Big cats returned to California sanctuary after fire

LOS ANGELES — About a dozen lions, tigers, cougars and other big cats came home to a sanctuary north of Los Angeles days after they were evacuated with an advancing wildfire.

Ten to 15 big cats, and a few raccoons, returned Wednesday to the Wildlife Waystation in the Sylmar area from another animal facility, spokesman Jerry Brown said.

A crowd of staff members carefully took a large cage holding an orange-and-black Bengal tiger off a truck and rolled it to a barred enclosure, where the feline was released.

Martine Colette, the 74-year-old founder of the sanctuary, watched as the cats returned.

“Every one of them is something in my life and is special in my life,” she added.

They were among some 300 wild and exotic animals ranging from snakes to parrots to bears that were taken from the sanctuary last weekend as authorities urged staffers to leave.

Fire officials determined the sanctuary was no longer in immediate danger by Saturday night and told staff members they could stop the evacuation.

The animals that already were moved started returning Tuesday and more will arrive in the next few days, Brown said.