US Airways - July 2013 - (Page 115)

Call of the Wild Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge gives exotic cats a permanent home. By Nancy Oakley T anya Smith recalls growing up with lions in the backyard. Her parents raised the two big cats, Sheila and Burn, during her childhood in Texas and later Hope, Arkansas. When, in 1991, a woman showed up at their door with 42 more, the Jacksons immediately understood their life’s mission: to provide a permanent sanctuary for the neglected animals. “We felt they were heaven-sent,” Smith says. “To euthanize them was just wrong.” An acquaintance offered temporary shelter on a tract of land near Eureka Springs, and by 1992, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge was born. Twenty-one years and 450 acres later, with Smith as president, it’s one of the largest refuges of its kind in the U.S. and ranks among the state’s top 10 attractions. Pretty impressive for a nonprofit that relies on private funding. Its residents — more than 130 exotic felines, primarily lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, and bobcats — live out their lives in wide-open natural habitats. The 35,000 annual visitors can stay in a safari-style lodge or in RV campsites and enjoy daily walking and trolley tours, feedings, and an outdoor stage for special events. The big draws, says Smith, are the “oddities — ligers and white tigers. And hearing the lions that roar in the night.” Graduate interns are key to running Turpentine Creek. Since 1997, about 350 of them have trained at the refuge, and many have forged careers as veteri- narians or zoologists, a source of great satisfaction for Smith. “Not only are we saving the animals,” she says, “we’re educating people along the way.” Graduate interns (above) — mostly biologists and zoologists — are key to running the refuge, home to tigers and other big cats. phoToS courTeSy of TurpeNTiNe creek wilDlife refuge TuRPENTINE CREEK WIlDlIFE REFuGE 239 Turpentine Creek Lane Eureka Springs, AR 479.253.5841 turpentinecreek.org facebook.com/ turpentinecreek wildliferefuge usairwaysmag.com july 2013 115 http://www.turpentinecreek.org http://www.facebook.com/turpentinecreekwildliferefuge http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - July 2013

US Airways - July 2013
Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Making It Happen
Hot Spots: Family-Friendly Vacations
Wine & Dine: The Other Portland
Great Tastes: Benjamin Steakhouse
Wine & Dine: A Crafty Measure
Diversions: Fresh as You Please
Great Tastes: Savor
Great Escapes: Now Resorts & Spas
Adventure: Climbing Mt. Rainier
Travel Feature: Grand Cayman, the Epicure's Island
US Airways: Top Dogs
Special Section: Northwest Arkansas
Golf: Primland, a Course Apart
Special Section: North Carolina High Country
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - July 2013

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