SANDSTONE, Minn. — Once paraded around as “a prop for dangerous photo ops,” a jaguar named Lucifer, now nicknamed Louie, is beginning a new chapter at The Wildcat Sanctuary (TWS) in Sandstone, Minnesota.
Louie’s story made headlines after a raid at West Coast Game Park Safari near Bandon, Ore., earlier this year. Investigators uncovered dead animals, drugs, cash, and military weapons at the roadside zoo, where 310 animals were seized. Among them were 15 big cats, all relocated with the help of TWS. Four now call Minnesota home, including Louie, the very last cat to leave the facility.
Before his rescue, Louie became infamous online. According to TWS, park visitors paid for selfies and close encounters with him, even after the Big Cat Public Safety Act made public contact with big cats illegal. When he grew too large and dangerous, Louie was condemned to solitary confinement in a barren concrete cage.
“Lucifer spent hours of each day pacing back and forth from psychological distress,” said Tammy Thies, executive director of TWS. “He was visually very thin and had poor body condition. Now at our sanctuary, he receives proper nutrition and has already put on 15 pounds! He loves to play with watermelons and roll in the tall grass.”
Louie now shares Minnesota skies with three fellow rescues from the same facility: Bently the leopard, Nasha the lioness, and Lyla the lynx. At the sanctuary, they will spend the rest of their lives roaming spacious habitats, free from exhibition and exploitation, TWS says.
“We’re so grateful to our supporters who’ve built this sanctuary from the ground up, enabling us to rescue cats like Lucifer when they need it most,” Thies added. “Our sanctuary receives no compensation for services or the lifelong care we provide. We rely on public donations to help us continue rescuing big cats in need, just like Lucifer, Bentley, Nasha, and Lyla.”
Though TWS is closed to the public, Louie’s fans can continue following his journey on the sanctuary’s social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Tax-deductible donations toward Louie’s care can be made at https://www.wildcatsanctuary.org/jaguar-louie/.