How a glamorous Hollywood star decided to take a walk on the wild side…. During the 1960s, TippiHedren became one of the most famous stars inHollywood. Her success may not have been immediate but it was certainlybig. Tippi began her career as a fashion model. This led her to appear in some TVadvertisements, including a fateful appearance in an advert for a diet drink.World famous director Alfred Hitchcock spotted Tippi in the advert; Tippi’s goodlooks, elegant style and confident manner impressed him and he picked her tostar in one of his most famous films The Birds. When the film came out, Tippi wasa hit with the public and the critics. But nobody could have guessed that Tippiwould soon make a commitment that would take her life in a completely newdirection. In 1972, Tippi was finishing a film made on location in Africa when she learntthat the big cats featured in the film had nowhere to go. The situation distressedTippi and she desperately wanted to help these animals. Tippi decided to taketime out from the glamourous world of film-making in order to set up an eightyacre wildlife habitat called Shambala for retired and unwanted big cats at theedge of the Mojave Desert, 64 kilometres northeast of Los Angeles, California. Shambala is not just a temporary shelter; the sanctuary provides a home for over70 big cats including lions, tigers, cougars, black and spotted leopards, panthers,bobcats, and a jungle cat. Some of the rescued cats had suffered neglect and mistreatment in roadside zoos and circus shows; but most came from the homesof private citizens who realized they had purchased an animal they couldn’thandle. Tippi also set up the ROAR foundation which primarily aims to educate the publicabout the dangers of private ownership of exotic animals. The foundation raisesmuch needed funds for Shambala so that it can remain a place where big catscan live out their days in dignity. The public are able to enjoy occasional safarivisits to Shambala and can even ‘adopt a wild one’, which they can visit at thereserve a few times each year. Tippi hopes that one day sanctuaries likeShambalawon’t be necessary, but for now her work to protect these beautifulcreatures goes on.

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