Tiger & big cat preserve expands with new tours, seeking donations
Most people start their day and drive to work, but Kele Younger only has to walk across the yard and unlock the gates to The Magic Jungle Wildlife Preserve, where she’s greeted every morning with big cat kisses.
The sanctuary is currently home to six cats, including tigers and panthers. The animals are rescued from across the United States and are able to live a life of retirement.
“We never thought it would start to get this big, and this successful and that people would just drive out and see us,” said Younger. She’s spent most of her life working with wildlife and started the sanctuary in 2000, eventually leaving the low desert and expanding in the Lucerne Valley. Despite the distance, Younger said the Greater Palm Springs area still makes up most of the visitors and donors to the Magic Jungle. 
“Our Palm Springs desert resorts are crucial for our survival here with the animals,” said Younger. With the help of community support, a new enclosure was built since our last visit to the sanctuary. In addition to this, most of the construction has been finished for wind shields, providing privacy to animals and protection from blowing sand.
Tiger & big cat refuge looks to expand desert location
Younger hopes in 2019 to raise funds for an alpaca park to house six animals she’s been asked to rescue and a 150 foot long enclosure for Kaadesh the black Asian panther.
“Because we’re a rescue sanctuary, not a big commercial zoo, we don’t do that many fundraising exhibitions and have guests out, but for the month of December, we’re doing them every week so more people can get in and see the animals and we can help raise some funding and get a lot more of the construction projects we need here completed,” said Younger.
If you are interested in reserving a tour at this mini safari in the desert or to find out how you can donate, visit The Magic Jungle’s website .
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