Murchison, United States - February 20, 2025 Two former pet tigers, Loki and Elsa, are marking their February anniversaries at Black Beauty Ranch, a sprawling animal sanctuary in Texas that has become their unlikely savior. Once confined to grim conditions—Loki abandoned in a cramped Houston cage, Elsa shivering in a San Antonio yard wearing a dog harness—these majestic cats now embody a stunning tale of survival and revival. Loki’s journey began in February 2019, when he was found trapped in a Houston home, barely able to move in a cage too small for his growing frame. Now a 7-year-old, 370-pound powerhouse, he roams freely at Black Beauty Ranch. Sue Tygielski, senior director of the sanctuary, paints a vivid picture of his transformation. “Loki has grown into a confident and playful adult tiger,” she said. “When he first arrived, he was hesitant, unsure of his large natural habitat. Now he spends his days exploring his wooded forest, relaxing in the lush grass under the trees, or pouncing in his pool.” Two years later, in February 2021, Elsa entered the sanctuary’s care as a frail 75-pound cub, discovered in freezing temperatures in a San Antonio yard. Today, at 4 years old and a robust 250 pounds, she’s a force of nature. “Elsa has flourished and is a frisky tiger who practices her stalking and pouncing skills daily,” Tygielski shared. “She engages with her environment by climbing and clawing at trees, swimming and splashing in her pool, and batting around watermelons, pumpkins, and any other ball-like object.” Ever curious, Elsa even keeps a playful eye on her tiger neighbors—Loki, Serenity, and Theodora. Nestled on 1,400 acres, Black Beauty Ranch stands as one of America’s largest and most diverse animal sanctuaries, offering refuge to nearly 600 domestic and exotic animals. Operated by Humane World for Animals, once known as the Humane Society of the United States, it shelters a remarkable range of residents—tigers, bears, primates, kangaroos, bison, horses, and farm animals—all rescued from research labs, circuses, the pet trade, roadside zoos, and other harrowing fates. Alongside Loki and Elsa, the sanctuary is home to three other big cats—tigers Serenity and Theodora, and lion Douala—all saved from the squalor of St. Edouard Zoo, an unaccredited Canadian facility where over 200 wild animals languished in barren, disturbing conditions. With 42 species under its care, Black Beauty Ranch has earned its stripes as a beacon of hope. Accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and a member of the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance and the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance, it offers these once-captive creatures a permanent haven. For Loki and Elsa, February isn’t just another month—it’s a roaring celebration of their second chance at life.