Oregon Tiger Sanctuary
Big Cat Biographies    (Work in Progress - Bio's are being added daily)


Name:  Raja
Species:  Siberian/Bengal Mix Tiger
Rescue Circumstance:

Saved from euthanasia at age 9 months


Name:  Tara
Species:  Siberian/Bengal Mix Tiger
Rescue Circumstance:

Saved from euthanasia at age 9 months

Raja and his sister Tara are rescues from the exotic animal business.  They were used for having their pictures taken in a shopping mall when they were cubs and were slated for euthanasia when they got too old for safe pictures.  Raja has the kindest disposition of any of our big cats.  In their early years at the Sanctuary they were trained by OTS director and founder Penny Torres and used to educate people about the plight of wild ones in captivity.






Name:  Alladin
Species:  Bengal Tiger
Rescue Circumstance:

Saved from a canned hunt

Aladdin, the first tiger to arrive at OTS in 1991, was scheduled to be killed in a canned hunt.  We rescued him from a local pet store and brought him to the Oregon Mountains where his life now includes playing with boomer balls, swimming in our Tiger Pool, and watching other Tigers on Tiger Island.






Name:  Togar
Species:  Siberian Tiger
Rescue Circumstance:

Abandoned at 1 month old


Name:  Kali
Species:  Siberian Tiger
Rescue Circumstance:

Abandoned at 1 month old

Raised from 1 month of age, and bottle fed, Togar is known for his mooing sound when he wants his bottle.  Togar is one of our largest tigers and has a very gentle disposition.  He loves to swim in the Tiger Island Pool early in the morning before feeding.  Kali, his sister, lives at the other end of the compound as a neighbor to Raja.






Name:  White Rajah
Species:  Siberian/Bengal Mix Tiger
Rescue Circumstance:

Came from abusive public animal show

White Rajah was rescued by OTS after years of performing and abusive treatment.  Some of his trainers from a well-known animal park asked us to rescue him as the park was planning to send Rajah to a very poor facility.






Name:  Bashu
Species:  Mix of Siberian, White Tiger, Lion
Rescue Circumstance:

Arrived in desperate need of medical attention


Name:  Tulku
Species:  Siberian Tiger
Rescue Circumstance:

Arrived in desperate need of medical attention

Bashu, a white tiger, came as a cub to OTS with his brother Tulku, and immediately required medical attention for an eye infection that was life threatening.  Bashu loves when people come to visit at OTS and he is happy to be the recipient of a milk bottle on the OTS tour.  Tulku loves any opportunity to swim in the Tiger Island pool running around like he has been there for the first time.






Name:  Shamus
Species:  Siberian/Bengal Mix Tiger
Rescue Circumstance:

Entertainment Industry

Shamus was being trained to work in the entertainment industry.  He was not enjoying that type of work so he was retired to OTS.  He loves living next to Natasha (his girlfriend) and looking out at the beautiful Oregon skies.






Name:  Little Indi
Species:  Bengal Mix Tiger
Rescue Circumstance:

Rescued in a drug bust

Little Indi arrived at OTS from a drug house confiscation in Florida.  Her childhood included being fully de-clawed, chained in a warehouse, being fed junk food and being physically beaten.  To this day she still walks with a severe limp but in her great home on Tiger Island she can now play, run, jump and enjoy her life.  She often times is found chuffing at the male tigers on Tiger Island.






Name:  Seri
Species:  Siberian/Bengal Mix Tiger
Rescue Circumstance:

Saved from euthenasia, Rescued from breeder who could not find buyer


Name:  Beru
Species:  Siberian/Bengal Mix Tiger
Rescue Circumstance:

Saved from euthenasia, Rescued from breeder who could not find buyer


Name:  Natasha
Species:  Siberian/Bengal Mix Tiger
Rescue Circumstance:

Saved from euthenasia, Rescued from breeder who could not find buyer

Seri, Beru, Natasha – Rescued as cubs that had nowhere to go.  They are very well adjusted, happy tigers, because they grew up at the Oregon Tiger Sanctuary.  Seri and Beru live side by side and have an adjacent enclosure which they share.  This provides endless opportunities to mark and pee on each other’s things.  Natasha lives running back and forth between her two boyfriends, White Rajah and Shamus.






Name:  Wildman
Species:  Cougar
Rescue Circumstance:

Found running loose in Oregon town

OTS agreed to give Wildman a home after he was found running loose in the town of Ontario, Oregon.  Oregon Fish and Wildlife contacted us and arranged the transfer.  Wildman lives in a 50x30 enclosure with full-grown trees and a den box 20 feet off the ground.  The ramp to his den box serves as a platform for hunting and watching the big cat crew and those who might walk by.






Name:  Jesse
Species:  Cougar
Rescue Circumstance:

Rescued from ill equiped, under educated private owner

Jesse was rescued from a private owner who was no longer equipped to have a big cat.  She was declawed on all four paws.  With extra joint supplementation and omega-3 she is doing very well.  Thankfully, the USDA no longer allows declawing of big cats and it is also not supported by the America Association of Zoo Veterinarians.  Jesse loves getting up very early in the morning to play with her boomer ball and call out for her breakfast.






Name:  Nyla
Species:  African Lion
Rescue Circumstance:

Rescued from private owner

Nyla was rescued from a private owner when she began to chew her way through a chain link cage after being provoked by kids with a laser light pen.  Nyla’s medical background involved ringworm, fire ants and malnutrition.  Her enclosure was filled with urine sodden straw and dead chickens.  Nyla now lives with Gabriel, a male lion, who provides her with tremendous companionship.






Name:  Kenya
Species:  African Lion
Rescue Circumstance:

Abandoned by motion picture industry


Name:  Kaleb
Species:  African Lion
Rescue Circumstance:

Abandoned by motion picture industry

Kenya is a beautiful lioness that came to OTS as a reject from the motion picture industry.  She lives with Kaleb and they enjoy a full life together.  Kaleb came to OTS from the motion picture industry after being badly abused on jobs.  He has found home in the peaceful days at OTS sharing time with Kenya and rubbing on the cedar boughs put in his cage for his enjoyment.






Name:  Maya
Species:  Black Leopard
Rescue Circumstance:

Rescued from neglectful situation


Name:  Maku
Species:  Black Leopard
Rescue Circumstance:

Rescued from neglectful situation

Rescued with her brother Maku, Maya was born with a deformed leg which was aggravated by malnourishment.  She was bottle fed and nursed to health at OTS.  Maya loves to climb her trees, chew on her daily bone and run circles around her brother.  Maya and Maku play in their cage with enhancement toys like frisbees, buckets and grass given to them by their keepers.  Maku developed congenital cataracts that required lens-removal surgery and developed epilepsy at 1 year of age.  He requires daily anti-seizure medication and close monitoring.



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Oregon Tiger Sanctuary
Primate Biographies    (Work in Progress - Bio's are being added daily)


Name:  Toby
Species:  Spider Monkey
Rescue Circumstance:

Rescued from abusive pet store

Toby was living in a 3’x3’ crate at a cattle auction house and was sold to a local pet store.  At the pet store Toby was often harassed by customers and poked and prodded.  OTS rescued Toby and upon his arrival he was so weak he could not hold or swing on a rope.  He now lives in an enclosure that touches the sky and we often find him sitting high in his crows nest, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket, holding his toy babies (stuffed toys he is never without).  Toby drinks his bottle all by himself, often while hanging upside down.  Toby is also the elder primate who alerts the crew to any visitors arriving at the Sanctuary.  One of the most charming qualities about Toby is the way he holds his hands to his heart and happy squeaks each time he greets a member of his OTS family.






Name:  Martin
Species:  Celebes Macaque
Rescue Circumstance:

Rescued from private breeder

Marty arrived at OTS from a Florida breeder when he was just a baby in 1994. He lived with his best friend Audrey (African Vervet) in a beautiful enclosure for many years.  During this time he developed insulin dependent diabetes and cataracts and had to be moved into a separate enclosure. He happily cooperates with his keepers for his 3 times a day testing and insulin shots.  Marty, like all our primates, is extremely intelligent and despite his very poor vision he still manages to get into many interesting situations with his neighbor Samantha the baboon.






Name:  Puck
Species:  Spider Monkey
Rescue Circumstance:

Rescued from neglectful owners

Puck is a Spider Monkey from Alabama who was rescued by the New York ASPCA in 1996.  His story reflects the many who come from uneducated private owners.  He had rickets; a broken tail in two places and his neck leash was growing into his skin.  On a sunny day at OTS you will find Puck sitting on a pillow and a fuzzy that he places on the ground outside for having a picnic.  Or maybe swinging on his swing, while simultaneously flipping around bars in a manner that would inspire any Olympic gymnast.  He now lives a happy, exuberant life next door to his spider monkey friend Marvin.






Name:  Marvin
Species:  Spider Monkey
Rescue Circumstance:

Rescued from freezing chicken coop

Prior to being rescued by OTS, Marvin lived in a chicken coop in the Oregon winter with very little care from his private owner.  He was so happy to arrive at OTS and have a large indoor and outdoor enclosure with lots of bars and also to have plenty of special stuffed animals and toys to play with.  He is a neighbor to Puck and both spider monkey boys enjoy each other’s company.






Name:  George
Species:  Squirrel Monkey
Rescue Circumstance:

Found in a New York City School locker

George is a 12-year-old squirrel Monkey who was found in a school locker in NYC and rescued by the ASPCA in 1995.  OTS worked with the New York ASPCA and George soon came to OTS.  George lost his companion, Suzie (squirrel monkey) to cancer 4 years ago, but still lives besides his friends - two squirrel monkeys, Squeaky and Polly.  George loves to swing in his basket and shake his rattles, chirping happily  He is easily entertained and yes, he does fit the name, “Curious” George.


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