Four lions, three tigers and ten lemurs recently journeyed from Amarillo, Texas to their new permanent home at In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue and Educational Center in Wylie. The trip only happened because of a relationship built over a long time.
In-Sync first connected with the Amarillo facility over a decade ago, completing a tiger rescue about seven years back. A volunteer who regularly traveled to Amarillo kept the lines of communication open, frequently visiting one of the lions, Kumba. The Amarillo operation had been run for many years by its original owners before tragedy struck: when they were killed in a plane crash, their grandson took over and did his best to honor their legacy. Eventually, he decided the animals needed more than he could provide and reached out to In-Sync.
A seven-person team made the round trip in a weekend, loading the animals on Sunday and driving through the night to arrive back in Wylie around 1:30am Monday. Some of the big cats needed sedation for the journey, and the lemurs arrived with health concerns that are now being treated in the sanctuary’s veterinary clinic.
For In-Sync founder Vicky Keahey, the rescue carried deep meaning. Watching Kumba from afar for years and finally welcoming him to the sanctuary was a reminder of the importance of patience and genuine relationships.
Tigers in America was happy to help get these cats to their new home.