$14 for One Ticket to a Guided Day Tour at Big Cat Rescue (Up to $29 Value)
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- Guided 90-minute tour
- Sanctuary home to 100+ cats
- Learn about large cats
Visiting big cats in the wild can be dangerous, given their untamed nature and the lack of naturally occurring chew toys. Scope out large kitties in safety with today's Groupon: for $14, you get one ticket for a regular guided day tour at Big Cat Rescue (up to a $29 value). Tours take place Mondays–Wednesdays and Fridays at 3 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Helmed by founder Carole Baskin and run by a passionate team of volunteers and staff, the educational sanctuary at Big Cat Rescue is a permanent home to more than 100 exotic cats rescued from unlivable circumstances. The sanctuary hosts numerous cat species, including lions, tigers, and retired jazz musicians. During the hour-and-a-half walking tour, guests can quiz their knowledgeable tour guide on general cat facts, the history of the sanctuary, and the person- or feline-alities of each resident.
Cameron the lion and his companion Zabu the tiger roam a three-acre enclosure in inspiring cross-species harmony, while leopard sisters Armani and Jade keep the grounds buzzing with their striking looks and fashion magazine quiz-taking abilities.
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About Big Cat Rescue
Founder Carole Baskin never dreamt she'd one day oversee a 55-acre sanctuary inhabited by some of Earth's largest cats. In 1992, she and her late husband were at an exotic-animal auction seeking out llamas for their farm. A man had a 6-month-old bobcat that he could no longer care for, and the pair decided to give it a place to call home. They then traveled to a bobcat breeder for another playmate, but upon seeing the horrible conditions the animals were kept in, they bought all 56 kittens. They rehabilitated them back to health, and gave them permanent homes on their then-40-acre site. Soon, word of her knack for nurturing spread beyond the Tampa area, and callers began donating abandoned or orphaned cats. Her mission to save these animals also reached the ears and hearts of many celebrities, including contributors Harrison Ford and Bo Derek.
After 20 years of hard work and learning, Carole is still caring for abused and abandoned big cats at her rescue site, accommodating more than 100 medium and large creatures from bengal tigers and black leopards to lynx and lions. Her staff of volunteers helps care for the animals and leads groups in tours that educate visitors on the plight of these animals both in the wild and in captivity.