Thirty big cats are staying in Central Florida but moving 57 miles south.

  • Wild cats to be moved from Cocoa beach to St. Cloud
  • Animal reserve volunteers help prepare for cats move
  • Cats expected to move by end of summer

Mark Durbin and his wife come out and volunteer for the Central Florida Animal Reserve every chance they get. “It’s been a lot of fun, we’ve been enjoying it,” he said.

The Central Florida Animal Reserve is home to thirty lions, cougars, tigers and leopards and each of these cats has a story. Some of these felines were confiscated by FWC or turned in by their owners who didn't want to take care of them anymore.

The cats are actually in Cocoa right now but their new home will soon be St. Cloud. The old space in Brevard County is about two acres big but this new location in Osceola County is about 11 acres, an expansion six times bigger.

“We feel very proud to have the opportunity to come out here to volunteer our time to help make their lives a little bit better,” Durbin said. Volunteers gathered Sunday to make preparations for the cat’s big move. They built dens and steps for the cats to climb among other things.

Phyllis Parks who’s been volunteering for 19 years said, “It’s unfortunate they are in captivity but they are. And between poachers, loss of habitat, especially loss of habitat; if we don't protect them in captivity then there won't be any at all.”

Several ill animals put the non-profit behind financially--but it's still fighting to reach a goal of $25,000.

“Everyone here is a volunteer. Everyone starts as a volunteer and it does take a whole village. So it doesn't matter if your skill is carpentry or maybe you just happen to be really good at working online environments,” said Dr. K Simba Wiltz, the CEO for Central Florida Animal Reserve. “There's something for everyone. And it's going to take everyone to continue to breathe life into this place.”

Durbin said he does this knowing that a lot of these cats are getting a second chance at life. “Some probably haven't had the best life. They haven’t been treated the best and now they're going to have a place where they're going to be loved, they are going to be well taken care of,” Durbin added. “They're going to be enjoyed and they're going to have a chance to enjoy the rest of their life in a nice area and be well taken care of.”

The cats are expected to move to St. Cloud by the end of the summer. Once they’re settled, the reserve hopes to provide guided educational tours to the public as well.