Big Cat Rescue

Big Cat Rescue

Big Cat Rescue Corp. operates an animal sanctuary in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. It rescues and houses exotic cats, and rehabilitates injured or orphaned native wild cats. In 2019, BCR had 51 animals — 17 big cats and 34 small cats of 11 species. The center is part of the International Tiger Coalition, which is dedicated to stopping the trade of tiger parts.

About Big Cat Rescue in brief

Summary Big Cat RescueBig Cat Rescue Corp. operates an animal sanctuary in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. It rescues and houses exotic cats, and rehabilitates injured or orphaned native wild cats. In 2019, BCR had 51 animals — 17 big cats and 34 small cats of 11 species including bobcat, Canada lynx, caracal, cougar, Eurasian lynx,. jaguar, leopard, lion, ocelot, serval, and tiger — down from 66 in 2018. BCR has been accredited by Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries since 2009, and has received 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator for 2007–2017. In March 2020, Big Cat Rescue temporarily closed to the public due to the coronavirus pandemic in Florida.

The center is part of the International Tiger Coalition, which is dedicated to stopping the trade of tiger parts. In 2013, following a 2011 lawsuit, Joseph Maldonado-Passage, aka ‘Joe Exotic’, attempted to hire a hitman to kill Carole Baskin, Chief Executive Officer of Big Cat rescue, who had won a lawsuit against him in 2013. He was arrested and convicted of two counts of murder-for-hire, eight violations of the Lacey Act and nine of the Endangered Species Act.