On Saturday, Dec. 13, you can have a holiday photo taken with Chuff Chuff, a 550-pound tiger, as well as seeing him and his fellow animals at Elmira’s Wildlife Sanctuary open presents of their own. Photo courtesy of Robin Greenwood.
Tigers like Christmas, too. Well, okay, so they may not really know about Christmas, but they certainly like Christmas presents, as do all of the big cats and other animals. And it seems at least one tiger specifically, named Chuff Chuff, even likes having Christmas photos taken. And he’s very photogenic.
Chuff Chuff lives at Elmira’s Wildlife Sanctuary in Wimauma. This Saturday, Dec. 13, from 1 to 4 p.m., Elmira’s will be presenting “A Chuff Chuff Christmas” fundraising event. It is a chance to celebrate the Christmas season with Chuff Chuff, Elmira the Bear and many other exotic animals at the sanctuary, and to help make their Christmas dreams come true.
And yes, they do love to open presents, even the simplest items from (very) durable toys to watermelons are appreciated by the majestic animals.
Elmira’s Wildlife Sanctuary is a sanctuary of last resort for nearly 50 exotic animals, including the tigers, a lion, bears and several others. They have come to the sanctuary from everywhere including petting zoos to sanctuaries that have gone out of business, to private owners who discovered that large cats can make for difficult and extremely expensive pets. At Elmira’s, all of the animals are able to live out their lives in dignity, with love, attention and every possible amenity to their lives that the organization can afford. Elmira’s is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and depends entirely upon donations from local residents and businesses.
The Chuff Chuff Christmas Celebration includes a holiday photo of you and your family taken in front of Chuff Chuff, the 550-pound tiger; a silent auction that, according to organizers, includes items that would make great holiday gifts or keepsakes; games and raffle drawings; an “enrichment tour” that includes being able to see volunteers pass out gifts to the animals in the sanctuary; as well as snacks, desserts and nonalcoholic beverages.
According to Elmira’s founder, Robin Greenwood, some of the silent auction and raffle items include tickets for Busch Gardens and MOSI, a Glazer Children’s Museum membership, Redbox videos, original artworks and other items.
The sanctuary is seeking a donation of $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 3 to 12 years for the event.
For those unable to attend, you can still make the holidays brighter for the animals and volunteers via a wish list found at www.elmiraswildlife.org/wishlist.aspx. The list includes everything from jolly balls and piñatas to watermelons, bananas, raw meat and Beneful dog food, as well as maintenance and cleaning supplies.
Although they may not know the date or the significance, Chuff Chuff the Tiger, as well as the varied lions, tigers, bears and other animals, certainly do love Christmas presents. On December 13, you have the opportunity to spread some holiday cheer to some of the world’s most majestic animals, as well as the chance to see the unbridled joy they take in receiving their gifts.
Elmira’s Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 13910 Seminole Trail in Wimauma. For more information, visit www.elmiraswildlife.org, email info@elmiraswildlife.org or call 813-634-4115. The Chuff Chuff Christmas Celebration will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 1 to 4 p.m.
