in the U.S. You're never going to stop it. There are too many that they don't even know exist." Gress opened his sanctuary about 22 years ago while working full time as an electrician.
Robert Shaw
Kali, pictured here, was taken in by the Big Cat Rescue sanctuary in Tampa, Florida, founded by Carole Baskin.
Kali, pictured here, was taken in by the Big Cat Rescue sanctuary in Tampa, Florida, founded by Carole Baskin.
Robert Shaw
Before entering a tiger cage, you have to greet the tiger, or "chuff" -- the sound, explains Gress, that tigers make when they come across each other in the wild. "You don't turn your back, you move in a circular motion in a corner of the pen. If they're startled, then that means when you go inside, you're probably not going to have a good experience," he laughs.
Before entering a tiger cage, you have to greet the tiger, or "chuff" -- the sound, explains Gress, that tigers make when they come across each other in the wild. "You don't turn your back, you move in a circular motion in a corner of the pen. If they're startled, then that means when you go inside, you're probably not going to have a good experience," he laughs.
Robert Shaw
Gress, his former wife and two sons pose with Kali. He says his animals were living very contently. "They had covered enclosures, they had swimming pools, they had fresh meat and water daily."
Gress, his former wife and two sons pose with Kali. He says his animals were living very contently. "They had covered enclosures, they had swimming pools, they had fresh meat and water daily."
Robert Shaw
Home to a lynx, cougar, leopards, ligers (tiger and lion hybrid), several big lions, a gray wolf (Nanook, pictured here) and a black bear, Gress needed to wind down the operation as it had become too big to handle.
Home to a lynx, cougar, leopards, ligers (tiger and lion hybrid), several big lions, a gray wolf (Nanook, pictured here) and a black bear, Gress needed to wind down the operation as it had become too big to handle.
Robert Shaw
Gress' ex-wife shows affection to the sanctuary's black bear, named Tegrid. "They (the animals) didn't ask to be in a cage in the United States," says Gress. "But they're here. And it's our job to make them comfortable."
Gress' ex-wife shows affection to the sanctuary's black bear, named Tegrid. "They (the animals) didn't ask to be in a cage in the United States," says Gress. "But they're here. And it's our job to make them comfortable."
Robert Shaw