Butler residents don’t have to travel far to see big cats
Editor’s note: The big cats described in this article should not be considered “pets.”
To anyone living in rural Butler County, animals such as the African lion, the Barbary lion, Amur tiger and the Bengal tiger sound like species that are impossible to find anywhere on this side of the Atlantic, let alone in Pennsylvania. However, residents don’t actually have to travel all that far to catch a glimpse of some of the rarest feline species in captivity.
Not far outside the county line, the Pittsburgh Zoo, which claims to host over 600 species and more than 8,000 animals, boasts a considerable population of big cats — including leopards, lions, tigers, lynxes, cheetahs and even one ocelot.
The zoo currently houses 18 members of the felidae family, ranging in age from the 18-year-old Amur tiger, named Terney, to 2-year-old twin Amur leopards, Mila and Grover. Also among them are four Amur tigers — a significant number, as the most recent estimates by the International Union for Conservation of Nature pin the current population of the Amur tiger at less than 500.
Only eight of the cats were born at the zoo, with the rest being acquired from other zoos. Pittsburgh’s most recent acquisition is Hondo, an 8-year-old African lion that came to the park on April 22.
Katie Hughes, director of marketing and communications for the zoo, said not all of the 18 big cats are likely to appear in public at the same time.
“Usually, one to two of each big cat species are publicly visible to guests at any given time, with others, if present, in behind-the-scenes areas,” Hughes said. “An example is with our new male lion, Hondo, with two females, Scarlett and Abana. They are not acclimated to interacting directly with each other yet, so the ladies may be visibly out in their habitat one day with the male out in another.”
Although they are kept in captivity, the Pittsburgh Zoo maintains the big cats — and all animals at the zoo — are wild animals and not pets. Aside from special “Wild Encounters,” which bring visitors closer to wildlife with the guidance of park staff, guests do not have direct interaction with the animals.
“Guests cannot feed animals unless directed by a keeper as part of a special Wild Encounter,” Hughes said. “Our guests do not have direct interaction with our resident big cats and can view our animals from safe, distanced locations.”
However, people don’t even have to leave their home to get a glimpse of the Pittsburgh Zoo’s two cheetahs, Neva and Della. A cheetah webcam on the zoo’s website provides a livestream of the habitat.
“We have occasionally considered adding additional animal webcams,” Hughes said. “We do not plan to do so at this time, though we are open to doing so in the future.”
For those on the opposite side of Butler County, Keystone Safari, in Liberty Township, Mercer County, is another option for those who want a glimpse of exotic big cats.
Unlike the Pittsburgh Zoo, Keystone Safari — true to its name — offers a drive-thru safari experience, in addition to its traditional walk-through zoo.
In fact, Keystone Safari offers something not even the Pittsburgh Zoo does — a chance to see a Barbary lion, which is extinct in the wild. Keystone Safari has a family of three visible in the walk-through portion of the park.
Repeat visitors to Keystone Safari will have one less big cat to see on their safari adventure this year. Cash, the beloved Barbary lion, died May 4 at the age of 19. However, he is survived by his mate, June, who also is 19, and cubs, Nala, 7, and Simba, 6.
