Exotic Feline Rescue Center — Attraction in Brazil

Booked the overnight stay as a birthday gift to my SO and we had a blast and really enjoyed the animals we toured the property twice. The first was when we first arrived and in the public group, we got info on a large number of animals most had been rescued from bad conditions and nursed back to health by the efrc staff and many have unique traits/scars to talk about and tell their stories which the staff shares while making sure you dont get to close because some areas of the tour put you and animals within touching distance.

The second tour was the next morning where we got to follow a keeper around the secondary area where those close interactions are even more noticable and you have to dodge the cats trying to mark their territory. The cats in this area were generally in better condition when rescued so the stories arent as engaging but you get the chance to really pick the brain of the keeper and ask those harder questions. Plus you will see more of the behind the scenes action of feedings and other things needed to really take care of so many big animals.

The best part is the time you get to spend in you own private access area where at the time 4 enclosures housed 5 cats that you can watch and talk to some of them respond like house cats others just like the wild animals you would expect. We enjoyed sitting in the chairs and listening to the wild sounds rumble around the entire property until about 11pm and turned in for the night. The room is comfy and is part of the directors home so you arent ever really alone to try anything stupid like reaching into a cage although i did run back and forth playing hide and seek with the tiger and i believe i was always the prey.

A great overnight date for the price if you have an SO that loves animals and a great learning opportunity for a single day trip...

Tigers, pumas, lions, ocelots, lynx and more!!! This place is a wonderful educational experience, a chance to see big and small exotic cats of many ages in large, comfortable environments, and an eye-opening portal to a world I never knew existed - what happens when someone illegally owns a tiger, or has a roadside zoo and neglects their big cats? They end up right here, happier than they've ever been! These people are doing a wonderful thing for animals who would otherwise not have a place to go. They are a well-known exotic feline rescue among those involved in that particular field and I had never known there was such a wonderful place for these beautiful animals right here in Indiana. The owner genuinely cares about the wellbeing of all his animal guests and has a true passion for his work, if you get a moment with him you can just see it in his eyes: he loves what he is doing for them, he loves providing these animals with a safe haven to live their lives out. About 2 hrs drive from Indianapolis; take a tour and remember: DO NOT TOUCH the cages! The tour guides love their jobs too and will tell you the story of every cat as you meander pleasantly slow past their enclosures, more than enough time to observe each animal. General admission and donations go to caring for the felines and their facilities. They spare no expense! Check them out and - if you don't want to give a donation without getting a little something out of it, grab something from the gift shop! And YES - they do school class tours with plenty of room for the school...

This place is absolutely amazing and a legit rescue center for wildlife! I would encourage you to do your research before visiting any type of rescue facility/sanctuary. Unfortunately most of the animals living here are here due to lack of education from us humans. They come from people who want to improperly breed, try to keep these animals as pets, or own them for their business and providing extremely small living space as well as neglecting their health. These animals are either no longer or not able to live in the wild, so this is where they can come. Now I want to talk about the staff. The staff here are very compassionate and knowledgeable of the animals. You can tell they enjoy what they do. The staff also went above and beyond to help my husband and I when we left. We were involved in a car accident as we were headed home. We were driving down the road from the sanctuary that leads to SR-59. We were told that intersection isn’t the greatest and there has been MANY accidents there (keep that in mind when leaving). The staff waited with us the entire time until the sheriff arrived. They helped direct traffic and kept asking if we were ok or needed anything (they asked the other driver as well). I was truly grateful for their caring hearts, willingness and compassion. Thank you all so much ❤️ *Make sure you don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes or shoes you don’t mind getting dirty and make sure you apply insect repellent before starting...