DNR seizes tigers, lion from facility

IDAVILLE, Ind. (WLFI) - Authorities seized almost a dozen wild animals from an area animal sanctuary Tuesday including four tigers.

In all, Indiana Conservation officers confiscated four tigers, a lion, a mountain lion and a bobcat from Great Cats of Indiana. Two additional hybrid wolves at the property were seized by White County Animal Control.

Investigators said facility director Rob Craig has permits to possess the animals, but an inspection of the Idaville facility found possible violations to the laws governing those permits.

Conservation officers conducted the inspection after an anonymous complaint that the facility was breaking state laws regulating the enclosures and other animal health and care requirements.

In 2010, Great Cats stopped giving public tours with Rob Craig telling NewsChannel 18 it was becoming too time-consuming and expensive to keep it open to the public. At the time, there were 25 animals including 13 tigers.

This isn't Craig's first problem running the facility. In October 2010, Craig had to shoot two tigers who got loose from their cage but were still inside the property's perimeter enclosure. In May 2011, several animals were seized and Craig was given two citations for cages that weren't up to requirements. He also gave up some animals voluntarily in 2011.

As for the seven wild animals found Tuesday, they are now at another licensed facility.