Self Guided Tour
Explore Central Florida Animal Reserve at your own pace through our self-guided tour experience. Throughout the reserve, you’ll find exhibit markers and QR codes connected to featured residents, habitats, enrichment, conservation topics, and behind-the-scenes insights.
You can follow along in two ways:
- Scan the QR code at each exhibit to jump directly to that section of the page
- Scroll through this page to browse all tour stops and learn more about each area of the reserve
Each section is designed to provide additional context, stories, and educational information to help you experience the reserve in a deeper and more meaningful way.
Please remember that our residents may choose where they spend their time throughout the day. Seeing natural behaviors, resting, exploring, or remaining out of view are all part of life at the reserve.
About CFAR
WELCOME TO OUR HOME!
Over the course of three days in July of 2017, the volunteers of Central Florida Animal Reserve moved 25 big cats from a temporary location in Cocoa to our new home in Osceola County. The creation of this facility took five years, $1.3 million dollars of donations, and countless hours of volunteer work from local community groups, UCF student volunteer groups, friends, and family.
In our new space, CFAR has had the opportunity provide a forever home to many big cats in need. As a 501c3 non-profit, almost all the funding for the care of our residents and maintenance of the facility is from donations and attendance at events such as this one.
Thank you for your support of our efforts to care for our beautiful residents.
CFAR Quick Facts
IRS 501-c-3 Determination:
April 1998
CFAR Established:
November 2007
Move to Osceola County:
July 2017
Facility:
11.7 Acres
Set Up:
Sixteen Pole Barn Enclosures
Maintenance Barn / Office
Food Preparation Building
Visitor Center Building
Ralf
Rambunctious Ralf
Ralf is now a bonafide adult and has the size to go with it! If you have seen those huge front paws, you can be guaranteed he has definitely grown into them!
Like many young adults, however, he still has a mischievous side. He loves to stalk people, chase golf carts, and take his enrichments into his pool.
After starting his life at an organization that promoted cub petting, Ralf found himself in the wonderful care of the kind owners of a small sanctuary. Unfortunately, they found it impossible to maintain the level of care they wanted for their big cats due to personal health issues. After the dust settled from our move, we found ourselves in the position to provide a beautiful, permanent home for their four cat residents.
At CFAR, Ralf’s mesmerizing, green eyes and spunky nature quickly made him a favorite! Just walk into our Visitor Center and behold the amazing artwork created by his fans – a stunning stained-glass window and a strikingly realistic painting. Even so, he is still the sweet, sassy, playfully unpredictable boy who loves to splash unsuspecting volunteers who walk too closely to his tub. Ah…to be young!!
About Ralf
Birthday:
July 12, 2016
Species:
Tiger
Panthera tigris
Likes:
Napping on his den
“Hiding” behind his ferns
Dislikes:
People interrupting his meal
Not being fed first
Ralf IN ACTION!
Charger
THIS CAT’S NO FOOL
With a birthday on April Fool’s Day, you might expect something crazy about his birth…and you would be right! According to legend, when Charger first appeared, the entire place fell silent – birds, wind, cats, etc. His parents were each unique as well. His father was an enormous white Bengal while his mother was petite, orange, and feisty.
His striking looks make most guests stop and stare. Like most of the cats, he cannot take a bad picture, but Charger has an extraordinary talent of laying around with style – on his step with one paw sticking out above the platform, upside down in his den, or in the tub with one paw safely dry.
About Charger
Birthday:
April 1, 2005
Species:
Bengal Tiger
Panthera tigris
Likes:
Sleeping on, under, or inside every part of his den.
Keeping an eye on the staff’s comings and goings
Dislikes:
Being ignored
Fish
Charger IN ACTION!
Animal Care
ALL IN A DAY’S WORK!
At 8 am, the sun is coming up on a new day while the animals are slowly waking from their night’s rest. Greeted with chuffs and soundings, our staff and volunteers begin the day’s main focus, the care of our facility and its beautiful residents. From cleaning enclosures, creating enrichments, and completing new maintenance projects while maintaining the upkeep of the safety and cleanliness of the facility – every second spent by every person on site is dedicated to one purpose – to ensure we provide the highest level of care for the well-being of every single resident.
Animal Care
BY THE NUMBERS
- Food Fed Per Week: 620 lbs
- Total Number of Cats: 16
- Total Active Volunteers: 32
- Total Hours Worked Weekly: 228
Animal Care
Aurora & Tiana
THESE PRINCESSES KNOW HOW TO PLAY
Tiana and Aurora arrived in late May of 2022 at the ripe old age of 9 months. They came from North Carolina when the zoo asked to house them were unable to provide a permanent home.
Rambunctious and rowdy are the best words to describe Tiana, while Aurora is the risk-taker. Visually, Tiana has a “comma” on her right front leg and her sister has “quotation marks” above her left eye. The girls love anything dealing with their tub, playing with their toys, and practicing their “hunting” skills on each other and unsuspecting tour guests.
As they have grown, it has been interesting to see what kinds of behaviors they instinctively “know” and which ones they have developed through working with their human caregivers. For example, initially, hiding was anytime they could not see your eyes – “If I can’t see you; you can’t see me.” As they have aged, it is more about being completely hidden behind bushes, toys, or even their sister!
Together, they make a rowdy pair!
It is genuinely joyful to watch Tiana and her sister experience things for the first time – butterflies, a huge new tiger neighbor, or the occasional gopher tortoise grazing just out of their reach. It reminds us that, if we look at the world with wonder, we will always be surprised.
About Aurora & Tiana
Birthday:
August 25, 2021
Species:
Tiger
Panthera tigris
Likes:
Aurora – practicing her stalking skills
Tiana – anything dealing with water
Dislikes:
Aurora – her sister bothering her while she is napping
Tiana – people bothering her while she is eating
AURORA & TIANA IN ACTION!
Enrichment
IT IS ALL ABOUT EXPLORATION!
Whether it is introduced “big cat toys” or natural objects, enrichment is set up in each cat’s enclosure every day! This is a vital part of animal care working to keep our cats stimulated and practicing their natural talents: pouncing, chasing, problem-solving, and playing. All cats have an innate curiosity that inspires them to explore their world, so it is up to those who care for them to make things as interesting and unique as possible.
Please explore our “toy box” to see various items used for enrichment here at Central Florida Animal Reserve. Some of them have been removed because they have been “gently used” past the point of animal safety. How long these items last is dependent upon the cat who encounters them. As you can see from some of the items, there are those who “love” their toys a little too much!
Enrichment Quick Facts
Senses Engaged Through Enrichment:
sight
smell
taste
touch
hearing
Average “Lifespan” of a Cardboard Box for Enrichment:
Win: several hours
Aurora & Tiana: seconds
Average Cost of Purchased Cat Toys:
$300 – $400
Enrichment
Calypso
THIS DARK BEAUTY IS STILL A MYSTERY
Calypso is one of the five tigers who were recently rehomed with Central Florida Animal Reserve. Arriving in the dark of night, she and her traveling companions explored their surroundings and, as the facility fell silent, quickly fell asleep.
These beautiful tigresses came to us under very special circumstances. They spent their lives at a small zoo in another state, cared for by a family who truly loved them. That family built their world around these cats. But as time went on, circumstances changed, and the decision was made to close the facility. It was not an easy choice. The caretaker that raised them gave us one request: ‘I want them to still be loved.’ We assured her—that was the one promise we could easily keep.
Calypso has stunningly dark coloring with dramatic striping on her face and her two “chin dots.” All this combines to make her as enchanting as her namesake, the nymph from the Greek epic, Homer’s The Odyssey.
We are all still getting acquainted, but Calypso has proven to be a fast learner – catching on to our feeding routines in no time at all. She is quick to chuff a greeting to her keepers, and can often be seen laying by her fence gazing out at her lakefront view!
About CALYPSO
Birthday:
August 30, 2018
Species:
Tiger
Panthera tigris
Likes:
Food, Feeding Time, and Food!
Her lakefront view
Dislikes:
So far, nothing although she seems a little unsure about the big, handsome white tiger next door (Iyo)
Balana
SOUL OF A LIONESS
It is not known where Balana was born, but she lived a part of her life at a zoo that fell on hard times. She found herself without a home as it was shut down and shuffled from the location. Eventually, she ended up at a zoo in the Carolinas that also failed. But in spite of the turmoil, she has retained a sweet demeanor, and is very inquisitive and engaged.
Balana, whose name means “soul,” and her roommate, Siombe, ended up at the same location, in proximity to each other but not together. The zoo came under new ownership and moved the two of them into one location. For the first time, they were able to share space. Fortunately, the years of proximity made it much easier for them to be together–made less precarious by her being spayed at a younger age.
Balana has exquisite copper eyes, a light “fluffy” coat, and a unique “racoon-like” tail tassel. These traits give her an undeniable beauty that would make any beauty queen envious. All hail, the Queen of the Beasts!
About Balana
Birthday:
October 3, 2013
Species:
African Lion
Panthera leo
Likes:
Bossing Siombe around
Investigating anything new put into her enclosure
Dislikes:
Having her naps disturbed by the rowdy cubs next door
Any chance of getting wet
Balana IN ACTION!
Siombe
HEART OF A LION
It is unknown where Siombe was born, but at a young age, he found himself at a facility that did a lot of petting encounters. We don’t know much about his upbringing, but there are a few clues left in the slight sway when he walks–hinting at possible health challenges in his past. He has the calm demeanor of a mature lion hesitant to start trouble but endowed with the ability to finish it. His name means “heart” and reflects everything you need to know about him.
Within three days of arriving, Siombe and his roommate, Balana, began sounding along with their neighbor, Inkosi. This roaring is a way for lions to “announce” their presence, so it was an incredible sign of their quick adjustment to their new home. Siombe’s voice has the deep resonance that matches the big lion that he is. Even from a distance, he is a beast to be admired!
About SIOMBE
Birthday:
December 20, 2013
Species:
African Lion
Panthera leo
Likes:
Greeting his “people” with soft moans
Taking a nice long nap in the sun
Dislikes:
Being bossed around by Balana
Being fussy about his mane
SIOMBE IN ACTION!
Lions vs Tigers
BIG CAT ROYALTY
Everyone agrees that lions and tigers could make the claim of “King of the Beasts.” Both species share traits commonly seen in our own domestic cats: curiosity, self-grooming, and lounging luxuriously throughout the day. However, they differ from each other socially, vocally, visually, and hunting ability. Think back on the tigers you just saw…can you name all the differences?
Lions vs Tigers
BY THE NUMBERS
Length:
Tiger: 4.8 – 9.5 ft.
Lion: 5.6 – 8.3 ft.
Weight:
Tiger: 165 – 715 lbs. (varies by species)
Lion: 330 – 570 lbs.
Habitat:
Tiger: flooded mangrove forests, arid forests, tropical forests, and taiga
Lion: open woodlands, thick grassland, and brush habitat
Lions vs Tigers
Inkosi
A DIFFERENT KIND OF LION
When Inkosi arrived, we immediately knew he was a different kind of lion. Instead of the “80’s Rock Star” mane we are used to, his was a little short. However, he makes up for it from the shoulders back.
While most of our other cats devour their food eagerly, Inkosi savors every morsel. He can be seen rolling each piece from one side of his mouth to the other and even sucking the juice from it. He is definitely our resident culinary connoisseur.
His favorite thing in the world seems to be scent enrichment. From spices to fresh herbs, palms to Christmas trees, he can’t seem to get enough. Once he locates the source, he performs the “stop, drop, and roll” technique to perfection. For the spectator, sometimes all you see are paws, mane, and all that glorious belly hair! Don’t try to get him on film, though….he seems to be a little shy of the paparazzi!
About INKOSI
Birthday:
July 24, 2010
Species:
African Lion
Panthera leo
Likes:
Surveying his “kingdom” from the top of his den
Anything that has a unique scent
Dislikes:
Any part of getting wet
Posing for pictures
INKOSI IN ACTION!
Stitch
A SECOND CHANCE LEOPARD
Born on March 12, 2022, in a Pennsylvania zoo, Stitch‘s life took a dramatic turn when a medical condition threatened his existence. Unlike other leopards destined for breeding programs, Stitch faced an uncertain future due to a hiatal hernia. He was saved by veterinary intervention, but the result left him without the home he was originally promised.
The narrative changed when Central Florida Animal Reserve (CFAR) stepped in, offering him a new lease on life. This remarkable journey from the brink of euthanasia to a loving home in Florida embodies the challenges and triumphs faced by African leopards worldwide.
Adapting to a new environment was no small feat for Stitch. From getting used to new feeding routines to interacting with a new team of caregivers, his journey reflects the adaptability and resilience of leopards. As his personality emerged, we saw a lively, playful little leopard who is constantly turning those stunningly blue eyes on all the new wonders of his world.
About Stitch
Birthday:
March 12, 2022
Species:
African Leopard
Panthera pardus
Likes:
Running around on his ramps
Lounging on my platform
Dislikes:
My tail chasing me
Rainy days
Stitch IN ACTION!
Conservation
IT STARTS WITH ONE!
Conservation has taken a much more prominent role throughout the world in the last several decades. Our actions impact wildlife not only at home, but also abroad. Purchasing foods made from palm oil, for example, directly benefits the economy of a few islands in Malaysia and Indonesia which provide 90% of the world’s supply. These islands are homes to the most biodiverse tropical forests found on Earth. In order to meet the demand for this healthier oil option, the forests are cleared for palm oil plantations – an act that affects not only the climate, but also the animal life that call these forests home. The ripple affects of our choices now will be felt for decades to come. The time is now to inform ourselves and make choices that we will be proud of for the future.
Conservation
by the numbers
Endangered Species Act:
passed by Congress in 1973
Number of Species Protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
More than 40,900
Total Monetary Value of Illegal Wildlife Trade in 2025:
Between $7.8 and $10 Billion per year (according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Conservation
Wildlife Corridor
VISION FOR THE WILDLIFE CORRIDOR
from Florida Department of Environmental Protection
“There are 1.46 million acres within the Florida Wildlife Corridor opportunity area that are a high priority for conservation through the state’s Florida Forever program. Utilizing the most current scientific analysis of Florida’s natural resources, DEP’s Division of State Lands triages properties in the same manner as Florida Forever potential acquisitions. Priority is given to lands that preserve, protect or enhance wildlife habitats and corridors and linkages to agricultural and rural lands. The Florida Wildlife Corridor is envisioned as an added layer to enhance the Florida Forever program. Its purpose is to build upon the network of public and private lands for safe passage and dispersal routes to maintain healthy populations of plants and animals.”
Wildlife corridor
BY THE NUMBERS
Current Area:
18 million acres
Other Projects Working In Tandem:
Rural Family Lands Protection Program
Florida Forever Conservation and Land Acquisition Program
Within the Corridor:
75 State Parks
32 State Forests
6,723 miles of trails
Wildlife corridor
Continue the Journey
Every resident at Central Florida Animal Reserve has a unique story, personality, and path that brought them here. Through your visit, you’ve become part of that story too.
From daily animal care and enrichment to conservation education and habitat maintenance, every experience at the reserve is made possible through the support of people who care deeply about animal welfare and the future of wildlife.
Thank you for taking the time to explore, learn, and connect with our residents.
Ways to Get Involved:
- Support the Residents
- Become a Member
- Volunteer with TeamCFAR
- Schedule a Guided Tour
- Follow CFAR Online
Thank You for Visiting!