Animals find new homes at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Animals find new homes at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs has expanded and improved its facilities over the past few years. The park now showcases its animals in includes 57 large natural habitat enclosures — ranging in size from 5,000 to 20,000 square feet. The refuge also recently celebrated the construction and opening of its on-site, state-of-the-art veterinary clinic.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs has expanded and improved its facilities over the past few years. The park now showcases its animals in includes 57 large natural habitat enclosures — ranging in size from 5,000 to 20,000 square feet. The refuge also recently celebrated the construction and opening of its on-site, state-of-the-art veterinary clinic.

Tanya Smith dreams big. But then, taking care of big cats requires big dreams.

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Courtesy Photo

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is home to more than 100 exotic and native cats, six black bears, one grizzly bear and a variety of other animals. For more than 20 years, the family of president and co-founder Tanya Smith has rescued and rehabilitated neglected and abused victims of the exotic pet trade. A tiger is shown in this photo.

photo

Courtesy Photo

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is home to more than 100 exotic and native cats, six black bears, one grizzly bear and a variety of other animals. For more than 20 years, the family of president and co-founder Tanya Smith has rescued and rehabilitated neglected and abused victims of the exotic pet trade. A lion is shown in this photo.

photo

Courtesy Photo

In 2012, Turpentine Creek staff rescued 34 tigers, leopards and cougars from a private facility in Mountainburg, the largest rescue in the refuge’s history until last fall, when it took over a facility in Colorado that housed 110 animals. In a little more than a month’s time, Turpentine added 27 new animals to the Arkansas facility, bringing its total population of animal residents to more than 110. Staff also worked hard to find homes for many of the other animals that remained in Colorado. A bobcat is shown.

Smith is president and co-founder of Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, an exotic wildlife sanctuary federally licensed and regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Located in Eureka Springs, this nonprofit organization currently includes 57 large natural habitat enclosures -- ranging in size from 5,000 to 20,000 square feet -- in which more than 100 exotic and native cats, six black bears, one grizzly bear and a variety of other animals reside.

A second-generation owner, Smith saw a big dream of the refuge come true in August with the grand opening of the facility's on-site veterinary clinic, officially named the Jackson Memorial Veterinary Hospital in memory of her parents who started the refuge. The new veterinary hospital is the culmination of years of planning, hard work and hundreds of thousands of donated dollars.

For more than 20 years, the refuge has worked with veterinarian Ron Eby at his state-of-the-art St. Francis Veterinary Clinic, located 30 miles from the refuge near Berryville. However, it's one thing to improve the health of a 5-pound domestic house cat, and quite another to rehabilitate a 300-plus-pound neglected and abused victim of the exotic pet trade.

Thus, the new Turpentine large mammal hospital means the veterinarian can treat the animals on-site, running blood work, taking X-rays and performing surgeries. "The animal doesn't have to leave the refuge, and it's safer for the animals and the staff," explains Smith. "There are three big recovery cages inside, with sliding walls so we can do what we need to. There are heated floors in the recovery room. It's just going to make everything smoother and easier."

Additionally, the veterinary center serves as a unique educational tool. Local staff has the ability to share information with vets throughout the world via cameras and video conferencing. Veterinary students, interns and others in related fields also can view sterile-environment surgeries through viewing windows outside the operating area.

"We over-built it, which is going to be awesome," Smith says. "Some of those interns that have become vets are chomping at the bit to get back here."

A permanent staff of seven biologists and zoologists and an intern staff of approximately 16 college graduates meet the daily care, enrichment and other needs of the animals. More than 400 interns have worked at the refuge since 1996. Internships are offered twice a year for six-month stints. TCWR alumni are scattered all over the world -- some work at zoos and refuges, some are patrol and wildlife officers in national parks, and others work at veterinarian hospitals, or as researchers and videographers.

"The team we've developed here has made a big difference," says Smith. "The interns just care so deep-hearted about the animals."

Turpentine operates on an annual $1.98 million budget. "That's with all of us making next to nothing and working long hours," Smith says. Revenue streams include a small admission fee, special event fundraising, educational programs, lodging, gift shop sales, memberships, animal adoptions and sponsorships, and private donations.

"It's been a great year for progress," Smith adds. She has watched this refuge of humble beginnings mature as a sanctuary. Turpentine has grown substantially in the last five years. The goal is no longer just getting the animals out of small concrete floor cages. Finally, they all have grass under their feet. So the focus of the facility has changed dramatically.

"The big rescue got us a lot of attention," says Smith. "Lots of media attention. We grew flat, then exponential. It feels like that is where we are now."

The "big rescue" to which Smith refers included 34 tigers, leopards and cougars from a private facility in Mountainburg in 2012. It was the largest rescue in TCWR's history until last fall, when it took over a facility in Colorado that housed 110 animals. In a little more than a month's time, Turpentine added 27 new animals to the Arkansas facility, bringing its total population of animal residents to more than 110. Staff also worked hard to find homes for many of the other animals that remained in Colorado.

In addition to the media coverage it has received for its big rescues, Smith also attributes the tipping point for the refuge's growth to its donor base and social media.

It was 1996 before the refuge owned a computer. Now, staff are in a digital world where everything is instantaneous. "We can write a blog, and someone can immediately read it and make a donation," Smith says. "Then, the growth of Northwest Arkansas is part of it too. [The refuge] can't help but grow. People love coming out here."

Admission is an all-day pass that includes a guided walking tour, as well as access to the self-guided area. Walking tours led by knowledgeable interns and staff last about 45 minutes. Groups can make special arrangements. Trolley tours are available, too. There are a variety of lodging options -- suites overlooking big cat habitats, a tree house bungalow, safari lodges and a small RV park.

What's next as the refuge works to improve the care of its big cats? Smith says the organization is fundraising to replace the gift shop building. "We've been here 24 years now, so things just wear out after a while," she explains. Ideas for improvement to the refuge include a new parking area, construction of a new gift shop, a multipurpose room with capacity for 200, an education center with interactive displays, a cafe, storm shelter and improved green spaces for guests.

An old green building near the current entry was recently torn down and will be replaced with two habitats that will be bigger than any of the others. New signage is in the works as part of the refuge's mission to educate. The refuge board is looking at an "Education Station" area with benches on which to sit and watch the animals on "rescue ridge."

"People are still learning that the cats can't be released to the wild," Smith explains. "If we're not educating along the way, we're wasting our time."

In addition to new plans, TCWR must always keep up-to-date with changing regulations. For example, staff is currently raising all of the habitats by two feet to meet new USDA regulations.

As Turpentine grows, Smith continues to dream. For example, she'd like to see a glass viewing area like at the El Paso Zoo. The refuge has 459 acres for development, including flat parcels and hillsides that lead to a creek running across the property.

"We've talked about everything from gondola rides down there to ...," Smith laughs. "Might as well dream big if you're going to dream."

In reality, the refuge always need money, materials and people. When possible, TCWR uses materials from its own land -- such as clay for the roads -- but most services, materials, contractors and construction companies need to be paid. TCWR uses local folks for these endeavors as much as possible. Then, there are the basic expenses of running the business.

Smith says they've had very few grants written for any of their work, and she would welcome help in that area. The refuge is always in need of donations.

"We can break it down into bite-size pieces if people want to support the dreams and plans," Smith explains. "You can even buy a brick." For example, donors can purchase a bench for humans for $750, a bench for animals for $1,000, a ball or small barrel for $300 or a habitat for $25,000.

"We have some great supporters like Fred and Sherry Sieber of Rogers, who provided habitats for four tigers," Smith says. "That's unusual." Some habitats don't even have a sponsor.

During the first big rescue, more than 800 people donated to the development of Rescue Ridge, which is not open to the public. "It's a place animals need in transition [to the refuge]," Smith explains.

Much of the meat and animal food products for these carnivores are donated by several major corporations like Tyson Foods and Walmart. Typically, TCWR feeds between 800 to 1,200 pounds of raw meat per day to the animals under its care.

TCWR does not buy, sell, trade, loan or breed animals. Its animals generally come from private owners who have relinquished responsibility or are otherwise unable to care for them. Some animals in cases of abuse, neglect or public safety are seized by law enforcement authorization.

TCWR is dedicated to the rescue and care of these unwanted, neglected and abused victims of the exotic pet trade, with an emphasis on big cats and bear. Smith advocates for protective bills to stop the trade of these animals.

"To maintain over 100 [animals] for over 20 years is crazy," Smith says. "That's why it's so important for me to set this up as a foundation." Until federal laws are passed and humans stop breeding and selling big cats and bears, sanctuaries like TCWR will always be necessary.

"So we stay true to our mission," Smith says. "It's a great mission. I'm as excited as I've ever been about it."

NAN What's Up on 01/20/2017

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