It was 1994 when Ariana was brought to the Wildlife Waystation for permanent sanctuary after her former owner, a private resident in Oregon, could no longer care for her. She was an Adult when she arrived.

Ariana came to the Wildlife Waystation at the same time as her close friend Sandora, a Bengal Tiger, who belonged to a friend of Ariana’s former owner.

She now shares a roomy enclosure with Sandora, and they seem to greatly enjoy each other’s company. When Ariana isn’t busy with one of her lengthy cat naps, she can usually be found batting around her toy ball in a high spirited game of big cat soccer (she has invented many goal posts around her enclosure). She is best known for her playful disposition and affectionate nature.

Aisha the Timber Wolf…Click on her picture for a larger view.

Both Sandora and Arianna are located along the main tour route at the Wildlife Waystation, where the public can learn about them.

The Liger does not occur in the wild, but rather is bred in captivity with the mating of a tiger and a lion.

The tiger, or Panthera tigris, is the largest of the big cats. Its range extends from Siberia to as far south as India and Indonesia. The tiger has a massive, muscular body and powerful limbs and is one of the few feline species that enjoys swimming.

The tigers’ coloration varies from reddish-orange to reddish-ochre. The Siberian subspecies tends to be pale in color and large in size, with adult males weighing as much as 700 pounds.

Generally shy and nocturnal, the tiger is usually a solitary animal, although it is known to be sociable on occasion with its neighbors and relatives. While mating, the male and female remain together only for a few days. After a gestation period of 103 to 105 days, the female gives birth to a litter of usually 2 or 3 cubs. The cubs can stay with their mother for up to five years. The tiger’s typical prey consists of wild pigs, deer, gauer and buffalo.

Within the last century, human activity, including habitat destruction, an Asian market for tiger parts and the illegal animal trade, have pushed all tiger subspecies to extinction. The Bali, Java and Caspian tigers already are extinct. Today, some wildlife organizations have embarked on international educational campaigns to save the tiger in what remains of its natural habitat.
The lion, or Panthera leo, is currently indigenous in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as portions of Northwest India. Formerly, lions had been widespread throughout Asia. Open savannas are the lion’s primary habitat. Body color varies from tawny-yellow to reddish-brown.

African lions live in groups called prides, which consist of up to three adult males and up to 15 females and their young. Small groups consisting only of young males may also live together. Breeding occurs at anytime of year. Usually, litters consist of one to six cubs. Upon reaching adulthood, an African lion weighs between 300 and 500 pounds, and has a powerful body that can be up to ten feet long.

The term "lazy as a lion" comes from the fact that lions spend 20 or more hours a day resting, so that they have ample energy for activities such as hunting. Most of their hunting takes place during daylight; however, in areas where they feel threatened, they are active only at night. They prey on a variety of animals including gazelle, antelope and zebra, and sometimes larger animals such as water buffalo.