– By BJ BANGS

Special to the Maine Sunday Telegram

MOUNT VERNON — Makeena, a baby white Bengal Tiger, is the newest addition to D.E.W. Animal Kingdom & Sanctuary, joining the largest selection of big cats in all New England.

Meaning beautiful one, Makeena was born April 11, and since she has become one of the most popular attractions at D.E.W., located on Route 41, about 30 miles north of Augusta. Worldwide, the number of tigers continues to dwindle and they are on the endangered wildlife species. While tigers still number in the thousands, there are significantly fewer white tigers, making them very endangered.

Makeena, now about 15 pounds, will grow to over 200 pounds. Owners Julie and Bob Miner are spending a lot of time socializing her so that she will be able to acclimate to the climate and join the other big cats later this summer. She is housed outside across from Freddie, a Lar gibbon. during normal visitor hours. 

She joins 11 other big cats, and nine large cats at D.E.W., which could be one of the best kept secrets in Maine. They have four lions, four tigers, three black leopards, three mountain lions, two lynx and three bobcats, and a serval. The lions, tigers and leopards are considered big cats because they can roar. Large cats are wild, but they can’t roar.

D.E.W. is different from a zoo or an animal park in that it has the exotic and native Maine animals that have been rescued and given to the facility. It is self-sustaining nonprofit with no federal or state funding, and the owners say it’s a way of life, more than anything else.

Some of the resident animals are second generation having been born on the farm. Many are rescued. Even though it is illegal to own big cats, Bob contends there are more illegal tigers in the United States than there are in the wild. Many of those at D.E.W. were such cats. You have to respect what they are, he said. They are not pets.

He describes D.E.W., which stands for domestic, exotic and wild, as an innovative farm with alternative livestock, raising traditional farm animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats, as well as non-traditional animals including lions, tigers, bobcats, bears, camels, peacock and zebra, kangaroos, monkeys, llamas, and pot bellied pigs.

Bob started D.E.W. in 1980 when a local school boy asked if he could visit the farm. He realized he could share his connection and knowledge of the animals and that could serve as his way to connect back to people, following his battles with a lot of health issues.

A disabled Vietnam veteran, Bob was shot six times, had two strokes and a heart attack. He developed a special bond with animals and they became his therapy for recovery. Today, Bob continues that special relationship with the animals, and shares it with others.

About 10 years ago, it became apparent the Miners needed more space for the animals, so they moved from Echo Lake to the present facility located on 42 acres. They show on less than half of these, so there’s plenty of room to expand, which they are doing right now, making a new larger area for the wolves and a new mountain lion home for Gunne and Chena.

D.E.W. Animal Kingdom is exceptionally clean. The animals are in great condition. The paths are wide and woody. There’s plenty of shade. There’s even a pond where the tigers can go for a swim and play in the water. While the animals can’t run free, they have plenty of space. They indeed are treated like friends, and that’s exactly what they are to the Miners.

The facility is open April to mid-September, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends through foliage season, with appointments during the week. It is closed after Oct. 31 to April 17.

Admission is $10. Group rates and season passes are available. Contact Julie for more info at 293-2837 and check www.dewanimalkingdom.com, which also has a description of many of the residents.

BJ Bangs is a freelance writer from Phillips who rites about places to see that are off the beaten path. She can be reached at bjbangs@yahoo.com