Wildcat Sanctuary Roaring After 25 Years

Lions, tigers and other wild cats live at Sandstone facility all grown up after its "mom and pop" beginning.

The idea was to rescue some wild animals–maybe a bobcat or two. Twenty-five years later, it covers acres and acres and has big cats from around the world.

Lions, tigers and more now live near Sandstone, Minnesota. Although they do roam within fences, the goal of all the space and open air at the Wildcat Sanctuary is to provide the animals the best possible living space and conditions.

There are over one hundred and fifty animals on the grounds. When Tammy Thies turned an idea into reality, she didn’t realize the full size, scope and need for what she oversees today.

“The need is still there but luckily coming from a small, little mom and pop rescue that I formed in my back yard [it developed into] a state-of-the-art facility, with trained staff, safety procedures, free-roaming habitat, on-site hospital,” said Thies.

“Twenty-five years has served us well to be able to continue to rescue big cats from the illegal trade.”

The sanctuary is just that–a place for the animals to adapt, rehab if necessary, and live out a life as close to normal as possible.

After taking in and seeing many of other people’s mistakes and bad decisions, Thies says owning a wild animal is not a good idea.

The cats the sanctuary cares for can never be released back into the wild. Meanwhile, she takes satisfaction in knowing what a quarter century of care has meant to so many creatures.

“Lions behind us, they are eighteen years old. So, whenever we take in a new resident we have a twenty-year commitment. But our job is to give them a little piece of compassion and a little bit of dignity left,” Thies said.

“Because they can never be released into the wild. And here at the sanctuary we are celebrating twenty-five years of saving lives. And to just walk around today and see lions caroling, tigers sleeping and cats just being cats, it’s just the best gift we could get back after twenty-five years of doing our rescue work,” said Thies.

The increased size and sophistication of the grounds has not only allowed it to help more animals. It has also helped educate people around the globe about the problems, challenges, majesty and beauty in the world of wild and exotic animals.