Photo by Christi Gilbreth.
Finalist in the 2026 Tigers in America-Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries annual photo and video contest to celebrate International Tiger Day.
“At just six months old, Elsa was found wandering the streets during a bitter winter storm, with temperatures hovering near 0 degrees. Wandering the icy streets wearing a dog harness, she carried a small wound on her forehead—likely the result of pacing against the fence of the cramped cage where she had been kept as a pet.
“Thankfully, those difficult days are behind her. Today, Elsa is a beautiful five-year-old tiger thriving in a life that better reflects who she was always meant to be. She has room to run, trees to scratch, and a pool where she can cool off and play whenever she chooses. Surrounded by space and opportunities to express her natural behaviors, Elsa is flourishing. No longer someone’s pet, she is finally free to live as a tiger—confident, curious, and wild at heart.”
— at Black Beauty Ranch