TYLER, Texas — Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary in Tyler has agreed to become fully compliant with Association of Zoos and Aquarium standards within two years after reaching a settlement in a lawsuit that listed concerns over their animals' welfare.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed the lawsuit against the National Foundation for Rescued Animals, an animal exhibitor that does business as Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary, in March 2022. The complaint included concerns about the welfare of the tigers, lions and ring-tailed lemurs based on photos, first-hand accounts by former employees, and an official warning from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
According to the ALDF, through the settlement Tiger Creek has agreed to be in compliance with AZA standards within a two-year period.
"This will require significant changes to the facility and level of care being provided to the animals. To ensure the changes are made, a mutually agreed upon neutral, third-party auditor will make visits to Tiger Creek leading up to the two-year deadline to determine if Tiger Creek is AZA compliant," a statement from the ALDF said.
Under the settlement, Tiger Creek has agreed to earn its AZA accreditation within five years. If the animal sanctuary cannot reach this goal by the deadline, all endangered and threatened animals will be transferred to facilities chosen by the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
Tiger Creek agrees to the following actions immediately:
- not acquire any new endangered or threatened animals until it is compliant with AZA standards;
- not breed any endangered species;
- not allow human interactions with endangered or threatened species outside of that deemed necessary by an attending veterinarian;
- have an attending veterinarian with heightened training or an expertise in exotic animals;
- make adjustments to tiger housing as deemed necessary by the attending veterinarian; and
- provide ring-tailed lemurs with enrichment, nutrition, and veterinary care in compliance with the AZA standards.
Brian Werner, Tiger Creek founder, and his daughter Emily Owen have agreed to not get any additional endangered or threatened species in the future, the ALDF said.
“The changes that will go into action immediately will improve the lives of the animals significantly, and with the length of time litigation can take, this is the best-case scenario — with the most immediate effect — for the animals at Tiger Creek,” said Animal Legal Defense Fund Senior Staff Attorney Caitlin Foley. “The settlement provides provisions that the animals will be monitored regularly — and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums has much more vigorous standards than those enforced by the USDA.”
The case is expected to be dismissed within seven days, the Animal Legal Defense Fund said.