When you look into these wild eyes,
what do you see?
I see,
wild hearts,
untamed,
yearning to be free.
These mountain lions were photographed at The Big Bear Alpine Zoo in Big Bear Lake California.
Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a rescue and rehabilitation facility that provides injured, orphaned and imprinted wild animals a safe haven, either temporarily as they heal, or permanently if they are unable to survive in the wild. 90% of the animals brought to the facility are released back into the wild.
There are 160 animals in the facility currently, comprising 60 different species. There is a golden eagle with one eye, a bear with three legs, a grizzly that was scheduled for euthanasia at Yellowstone, animals that were kept as pets and abandoned when they become too much to handle, and many more animals with sad histories.
A new zoo is under construction that will offer more spacious accommodation with glass enclosures. The zoo is owned by The Big Bear Department of Parks and Recreation and is staffed by county employees (Source: Big Bear Alpine Zoo).
Cheers to you from the gorgeous cats at The Big Bear Alpine Zoo~
For more information check out:
There is a kindness behind those wild eyes. Thank you for sharing this lovely post.
I love that you see this. Thank you Mary Ann.
Eyes reflect the inner spirit I think. My pleasure.
❤ ❤
You captured the majestic face of the mountain lion very well, Cindy!
Thank you Peter.
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
Always a special field trip when you go over to Cindy Knoke’s blog and today is no exception… I bet when this big cat purrs, you can hear for miles..Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a rescue and rehabilitation facility that provides injured, orphaned and imprinted wild animals a safe haven, either temporarily as they heal, or permanently if they are unable to survive in the wild. 90% of the animals brought to the facility are released back into the wild. Do head over to read more and to see the other photographs…#recommended
You are such a good person in so many different ways. Thank you Sally for all the good you do by example ❤
Fabulous, Cindy. I love big cats and am glad there is a place of refuge.
Thank you and I am glad you love big cats! They need human advocates.
Very true.
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😊
What a nobel creature Cindy. Those are fantastic photos.
Leslie
Noble is a perfect descriptor, than you Leslie ❤
You’ve got to admire the animal spirit.
I am glad we both do! ❤
🙂
I had been to Big Bear several times and did not know that was there. I applaud them for stepping up and helping these magnificent creatures a place to heal and stay if necessary. Everything in the world just wants freedom. They have so little habitat left as the building continues. Thanks for sharing these photos and the information, Cindy.
Thank you more Marlene for caring about the wild ones & be well my friend ❤
Wonderful pictures!
Very kind & most appreciated.
These are perfectly gorgeous animals – I love to think almost all of these animals enclosed will be released into the wild again. Fabulous photos.
I wish it were so, and wish they would be safe from human hunters in the wild.
Wow, wow ando wow
Awww, thank you very much and so pleased they touched your ❤
Absolutely gorgeous portraits, Cindy. You put it quite well: there’s a yearning to be free and wild in the puma’s gaze. Animals like mountain lions and bears don’t deserve to be arrogant people’s pets.
And they don’t deserve being shot by cruel people for fun. I know we are in accord and I appreciate it Josh.
No, they certainly don’t deserve that!
Bless the Zoo and the stake holders for the money. I love the photos, he staring right at you. No malice just checking each other out. They are so large and quite dangerous if you come up on one in the wild but that is where wild animals belong! In the wind. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for appreciating these creatures and for understanding them ❤
Serenity
What a wonderful reaction! It says oodles about you.
Aw, I have a soft spot in my heart for big cats. I wish I could hug them. These pictures are beautiful––those eyes. Thank God for places like this. ❤
Thank God for good people who care, like you my friend ❤
Hypnotizing – don’t you think? Nice post – I am always happy to see any animal rescued.
Hypnotizing is a perfect adjective and yes, animal rescue is so heartening because it is people doing good to make up for the people who do bad.
I love mountain lions/cougars/panthers. The Department of Natural Resources here in Georgia says we don’t have them in the wild here anymore, but we do. I saw one behind our house and watched it come down the hill through the woods. Many of our neighbors have seen them, too.
Oh how absolutely thrilling!!! I would so love to see one and I am so happy you have one. It reminds of the lone wolf that was in Northern California. I felt sorry for his lonely life, but mountain lions require 100 square miles of territory each, so it is likely your lion has a friend. How wonderful!
Bright from anabel amiens on Vimeo.
Hermoso y precioso! Muchas gracias mi amigo. ❤
What a beautiful description of what you see in these eyes. I especially like the picture of the lion with one paw over a fence rail. I wonder what it is thinking about?
Escape was my guess!!! Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
Or dinner!
Beautiful
They are regal creatures aren’t they!
They are gorgeous!
I was just admiring your wonderful bird photos Donna!
We are so lucky to share the planet with these magnificent creatures.
I like the way you think Rebecca ❤
💛💛💛
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Fabulous photos, Cindy!
Thank you Jenny & cheers to you ❤
You are welcome, Cindy! 😍
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This looks so wonderful. Kindness as its best, and only in freedom they are in the right place. Thank you very much for sharing, Cindy. Have a nice time! Michael
“Only in freedom are they are in the right place.” I so agree with you. It is sad to see any living creature in cages. I do see the kindness in their eyes as you do. They kill to eat and survive, unlike humans who do it for sport and idiocy.
So true, Cindy! Here in Germany since some years there are a lot of TV-documentations, from the several zoo’s. The animals are presented like in a Sitcom. Even if i see this, i become very angry. Wish you a beautiful week. I think in your area its needless to wish you a snow free time. Lol Michael
Every time I look into the eyes of a cat, no matter if it is big or small, I get hypnotized…
That are so beautiful pictures, dear Cindy.
Oh how wonderful!!! And, yes! Their eyes are hypnotic. How perfect of you to see this!
How wonderful that these critters have champions to protect and preserve them! Thank you, Cindy, for bringing us up close and personal with this beauty — its eyes are very soulful, don’t you think?!
Yes, I think they are soulful and wise and mysterious. So pleased you see them like I do Debbie ❤
Whenever I see the wild eyes of the big cats, my response is that I respect their need to be wild. I was very relieved to read that 90% of the animals at The Big Bear Alpine Zoo are released back into the wild.
It is an amazing success rate isn’t it. This place has been operating since 1959 and I just learned of it. Live & learn.
Meow…pretty kitty. 🙂
Tee hee hee….I wonder if he would like some of Herberts temptations treats!
Cindy, thank you for these staggering and beautiful photographs!
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Here are more powerful and beautiful photographs from Cindy Knoke!
The pictures are beautiful and so is he 🙂
Mountain Lions have always been one of my favourite of the big cats. There is something about them that makes me think more of domestic cats than wild one. I would never make the mistake of actually believing this, but they just have a softness behind those wild eyes!
I am very much in favor of wild creatures living free, but unfortunately, people for whatever stupid reasons will shot or otherwise hunt them. In my area which is about an hour from Big Bear, we had some idiot shoot a wonderful huge eagle with a bow and arrow, and then another person shot a wild burro. Both creatures were saved, but the thing is that they are injured now and perhaps can no longer get their own food or perhaps they will not live as long. In some areas the specific animal types have been almost wiped out altogether. I believe we must have sanctuaries at the minimum. Yes, I am not in favor of zoos, but the preservation of the creatures is paramount for any of us. Thank you all very kindly.
Hi Cindy, did you tag me in a comment chain related to this post earlier? I thought you did, but now that I’m sitting down to answer it I can’t find the comment…
Great shots.
LIKE A COILED RATTLESNAKE CINDY READY TO POUNCE, CHINA
china.alexandria@livingthedream.blog
Reblogged this on LIVING THE DREAM.
I see such beauty…
We have a sea turtle rescue nearby, Cindy. Love that people love animals so much they provide this care!!
Sweet blessings to you! ❤
Sea turtle rescue is so important and these remarkable creatures are under such an awful onslaught. I see them sometimes in the ocean in my travels and it is always such a thrill!
One season I got the honor of seeing a mom lay her eggs and then later in the summer I saw a nest of babies erupt!! Fascinating stuff 😉 Something I will never forget.
Thanks Cindy! ❤
I have never seen this live. I am so glad you did! And thank you for telling me.
What a gorgeous creature! Those eyes are so expressive. We had a rescue dog for many years. These organizations do such good work. I’m glad you’re supporting them.
Thank you. I am glad that you are too! ❤
My first reaction to the first photo was “Whoa, that is a big kitty!” It is always good to know that when some humans interfere in a bad way … that some step up and do all they can to correct the wrong done. A great set of images!
Now about what that cat is thinking ……. “I bet that one with the camera would taste good ….” LOL. In reality it’s likely thinking “Man, I would like to get out of here and find a nice peaceful and quiet place!” I think that from house cats up to the big ones that they like to show us that nonchalant attitude just to make us wondering about just what they are thinking about!
Of course, I bet the folks that work with them all the time do get a good feel for what they are thinking.
“Man, I would like to get out of here and find a nice peaceful and quiet place!”
You are a perceptive person, and this summarizes beautifully, what we humans, and those lions want.
nice portraits 🙂
Thank you.
So beautiful…
Yes, just like you ❤
Awwww!!!! So sweet!!! Thank-you… 🙂
Grazie mille ❤
What wonderful creatures, and [though ‘zoos’ as opposed to rehab centres like this are controversial and the word is ‘freighted’…] so great to think they will be released into the wild in due course…
Yes, the word zoo is freighted and I agree with what you are saying.
My little cat can look in exactly the same ways… 😀
Laughing……. And I know it’s true!
I have a weakness for cats. One of my volunteer gigs is socializing and showing house cats for adoption so I’ve worked with thousands over the last few years. This one wants to know what you’re up to (are you a threat? are you bringing food? let me out?), is listening to things off to the side you didn’t even notice, and is slightly bored. Handsome cat. Hopefully, they can find a good wild place for him/her.
As a fellow cat lover, I salute your wonderful work on behalf of cats, and I can tell by your comments that you also understand the feline mind.
These eyes are really wild and terrifing. You capture it so beautifully.
Thank you Beverly, and yes, these cats would get 100% of our attention if encountered on a trail!
They are magnificent creatures, and your pictures capture that. But am I alone in finding their gaze intimidating?
I would say demanding of respect.
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Oh, no. Not at all. These are very intimidating creatures. Excited for your cruise. Sorry I didn’t respond promptly to your email. The recent storms took out our wifi tower.
I got chills looking at your photos, Cindy. These are extraordinary. What a gorgeous animal. I’ve always been intrigued by wildcats. I’m happy to hear of any organization doing animal rescue.
We need more people in the world like you! Thank you.
Regal and commanding.
So happy you see this & thank you!
What magnificent animals! I’ve always loved cats so no surprise I’d be enamoured of mountain lions. I hope these guys get to live free again.
I hope so too. There are to few of them left in SoCal mountains.
🙂
es ist die Wochenmitte, also richten wir den Blick nach Vorne zum Wochenende, Klaus
Vielen dank mein leiber Freund!
I see the absolute confidence of an A-list predator. Nice kitty… nice kitty ! That cat is totally beautiful, Cuz. 😺
Aren’t they stunning, gorgeous creatures. I know you and I like the kitty-kats cuz!
Aside from kitty cats, even with the cold weather, I was surprised to see bluebirds on the feeders this morning. G’nite, Cuz 😴