Big cat sanctuary offers new life to tigers in Germany

The "Big Cat Station" was opened by animal protection association "Tierart" on Wednesday in the German town of Maßweiler. The converted former US army base has the capacity to hold six to eight tigers that have been rescued from inadequate living standards.

The project, which cost an estimated 1.1 million euros ($1.2 million), was financed by animal charity, "Vier Pfoten" (Four Paws).

"All around the world tens of thousands of big cats live and suffer in circuses, poorly managed zoos, or with private owners. Many of the animals live in a confined space, are poorly fed, sick and disturbed," Heli Dungler, founder and president of "Vier Pfoten" said.

Rescued trio

Among the first three tigers to have moved into the rescue station was two-year-old Cara. In December, the tigress was seized by Italian authorities from a farmhouse in Naples before she was transported to an animal home in Rüsselheim.

At her new home in Maßweiler, Cara will benefit from even more space in her own 1000 square meter enclosure and, for the first time, will also have contact with other animals.

Joining her at the enclosure are brother and sister, Bela and Shahrukh, who made the 300-kilometer journey from Ochsenhausen to Maßweiler last week.

The siblings previously lived with a private breeder, Roland Rohr. German authorities had given Rohr until the end of the year to increase the size of the siblings' enclosure which he was unable to do due to the 30,000-35,000 euro price tag.

Tigers settling in

Speaking to Deutsche Welle on Wednesday "Vier Pfoten" representative Anika Hübner said that the tigers had arrived well and were already settling in as they basked in Germany's summer sun.

"The enclosures have been kitted out to make the tigers feel at home," Hübner said.

"We have great things like a pool, huge sandstones and, of course, sufficient space and enrichment toys for the animals," she added.

The plan is for Cara to socialize with the siblings before they move into a larger enclosure as a trio.

Lost animals

The sanctuary in Maßweiler is the latest in a small handful of such centers across Europe.

James Brueckner, Head of Wildlife and Nature Conservation at the German Animal Protection Association (Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V.) told Deutsche Welle that the sanctuaries provide a much-needed lifeline for the animals. The association estimates that there are currently over 300 circuses traveling across Europe which include around 150 lions and tigers.

"Until now there were almost no rescue stations or possibilities to remove animals from bad conditions or where they're given up freely," Brueckner explained.

"Normal zoos don’t take on such animals because their genetic background is unknown or they can't establish any species protection," he told DW.

As a result, it is often the case that the animals must stay with their private owner or circus.

Call for legislation

Brueckner stressed, however, that while the rescue centers provide a way out for animals the German state can still provide more, both financially as well as legally.

Besides checking the legal ownership of the animal and that it has the recommended space, German authorities are left with little power to take action, with no legally binding restrictions currently in place.

Small steps of progress have been seen in recent year, however. Some German states, such as Hessen and Berlin, have already imposed regulations which prohibit the ownership of dangerous animals. Similarly, in Bavaria, owners must hold a permit.

In May 2014, the minimum enclosure requirements stipulated by Germany's Federal Ministry for Nutrition and Agriculture were also increased from 40 square meters to 200 square meters per animal. Failure to abide by the measurements has no legal consequences, however.

"It's still not enough in our opinion but when someone wants to own a tiger privately, then it's no longer so easy," Brueckner told DW.

Hübner shared Brueckner's sentiments, adding that "Vier Pfoten" believed a Europe-wide law would be the best solution.

"Of course at the moment there are regulations, but they are more like recommendations which aren't as controlled.

"So we're pushing for a nationwide, if not Europe-wide, law which legally stipulates what the minimum standards are, with appropriate sanctions if the regulations are not fulfilled," Hübner told DW.

Halfway house

The hope in the meantime is for more tigers like Cara, Bela and Shahrukh to experience a new kind of freedom in sanctuaries such as the Big Cat Station. If rescued at a young age, disturbances such a "pacing" - as a result of being kept in a confined space - can be avoided.

Due to their lack of experience in the wild, however, the tigers have no chance of ever seeing their natural habitat.