Phevos the tiger
SAN DIEGO—Lions, Tigers and Bears, an exotic animal sanctuary located in east county, will get a new addition to the family-Phevos the tiger. He is scheduled to arrive at San Diego International Airport on Thursday evening.
The tiger was captive bred and seized from an Italian touring circus group in 2002, along with six other tigers, according to the sanctuary. He has been living alone in his enclosure at the Trikala Zoo, outside of Athens, Greece since March of this year when his longtime tiger companion, Athena, died due to medical neglect. Â Athena had a gaping wound on her paw that knowingly went untreated for six months, ultimately leading to her pre-mature death 15 months later.
“This tiger has been living in deplorable conditions for years. We were his last hope and finally he will get the care he needs,” said Bobbi Brink, founder and director of Lions, Tigers and Bears.
The sanctuary was approached by David Barnes, a United Kingdom citizen, who initially helped place the two tigers at the Trikala Zoo over a decade ago. With the surge of the economic crisis in Greece, the conditions of the zoo deteriorated over time making the rescue an urgent matter because Phevos is not receiving proper care. Barnes has been frequenting the tigers over the years and has seen firsthand the deteriorating conditions of the facility, and the neglectful treatment of Phevos and his late companion, Athena.
It costs a minimum of $10,000 per year to provide basic essentials such as food and medical care to one tiger at the sanctuary. They are requesting donations in honor of Phevos to help provide lifetime care at the sanctuary.
Lions, Tigers and Bears is a federally and state licensed non-profit 501(c)(3) rescue facility dedicated to providing a safe haven to abused and abandoned exotic animals while inspiring an educational forum for the public to learn about the plight of the exotic animal trade and ways in which they can help mitigate its effects. The sanctuary is a no kill, no breed and no sell facility that allows all animals in its care the opportunity to live out their lives with dignity in a caring and safe environment. The sanctuary is one of the few sanctuaries in the United States with the highest level of accreditation from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and the American Sanctuary Association.
For more information, or to make a donation to help care for the animals at the sanctuary, visit www.LionsTigersAndBears.org, or call (619) 659-8078.
