PITTSBORO, N.C. – Tucked away in the quiet, unassuming heart of central North Carolina, there are some unexpected animals. For five decades, lions, tigers, cougars and even caracals have been roaming portions of Carolina Tiger Rescue’s 50-acre farm in rural Chatham County.   

What You Need To Know

  • Caroline Tiger Rescue was founded 50 years ago, and it's home to 12 unique species of animals with a mission to never buy, sell or breed animals
  • Many of its animals are rescues from private owners, mom-and-pop zoos, traveling circuses and pay-to-play operations  
  • In recent years, the center has become a holding facility for endangered red wolves  
  • Carolina Tiger Rescue is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a fundraiser: Black Tie & Tail Ball  

 

What started 50 years ago as a breeding and research program for endangered species has now evolved into a conservation center focused on rescue efforts and education.  

“They’re coming from a private owner who had no vet care for them, and they were dying of treatable diseases. You have animals that were part of a pay-to-play where they were bred over and over and over again, so there were cubs so that you could have the opportunity to go and take a picture with them,” said Kathryn Bertok, the assistant director at Carolina Tiger Rescue. 

Bertok has seen it all during her 25 years at Carolina Tiger Rescue. Animals like Shailah, one of four here that were a part of the true crime Netflix documentary, “Tiger King.”  

“She is one of the many animals that were finally confiscated from Jeff Lowe,” Bertok said of the beautiful white tiger.  

In the past, Shailah paced due to stress and frustration. But here, Bertok says it’s caused by enrichment, the excitement and anticipation of getting to use her fur to roll around in paint to create a masterpiece.  

“She really, really digs getting into the paint,” Bertok said of the tiger, covered in blue, green and orange.  

Bertok’s own journey here started in the late 1990s as an intern, and admits it was an unconventional choice from the start.  

“I’m allergic to cats. I didn’t grow up with cats. And then I came here, and I spent the summer doing my internship, and I never wanted to leave,” Bertok said.  

So she didn’t. She instead put in the work and moved up the ranks to assistant director where she now helps a mostly female staff care for 12 incredible species of animals and also helps educate the public on how they got here.    

“Having that ability to bring people out, meet these animals, learn about them and the impacts that they have on their lives is invaluable,” Bertok said.  

For a number of reasons, Bertok says they wouldn’t survive in the wild, so instead these animals are offered special treats, tucked inside the enticing smells of used Christmas trees. 

“Being able to watch these guys even play with a cardboard box and to, you know, play with boomer balls and to do all sorts of silliness, this is the reason why we do the work,” Bertok said with a smile.   

It’s courageous work that requires compassion, commitment and true grit, a mission of conservation and unwavering support.  

“That type of dedication, there’s nothing like it in the world, and I can see how we’re starting to make a difference,” Bertok said.  

In recent years, Carolina Tiger Rescue has also become a holding facility for endangered red-wolves and hopes to expand its presence on the grounds in Pittsboro in the near future to help even more animals.

But it takes a lot of donations and volunteers to help the nonprofit run. So it’s hosting a celebratory 50th anniversary Black Tie & Tails Ball fundraiser on Feb. 24. To learn more about their mission, to volunteer or get involved, visit their website.