In April 2024, FOUR PAWS carried out a veterinary mission at a private big cat facility in Slovakia. After contacting the Slovakian authorities in 2023 regarding a separate case of private keeping, this time they reached out for support – requesting help to rescue two tiger cubs.

A private owner was found to have been keeping several big cats such as lions, tigers, and leopards at his facility. Although the breeding, importation, and trade of big cats has been illegal in Slovakia since 2022, the owner is allowed to keep the big cats at his property due to a grandfather clause. However, the authorities learned that the tiger cubs in question were born at the facility after 2022 – and therefore, were being kept illegally.

The tiger cubs were born in 2023 in inappropriate conditions; scared, alone, and confined to a tiny room. Separated from their mother at a young age, they lacked professional care. Snow is a white tiger – in captivity, white tigers are often the result of inbreeding and often exploited for profit. White tigers often suffer from health issues related to unethical breeding practices.

The authorities confiscated the tiger cubs and asked FOUR PAWS for help to find a species-appropriate long-term home for both. Eventually, it was decided that the cubs would be rehomed at LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa.

Due to the inadequate conditions of their private enclosure, the authorities relocated the cubs immediately after the veterinary mission. Since confiscations and organising the paperwork for transferring animals to different countries can take time, Zoo Bojnice in Slovakia offered to care for the tigers until they were ready to begin their journey to a new home.

After the urgent relocation to Zoo Bojnice, professionally trained staff looked after the cubs and prepared them for the long journey ahead. From Slovakia, they were brought to Vienna to board a plane to Johannesburg. 13,000 kilometres later, they arrived at LIONSROCK to start their new lives. Both cubs were in good health before the journey and now have the chance to thrive in their new species-appropriate home in South Africa. Stay tuned for more updates on the tigers!