caruso the Friendly tiger
From safari park to circus to Sanctuary. Caruso has a remarkable story
Until FOUR PAWS took over, all he knew was pain, stress and boredom. But thanks to the special care at the FOUR PAWS-owned FELIDA Big Cat Centre, Caruso recovered from his past suffering and found his forever home at LIONSROCK.
“We are so proud of this brave tiger. His transfer went without complications and Caruso can now adjust to his new environment and relax. He had a tough start in life but developed into a friendly and playful tiger. Seeing him in LIONSROCK is everything we could have wished for," Barbara van Genne, then Sanctuary Manager at FELIDA, said at the time.
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Initially Caruso was found at a Dutch rescue centre where he was confined to a small cage in inappropriate keeping conditions and a victim to inadequate care.
FOUR PAWS took over the centre in 2013 and renamed it FELIDA Big Cat Centre which contributed to the growth and improvement in little Caruso.
Back then, Caruso showed symptoms of stress and stereotypical behaviour, but with the special care provided at FELIDA, he improved massively.
He underwent several surgeries to relieve him of severe dental pain. FOUR PAWS provided Caruso with more space and a small pool and he happily took naps on his new platforms and played with his enrichment frequently.
Caruso adapted well to his new environment, being a very playful and happy tiger.
In the month following Caruso's transfer from FELIDA Big Cat Centre to LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary, he was released from the adaptation area into his large enclosure. Here he suddenly showed signs of pain and did not want to move or eat much.
As the caretakers could not see anything obvious, the vet was called to examine Caruso and found old fractures on some vertebrae, which caused the sudden pain. The tiger was put on pain medication and supporting supplements, and he improved immediately, started eating and walking around again.
The fractures were most likely a result of the poor nutrition and lack of calcium when he was growing up so that his bones did not develop strong enough. Unfortunately, many of our big cats suffer such consequences as a result of the conditions they were kept before they were rescued.
Fortunately, Caruso recovered well and is today still enjoying his home at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary, where he likes to watch his neighbours or rest comfortably at one of his favourite spots in his enclosure.