Lions, Tigers & Bears is seeking public help to recover from damage Tropical Cyclone Rachel caused across its 142-acre Alpine ranch. The storm damaged animal-enclosure fencing as well as buildings and other parts of the property, leaving the sanctuary with repairs to make before it can return to normal operations.
The sanctuary received nearly three inches of rain during the storm, according to NBC 7 San Diego. Flooding affected the gift shop, while mudslides reached the Donor Services office, the station reported.
Powerful winds also brought down trees on the property, and those falling trees destroyed sections of the fencing that separates the sanctuary's animal habitats, the outlet noted. For a facility that is home to more than 65 rescued animals, according to the station's reporting, damaged fencing is not a cosmetic problem — it is a safety and containment issue that needs fast attention. Fabulous California describes the sanctuary as home to more than 60 animals, a figure that does not exactly match the station's count but reflects the scale of the operation regardless of which number is used.
Published Standards for Animal Facilities
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s restricted-species manual includes a section on minimum facility and caging standards for wild animals housed at permanent facilities. The material reviewed does not establish whether any particular provision applies to Lions, Tigers & Bears, or identify federal rules or published accreditation standards applicable to the sanctuary.
What Needs Fixing Across the Ranch
The sanctuary laid out a lengthy recovery list that covers nearly every part of the property touched by the storm. Repairs include flooring replacement in flood-damaged areas, and potential structural repairs wherever water compromised buildings, the article notes. Crews will also need to repair or replace the fencing destroyed by falling trees.
The sanctuary also identified emergency cleanup, debris removal and essential restoration supplies as needs for getting the ranch functioning again. The available account does not give a total repair cost, a fundraising goal or a completion timeline.
A Ranch Built Around Rescue
Lions, Tigers & Bears was founded in 2002 on the Alpine property, according to Fabulous California. The sanctuary has developed naturalistic habitats, on-site veterinary care, and educational and volunteer programs for the animals, NBC 7 reported.
Tropical Cyclone Rachel's broader reach extended well beyond the sanctuary's fence lines. A public advisory from the National Hurricane Center noted that strong gusty winds tied to the system were expected to spread over interior portions of the Southwest, particularly higher terrain, with the storm also forecast to bring one to three inches of rain to portions of Baja California. A separate local statement from the hurricane center warned of areas of flash and urban flooding and said the San Diego River at Fashion Valley was forecast to crest at 8.1 feet, right at the action and monitor stage.
How to Help
The sanctuary is directing people who want to help to lionstigersandbears.org, where donations support the animals and recovery effort, NBC 7 reported.
