International Tiger Day: Honouring All Tigers at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary
From exploitation to sanctuary — a life of dignity for rescued tigers
Bethlehem, 21 July 2025 — As the world commemorates International Tiger Day on 29 July, global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS pays tribute to the tigers living at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa, all survivors of exploitation, now thriving in a protected environment where their welfare comes first.
Each tiger at LIONSROCK has a unique story, from being used as performers in circuses or confined in private keeping. Despite their traumatic pasts, they now live in peace at the sanctuary, where they are no longer exploited but respected as the majestic wild animals they are.
The sanctuary, located near Bethlehem in the Free State, is home to nearly 100 rescued big cats, including several tigers who have been given a second chance at life. These animals now enjoy species-appropriate care, large natural enclosures, and the ability to live without fear.
The reality facing tigers globally, however, remains dire. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the global wild tiger population is estimated to range between 3 726 and 5 578 with more than 600 tigers held in captivity in South Africa alone, often in exploitative and inhumane conditions. Despite tigers being a non-native species, they are bred intensively and kept for commercial purposes including tourism, the exotic pet trade, and the illegal bone trade.
On International Tiger Day, FOUR PAWS reaffirms its commitment to ending the suffering of all big cats in captivity and promoting sanctuaries as ethical alternatives. The tigers at LIONSROCK serve as living reminders that change is possible, and that with compassion and action, cruelty can be replaced with care.
For more information, please visit: www.four-paws.org.za
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About LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary
LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary, a FOUR PAWS sanctuary, is currently home to more than 80 big cats (lions, tigers and leopards) from around the world. Here, they live out their lives in a safe, species-appropriate environment. https://www.lionsrock.org/
About FOUR PAWS
FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. The sustainable campaigns and projects of FOUR PAWS focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cambodia, France, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as 13 wild animal sanctuaries and cooperation projects across the globe, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org.za