An amazing sight at the Carolina tiger Rescue (http://www.carolinatigerrescue.org/).  The CTR is an amazing place, staffed with smart, compassionate people whose mission is to protect the magnificent big cats whose lives have nearly been destroyed by zoos, circuses, photo opps, and mishandling.  Through their care and dedication, many animals have been given the chance to live an unimpeded life with good food, medical care, and no dangers from predatory humans.

Sadly, the tigers (and lions, and servals, etc.) do not live forever.  Usually they are cremated and their ashes spread in a special memorial garden on the grounds; this one above is used for educational purposes.  The skeleton is amazing but also sad — I can hardly bare to think of this royal creature being reduced in this way.  But without training for vets who minister to big cats, they wouldn’t get the treatment they deserve.

And as always, your intrepid iPhoneographer is on the lookout for catchy subjects.  Which this is.  RIP.

– the Daily Grunge