Caprichio of the Carolina Tiger Rescue passes away

Carolina Tiger Rescue announced on social media Friday that Caprichio Tiger known as the "gatekeeper of the sanctuary" has passed away.

Caprichio became the face of Carolina Tiger Rescue when he arrived from Colorado in 2016. He was suffering from metabolic bone disease that severely damaged his rear legs.

Over the past seven years, Carolina Tiger Rescue worked to provide him medical care to control his pain. Sadly, they ran out of options and had to make a difficult decision.

His suffering represents the mistreatment of many tigers who are bought and sold without any thought to their care. Bills like the Big Cat Public Safety Act are a step towards ending the suffering for another tiger like Caprichio.

Kathryn Bertok, the Assistant Director commends the team's efforts over the years and writes "We are ready for the next cat that needs a home. We are willing to take on the challenges that come with those rescues. And we couldn’t do it without the support of our community."