Who started Carolina Tiger Rescue and why?
Carolina Tiger Rescue began as the Carnivore Evolutionary Research Insititute in the 1970s, an organization founded by UNC geneticist Dr. Michael Bleyman to ensure the survival of specific keystone species from threatened/endangered ecosystems. He started a breeding program for caracals, servals, ocelots, and binturongs. He began rescuing big cats when the need for a sanctuary became apparent. The Carnivore Evolutionary Research Institute was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1981, and the name was changed to the Carnivore Preservation Trust (CPT). CPT stopped its breeding program in 2000, and refocused its efforts on rescue. In 2009, CPT’s name was changed to Carolina Tiger Rescue, reflecting its current mission and focus.
