Cupid must have been working overtime last week because the morning after Valentine’s day, Clayton County along with the rest of Indiana fell in love with Krixis, Kadira, and Gaia. Three new tigers that were rescued from Texas and brought to the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point, IN; the second largest center in the United States to take in big cats.

EFRC hand painted logo.

Four-year-old brother and sister Krixis and Kadira along with two-year-old Gaia were rescued from a self-surrendered owner in Texas that unfortunately could not provide them with the care they were in dire need of. Sadly, faculty at the rescue center says it’s normal for them to take in exotic felines that came from desolate, low-quality conditions. The three tigers were living in a 30-by-30 metal building with wire-mesh walls.

Wire fence cage dividing exotic felines from people.

Rebecca Stevenson, head keeper at the EFRC said “Lions and tigers need a lot more room, a lot more care. There vet care is obviously going to be a lot more expensive versus a cougar or a leopard is like a big dog.

These tigers are now given exceptional space with playpens, are well fed, and are thankfully receiving regular veterinarian care. This is very necessary in this case because the newest male, Krixus has inverted eyelids. The caretakers at the EFRC do not know if Krixus has the ability to see nor if he’s in discomfort. The EFRC says their veterinarian is going to see if his condition is fixable, but if not Krixus will eventually have to be transported to the University of Illinois for surgery in order to give him his best chance at life.

Just like humans, every big cat adjusts at their own pace. Due to Krixus’s condition, he’s not going to adjust well if he cannot see nor is aware of what’s going on. Luckily, he has his sister Kadira and his female companion Gaia that help look out for him and build his confidence. The Exotic Feline Rescue Center consistently praises them and is hoping that Kadira and Gaia can make this known to Krixus. The three cats are typically hanging out together or separately doing their own thing around their playpen.

“I think they’re all pretty independent animals, but then they also kind of needed each other for that kind of emotional support when they first came here,” said Stevenson.

According to the EFRC, Kadira is adapting to the surroundings more quickly than Krixus and Gaia.  The second day after arriving, Kadira walked over to the caretakers making a sound called chuffing.  Chuffing is non-threatening way of vocalization and is commonly used when two cats have been introduced to each other or to another being. Eventually Kadira  walked to the front of her enclosure to accept her food. Kadira accepting food and chuffing. The staff was pleased since tigers normally do not adjust to new environments so quickly.

In-Sync Exotics is a rescue center the EFRC has worked with before on other rescues and were kind enough to bring the new big cats to Indiana. A crew from In-Sync Exotics drove a trailer that was able to put tigers in spacious cages and comfortably transport them from Texas to their new home in Clayton County.

The Exotic Feline Rescue Center is a one hundred percent nonprofit organization so since their funds are tight the center in Texas was extremely helpful. The EFRC says they are more than willing to repay the favor if need be to the Texas center.