Big Cat rescue expands facilities

EAST COUNTY — Kay Rosaire doesn’t miss much as she zooms around on a dusty golf cart at the Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Animal Rescue, where she has made a permanent home for lions, tigers, bears and other animals for the last eight years.

She sports leopard-print pants and sunglasses decorated with big cats as she pauses to answer her phone and then talks with a visitor about a potential fundraiser.

In recent weeks, Rosaire and her staff at the nonprofit have been especially busy, creating new spaces for the wildlife for which they care. Such renovations always have been part of Rosaire’s long-term plan for the sanctuary, but heavy rains and overcrowding sped up the need to construct improved facilities for the animals.

“We decided we need to do better,” Rosaire said.

The sanctuary celebrated the grand opening of the new animal facilities, which include an aviary, primate “condominiums,” a koi pond and an expanded petting zoo area, Nov. 20. Donations and admission fees to the rescue and its programs funded the $150,000 project.

“The financial part (of raising money for this project and for the animals’ care) is difficult, but the toughest part is (not being able to) help animals (at times),” Rosaire said.

On Monday, the rescue facility launched its new membership program, as well. Memberships allow individuals to visit the sanctuary as often as they like throughout the year, for an annual fee.

“Our future is bright,” Rosaire said. “It’s been twice as much as we thought and taken twice as long, but we’re really blessed.”

Rosaire said the sanctuary also is preparing to take in two elephants — a feat for which the organization needs to raise a total of $150,000. The project will include a 100-foot-by-70-foot structure and outdoor yard space on three of the sanctuary’s 30 acres. The animals, which will be retiring, likely will come to the rescue in about two years.

“We’re deeply committed to the human-animal connection,” Rosaire said, noting the sanctuary, in many ways, is designed to allow the public to interact with the animals. “It’s part of our conservation philosophy. A world without animals would be unlivable.”

About the rescue
Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Animal Rescue is a nonprofit safe haven for big cats, bears and other animals. The organization also provides education to the public to foster appreciation for animals.
The habitat is open to the public from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Animal-training demonstrations are held at 2 p.m.

Admission is $15 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under. Annual passes now are available as well.

For more information or a schedule of events, visit bigcathabitat.org.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].