These three male tigers arrived at EFRC in May 2011. Buddy is the father of Tango and Cash.
The tigers had lived at Fun Spot Amusement Park & Zoo in Angola, Indiana. Fun Spot had fallen on hard times and was forced to close. Some of the rides were sold off; others went as scrap metal. When EFRC staff arrived they saw an abandoned roller coaster and a Ferris wheel stripped of its seating.
Making this trip to Fun Spot from EFRC, in addition to Joe Taft, were volunteer Michael Koryta, head keeper Rebecca Rizzo, keeper Jennifer Hall-Lamb, volunteers Larry and Rosie Lewis, and volunteer John Schopp. The group made the trip in two days and covered one thousand miles.
The cages at Fun Spot were far superior to what rescue crews usually encounter, but nothing near what the cats would find at EFRC. Judy Sharpe, who cared for the cats for years said, “They’re going to the Hyatt.”
Food was offered as a bribe and Tango and Buddy boarded the old circus cages used as transport cages. Cash was not as cooperative but eventually loaded. Unloading at EFRC almost went as planned. Buddy and Tango easily entered their new home. On the trip to EFRC Cash decided the old circus cage was his favorite place and refused to leave. After every effort was made, Cash was left to ponder his situation. The next day he decided to join the other tigers.
Buddy, November 19, 2014
Because the three tigers were not getting along it was necessary to separate them. As of January 2015 they were on the main EFRC tour in separate cages.
Cash, September 5, 2014
Tango, December 3, 2014
Tango, December 9, 2014
Charlie, November 15, 2011
