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.

FELIDA provides a safe home to big cats, such as tigers and lions. These animals come from a number of backgrounds like circuses, private keeping and war-torn zoos and often had a difficult start in life. Some of these big cats have developmental delays due to inbreeding while others suffer from severe malnutrition, among other health concern. At FELIDA, they receive the specialized care to help them overcome their difficult pasts. 

Big Cat Center FELIDA was founded in 2014, after FOUR PAWS International took over an existing ailing big cat rescue center. Due to financial problems and severe overdue maintenance, FOUR PAWS was asked to help in 2013, which lead to a complete takeover of the center.

Since the takeover a lot has happened at FELIDA and the facilities and animal care standards were strongly improved. FOUR PAWS transferred 15 big cats (7 lions, 7 tigers and 1 leopard) from FELIDA to our LIONSROCK sanctuary in South Africa. FELIDA now provides intensive care to six big cats with special needs and works towards further developments to strengthen this role in the future.

Please visit www.felida-bigcatcentre.org  and www.facebook.com/felidabigcatcentre to learn more about FELIDA.