Big Cat Center FELIDA is located in the northern region of the Netherlands in the small village of Nijeberkoop. The center specializes in the intensive care of traumatized big cats.

Compared to other FOUR PAWS sanctuaries, the facility is smaller in order to closely monitor the animals and provide limited, controlled risk to the physical and mental health of each big cat.

Some animals at FELIDA may need lifelong, special care at the center while others may recover faster from their trauma and can later be moved to a different FOUR PAWS sanctuary, such as LIONSROCK. Our team of experts carefully monitors each individual animal to ensure they would be able to survive the journey, and thrive in a new location, if they are to be relocated.

At the moment, FELIDA is home to 5 tigers and 3 lions.

These animals come from devastating backgrounds such as war- torn zoos, circuses, and private keeping. Some of these big cats have developmental delays due to inbreeding while others suffer from severe malnutrition, among other health concerns.

Big Cat Center FELIDA was founded in 2014 after FOUR PAWS International took over an existing big cat rescue center, Pantera - which had been active since 1992. Pantera was in need of severe maintenance and struggled financially, causing the facility to request help from FOUR PAWS in 2013. The result was a complete takeover and transformation of the center into what it has become today. 

Since 2014, FOUR PAWS has transferred 14 big cats (7 lions, 6 tigers and 1 leopard) from FELIDA to LIONSROCK.

FELIDA is currently working toward further developments for the future, either at its current location or a new location in the Netherlands.