By Zachary Horner, Chatham News + Record Staff
One of the tigers at Carolina Tiger Rescue observes visitors Saturday during the sanctuary’s re-opening.
The cats roamed in their spaces, but no one was there to watch.
Not in person anyway.
But Carolina Tiger Rescue, a nonprofit animal sanctuary on Hanks Chapel Road in Pittsboro, kept its animals in the eyes of the populus through its social media channels with livestreams and other videos, some of which received thousands of views.
“It allowed people who would normally be allowed to come out and visit to see them,” said Louise Orr, CTR’s communications director, “know that they were doing well and happy and healthy.”
It was that connection between cats and humans that CTR reestablished — in person anyway — on Friday when the sanctuary re-opened to the public after being shuttered for nearly two and a half months. Entities like Carolina Tiger Rescue were not included in Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order on essential businesses, but with Phase 2 of the state’s re-opening in full swing, and protocols for social distancing in place, it was time to get back to work.
“We are really looking forward to having everyone back,” CTR Director Pam Fulk said in a May 22 press release. “It’s been a long two-and-a-half months, but the support we’ve received has been overwhelming. We’re excited to be able to resume operations and continue showing visitors how important it is to care for and protect these animals.”
A Carolina Tiger Rescue staff member prepares some animal food on Saturday. The sanctuary re-opened to the public for tours for the first time in weeks.
Like many organizations and businesses forced to close, the animal sanctuary lost revenue during the pandemic. Orr said around 30 percent of CTR’s annual income is from tours of the grounds, all of which were canceled. But, Orr said, several members of the community stepped up to help the nonprofit financially.
“The generosity from the community has been overwhelming in the best way,” she said. “We feel incredibly lucky that so many people are passionate about what we do. We really can’t say thank you enough to everyone for showing that generosity.”
But with nearly 50 animals on the premises — ranging from tigers and lions to kinkajous and servals — work still had to be done. Orr said staff came to the grounds in a limited capacity to help with animal care, while volunteers and “non-essential” staff worked from home.
The sanctuary also got a new rescue during the shutdown — a one-year-old coatimundi named Daisy. Coatimundis are in the same animal family as raccoons. Daisy came to CTR through a private owner and will spend four weeks in quarantine before being moved to her enclosure.
Things will be different when it comes to tours initially. The 10 a.m. Friday tours are reserved for “vulnerably members of the public,” and all tours will be limited to 12 individuals and a guide “who will remain six feet apart at all times,” according to a statement from CTR. Everyone on site will be required to wear cloth masks, and occupancy in the rescue’s gift shop will be limited.
But with regular visitors and potentially new ones now able to visit CTR’s campus, Orr said staff are ready to go.
“We’re excited to just have people back,” she said. “Staffers are excited to have normal activities resume around the sanctuary. It was pretty quiet out there for a while. So many people that are part of the Carolina Tiger Rescue community, over the course of years even, have formed relationships with the animals that we care for. That’s probably what we’re most excited about — people can finally go back out and catch up with the animals.”
One of the tigers at Carolina Tiger Rescue observes visitors Saturday during the sanctuary’s re-opening.
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