Carnivore Preservation Trust
By Katie Cline

Tigers, leopards and kinkajous aren’t exactly native to North Carolina. But the Carnivore Preservation Trust in Pittsboro works to rescue these and other animals like the binturong and caracal.

CPT started more than 25 years ago and just recently reopened its gates to the public. There are nearly 100 animals on site, and Executive director Pam Fulk says tours are a good way to educate people.

“It’s hard to teach people about these animals if they aren’t seeing them and coming to care about them,” she said, “All of our tours are educational.”

CPT consists of a nine-member staff and more than 100 volunteers.

The center is shifting its focus from breeding to rescue. Many of the animals are from private residences or were abandoned, like Kaela and Rajah. The tigers were found alongside a highway near Charlotte.

“We decided to change out mission statement to being a sanctuary for these kinds of animals, and conservation and education,” Fulk said.

The non-profit group owns 55 acres of land, but only uses 35 for now. That gives CPT room to expand and add areas like the new quarantine facility which is under construction.

“We’re not willing just to take these animals in,” she said, “We must help people understand what’s happening to them in their native habitats and what we need to do to stop that b/c we are losing species every single day.”

CPT Web site: www.cptigers.org