Two former pet tigers celebrate their February anniversaries at Texas sanctuary

Loki and Elsa are thriving at Black Beauty Ranch, part of Humane World for Animals

MURCHISON, Texas, Feb. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Two tigers once kept as pets—Loki in Houston and Elsa in San Antonio—arrived at their new home, Black Beauty Ranch, in February 2019 and 2021, respectively. The animal sanctuary is home to nearly 600 animals saved from cruelty and neglect and is part of Humane World for Animals, formerly called the Humane Society of the United States.

In February 2019 Loki was discovered abandoned in a Houston home, trapped in a small cage where he could barely move. Now a 7-year-old adult tiger weighing 370 pounds, he is fully adjusted to sanctuary life. Sue Tygielski, senior director of Black Beauty Ranch, said, "Loki has grown into a confident and playful adult tiger. When he first arrived at Black Beauty he was hesitant and unsure of his large natural habitat. Now he spends his days exploring his wooded forest, relaxing in the lush grass under the trees, or pouncing in his pool."

In February 2021 Elsa, a 75-pound cub, was found wearing a dog harness in freezing temperatures in a San Antonio yard. Now 4 years old, and a healthy 250 pounds, she is thriving. Tygielski explains: "Elsa has flourished and is a frisky tiger who practices her stalking and pouncing skills daily. She engages with her environment by climbing and clawing at trees, swimming and splashing in her pool, and batting around watermelons, pumpkins and any other ball-like object. She is also very curious about her tiger neighbors and spies playfully on Loki, Serenity and Theodora."

There are 42 different animal species living at Black Beauty Ranch. In addition to Loki and Elsa, three other big cats reside at the sanctuary—tigers Serenity and Theodora and lion Douala. All three were rescued with over 200 wild exotic animals from decrepit, barren and disturbing conditions at St. Edouard Zoo, an unaccredited facility in Canada. 

Black Beauty Ranch is one of America's largest and most diverse animal sanctuaries. Part of Humane World for Animals, formerly called the Humane Society of the United States, the 1,400-acre Texas sanctuary provides a permanent haven to nearly 600 domestic and exotic animals rescued from research laboratories, circuses, the pet trade, roadside zoos and other circumstances of neglect and cruelty. Residents include tigers, bears, primates, kangaroos, bison, horses, farm animals and more. The highly respected sanctuary is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and is a member of the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance and the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance.

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• Loki arrival and first days. Loki now.
• Elsa arrival and first days. Elsa now.

About Humane World for Animals
Together, we tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering to create permanent change. With millions of supporters and work happening in over 50 countries, Humane World for Animals—formerly called the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International—addresses the most deeply entrenched forms of animal cruelty and suffering. As the leading voice in the animal protection space, we work to end the cruelest practices, care for animals in crisis and build a stronger animal protection movement. Driving toward the greatest global impact, we aim to achieve the vision behind our name: a more humane world. humaneworld.org

SOURCE Humane World for Animals.