Rescue Tigers Radja, Khan, Douglas, Shir-Khan, Prinz and Pascha

Starlight tigers: Circus to sanctuary

The Starlight Circus was home to six tigers who spent years living in conditions that could never meet their needs. The group consisted of four male tigers, Douglas, Shir Khan, Prinz and Pascha, as well as a male tiger, Khan, and a female tiger, Radja. Although they lived together at the circus, all six had been born at different circus companies in Germany before being sold to the small travelling family circus.

The tigers were divided into two groups. Douglas, Shir Khan, Prinz and Pascha shared one transport wagon, while Khan and Radja lived in another. Measuring only about 20 m² and 25 m², these wagons served as their permanent homes. Whenever the circus travelled, which was estimated to be between 30 and 40 venues every year, the tigers remained confined inside the wagons for the entire journey.

When the circus was stationary, the six tigers had access to a single outdoor enclosure of approximately 100 m² with a low platform. As the two groups were incompatible, they could not use the enclosure together and had to take turns. Although they never performed in the circus ring and were not trained, they still spent their lives in an environment that fell short of the space and care they deserved.

German minimum standards for keeping big cats require permanent access to an outdoor enclosure and significantly more space than the circus could provide. The responsible Veterinary Authority recognised that these requirements could not be met and began searching for a better future for the animals.

Working together with FOUR PAWS, the authority successfully persuaded the circus owner to surrender all six tigers. In November 2013, Douglas, Shir Khan, Prinz, Pascha, Khan and Radja were rescued and brought to LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa.

At LIONSROCK, the six tigers were finally able to leave their circus lives behind. With spacious natural enclosures, expert care and the freedom to express their natural behaviours, they were given the chance to enjoy the peaceful life every tiger deserves.

2023 Update: Sadly, Prinz passed away in August and Khan in December.

2024 Update: Sadly, Shir Khan passed away in March.

2026 Update: Sadly, Radja passed away in January, Douglas in February and Pascha in April.

Radja (left) and Khan

"Normal" circus life

The tiger groups lived under “normal” circus conditions with each of the groups being kept in one wagon with approximately 20m² and 25m² in size.
When travelling to the next venue they were kept in the wagon only. It has been estimated that the circus probably visited 30 to 40 different venues per year.

Prinz (left) and Pascha

Four brothers form part of the Starlight Tigers

Four brothers, Douglas, Shir-Khan, Prinz and Pascha were kept in a separate transport wagon from Radja and Khan.

Shir-Khan

FOUR PAWS and local authorities found a new home for the tigers

The local authorities decided to search for alternative places and eventually, together with FOUR PAWS, convinced the owner of the six tigers to hand over the animals, including Douglas, to LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in November 2013.This was the first time that FOUR PAWS took over big cats directly from a circus.