If you’re an animal lover who’s longed to see Big Cats in the wild, but for whom a trip to, say, Botswana is out of the question, there’s great news. The Big Cat Sanctuary, in Smarden just outside Ashford, is home to everything from African and Asiatic lions and and Amur tigers to civets, legers and snow leopards, with a visit allowing you to see the animals in all their magnificence, without even leaving the county. What’s more, you’ll be supporting the Sanctuary’s vital work in animal care, conservation, breeding and education.
In 2025, the Sanctuary celebrates 25 years of offering a pioneering programme of welfare across its 28-acre site to some 36 endangered cats. Of the 12 species here, 11 are classed as being more than vulnerable to the point of extinction. Explains Peter Sampson, who set up the charity all those years ago, ‘We’re like a lifeboat – if the tiger population in, say, Russia or Sumatra starts to decline, we’ve got tigers here that we can hopefully release back into the wild.’
After two years of involvement with the Sanctuary, Michael Twiby began his role as Head Keeper here last December. ‘The environment is fantastic,‘ he enthuses. ‘If you’re interested in Big Cats, as I’ve been since childhood, you really can’t do better than working here.’
He explains, ‘Each enclosure is specifically created to mimic each species’ natural environment – leopards and jaguars have plenty of foliage and opportunities to climb, because that’s how they live in the wild, whereas lions and cheetahs will have wide open spaces to replicate the savannah. Our take is, if the animals are behaving in the same sort of way as they would in the wild, we’re moving in the right direction.’
Keeping the animals moving is essential, especially when it comes to feeding time: ‘I’d never call a cat lazy, but put it this way: they’re very energy efficient! In the wild, they move because that’s the only way to secure their prey. We make sure that they work for their food here in the sanctuary, too, using the same sorts of skills and muscles as they’d need to use in the wild.’
The cats are fed three times a week: ‘If we fed them every day, we’d have to feed them much smaller amounts, which doesn’t replicate how they would eat in the wild: large, infrequent meals that can be a week apart. To mimic their natural activity patterns, though, we still feed them more frequently than they’d eat in the wild, and make them work to find their food, which keeps the cats fit and healthy,’ explains Michael.
‘For instance, often we’ll hide food so that the animals have actively to seek it out. They might have to climb to secure it, or it’ll have been hidden in barrels, with the cats having to drag these along to get at it. In doing so, they’re maintaining and building up their muscle strength, just as they’d do with their prey in the wild.’
Cats are also used to identifying other animals on their territory by their scent: ‘we quite often use scents including Marmite, with its distinctive smell, to simulate that idea, rubbing it on the bark of trees, so our animals are continuing to use all their senses.’
The Big Cat Sanctuary lives up to the word ‘sanctuary’ in its name. ‘on a day-to-day level, there are very few visitors here. It’s only during our Open Days that you’ll see a lot of people – and we’ll take great care to ensure that there is no impact on the animals. Those that are sensitive are kept well away from the action.’
Helping to fund the charity’s work in addition to the open days are immersive experiences that really do give those who sign up for them an insight into its conservation work, as well as an opportunity to get up close and personal with the cats.
Explains Tanith Brown, the Sanctuary’s fundraising and engagement executive, ‘We offer everything from guided tours to afternoon teas, overnight stays in our luxury lodges to photography workshops; visitors can take part in our ranger days and can support the cats by adopting one.’
‘We keep numbers taking part in tours and ranger days very small – only up to about six in a group maximum and with a ranger. That way, participants really do get a unique, intimate experience and, most importantly, the animals aren’t disturbed,’ adds Michael.
Says Tanith, ‘We see our wild cats as ambassadors for their wild cousins, who face immense challenges in an ever-changing world; loss of habitat and prey, the illegal wildlife trade, poaching and traditional medicine are all factors pushing so many species to extinction.
‘Our collection of wild cats here at the sanctuary is truly diverse, and includes the largest, the most endangered and the smallest cats in the world. We’re proud to be actively involved in programmes including The European Endangered Species programme. The aim of these programmes is to ensure that, should it become viable to reintroduce an endangered species in the future, there’s a healthy and genetically stable population existing in captivity to supplement their wild counterparts.’
Adds Michael, ‘For instance, we’ve had wonderful success in breeding Amur leopards here, thanks to the amazing Xizi, who’s been with us since 2007. She’s has had four litters and some of the cubs she’s produced have gone on to places as far afield as America and Japan, spreading her gene pool. And those cubs have gone on to have cubs of their own, meaning she’s now a proud grandmother!’
Any cats that need medical attention are treated by a team of expert vets, based nearby ‘We have an excellent inhouse centre in which they can be treated – paid for with help from our supporters.’
Staff and volunteers both attend talks and conferences on the very latest approaches to conservation, and welcome visitors to Smarden to talk about them, too. ‘Last year, we went over to Kenya’s Ol Pejeta conservancy to hear about the anti-poaching patrols they’re developing over there,’ says Michael. ‘It’s all about education, about exchanging research and information – whether that’s with other professionals around the world, or with our supporters here at home.’
So if you want to discover more about some truly extraordinary creatures and the work that’s being done to protect them, there’s no need to head to your travel agent, nor even to tune into the latest wildlife documentary on TV. Instead, simply make your way to Smarden, where there’s a conservation adventure waiting for you right here on our doorstep.
thebigcatsanctuary.org
Heather Nield, a chiropodist from Maidstone, explains her passion for The Big Cat Sanctuary.
‘My love of animals has taken me all over the world – I’ve been on safari in Kenya, which was amazing. I’ve been coming here to The Big Cat Sanctuary for around 16 years – it was my sister who first told me about the place. What makes it special? The fact that, unlike a zoo, most of the time there are very few visitors – so the animals are relaxed in this lovely, secluded spot. You don’t always know what you’ll see on a safari abroad, but here in Smarden, you’re guaranteed to spot some big cats.
I’ve visited on Open Days, when there are lots of visitors, meaning that the animals may be slightly more elusive. My favourite way to experience the Sanctuary, though, is on one of the Encounter Days. These offer such a brilliant chance to see the animals up close and to ask lots of question, especially about the conservation work, which is so important here. Most recently I went on a cheetah experience day with a friend – just the two of us. We toured the whole sanctuary with a keeper and got to go into the enclosure with the animals. It was all very carefully controlled by the staff and I knew enough about the cheetah’s nature to know this sort of close proximity would be safe – it’d never be possible with lions or tigers. Feeding them was something I’ll never forget.
I support the Sanctuary’s work with a monthly membership donation, and I’m always checking out the website, as they offer new things all the time – they’re not inexpensive, but it’s for an excellent cause and there really is nowhere else like this. Next on my list would be an overnight stay, but that’d be a real luxury as I can get home easily after a day with the cats. We’re so lucky to have the Sanctuary right here in Kent.’
Explore the natural world at The Big Cat Sanctuary Open Day
This year, the Big Cat Sanctuary’s Open Days run from Wednesday, July 24 to Sunday, July 28. Expect not only to see incredible cats, but also get an insight into the global conservation work being done from at the Headcorn site. Visitors can also look forward to arena displays of falconry and demonstrations of the work of anti-poaching dogs, as well as a range of entertainments. Tickets must be bought in advance from the website thebigcatsanctuary.org
