http://www.exoticfelinerescuecenter.org/home.html

I visited this refuge in June, 2006 and it was thrilling and saddening and kinda creepy. (There’s one segment of the tour where you’re walking between cages about eight feet apart. One side has Very Interested Tigers in it, walking along with you; the other has Not As Interested Lions. Still extremely intimidating). So many of the cats’ stories are dreadful.

This refuge is unusual for a few reasons. One: the cages didn’t have rope barriers in front of them. Now rope barriers don’t prevent a halfwit (or child for that matter), from walking up and sticking his/her hand in a cage but it’s psychological barrier for a visitor. You have a sense that you’re safe from behind the rope and the cats have the same sense, that strangers won’t be invading their homes.

So, in the section where I walked between cages with enormous predators stalking alongside me, I was viscerally reminded that I am *so* not the top of the food chain. For a few minutes there I was really wondering,” Did I take a wrong turn? Am I supposed to be back here? And what if one of these cages has a hole in it?” I’m tellin’ ya: majorly creepy.

Two: unlike other refuges (and zoos) where only perfect physical specimens are displayed, some of the damaged cats are on the tour. It’s sad to see an abused leopard, limping around his cage, his tail permanently kinked from injury. But dammit, it’s supposed to be sad. Though it might be disturbing to see, it’s the reality too many of these animals suffer.

If you’re in Indiana, it’s well worth the visit and they are always glad to have visitors and donations. They are located about 45 minutes west of Bloomington, off State Road 46 west.

And if you’d like to buy a gorgeous book about the center: http://www.exoticfelinerescuecenter.org/merchandise.html