PrideRock Wildlife Refuge

Damien

We lost our beloved tiger Damien on November 17, 2011.

Damien was about 13 years old, he came to PrideRock on June 6th, 2000 from California with the 'Exxon girls' Mia, Kelly & Golden who are still with us.

Damien and the 'Exxon girls' were part of an educational program at Marine World Africa USA. After a 30 year run and a change in management, the park decided to do away with the animals and wanted them gone within two weeks...

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Ron Whitfield, the entire population survived. Ron & his wife Julie, moved the entire group of lions and tigers (37 in all) to their home in Suisun, California where they could permanently house 12 of them. After two years of searching, Ron found good homes for most of the rest. PrideRock, and Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge in Tyler, Texas agreed to help place "The Last 8". PrideRock took Damien and the 'Exxon girls'.