- March 12, 2025
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Kaya Paongo and other dancers perform with Echo of the South Pacific.
Photo by Ian SwabySasha Kenyon offers Lynne Chippendale a chance to pet Sparky, a North American red fox.
Photo by Ian SwabyBig Cat Habitat employees Melissa Weber and Scarlett Olneda chat, as Olneda offers a perch to George, a green-cheeked conure.
Photo by Ian SwabyMichael and Gladys Ball meet Stella, a sloth, who is helping to greet guests with Danielle Rosaire.
Photo by Ian SwabyStella the sloth relaxes while hanging onto Danielle Rosaire.
Photo by Ian Swaby5-year-old Bennett Maryott, 7-year-old Charlie Carmona, and 7-year-old Delilah Vaccaro play limbo.
Photo by Ian SwabyBig Cat Habitat joins with Polynesian dancers from Echo of the South Pacific in a group that includes Etasa Evans, Nancy Nallin, Kaya Paongo, Kay Rosaire, An Cantor, and Aliyah Wiley
Photo by Ian SwabyMax Strong and Kelsey Owens
Photo by Ian SwabyBig Cat Habitat founder Kay Rosaire and employee Nancy Nallin allow one of the resident lemurs to show its appreciation.
Photo by Ian Swaby6-year-old Lydia Johnson mimics the motions of the Polynesian dancers after being among those selected to accompany them.
Photo by Ian SwabyEtasa Evans dances alongside Eric Krompak, who was among those invited to accompany the dancers.
Photo by Ian SwabySasha Kenyon gives Ellen Matos and 4-year-old Mason Romero a turn with Sparky, a North American red fox.
Photo by Ian SwabyTaei Evans holds his own feet to the fire to offer a crowd-pleasing performance.
Photo by Ian SwabyMarco and Victoria Sousa
Photo by Ian SwabyKaya Paongo dances alongside Bill True, one of the guests chosen for the dancers.
Photo by Ian SwabyTaei Evans tops off the experience with a fire dance.
Photo by Ian SwabyKen and Samantha Butz watch the performance of the Polynesian dancers.
Photo by Ian SwabyTaei Evans, Kamata Paongo, and Mafileo Evans perform with Echo of the South Pacific.
Photo by Ian Swaby5-year-old Bennett Maryott cheers on her father Andrew Maryott as he is called up to the dance floor to accompany the dancers.
Photo by Ian SwabyStasia Guerette brought her 3-month-old daughter Sasha Guerette, the great niece of Big Cat Habitat founder Kay Rosaire.
Photo by Ian Swaby14-year-old Ella Rosaire offers Michele and Lee Edgerley a chance to pet Nikita, a North American red fox.
Photo by Ian SwabyNancy Nallin introduces Kim Carson and 10-year-old Wyatt Carson to one of the new young lemur residents.
Photo by Ian SwabyThe social scene at Charlie's Third Annual Liger Luau included a mixture of humans, lemurs, foxes, a sloth and more on June 17 at Big Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary.
"It's a wonderful event — animals and people here all together," said Kay Rosaire, who founded the sanctuary in 1987. "We're very much in favor of the human-animal bond, and this is just as great way to put it out there."
Amid a scene of vibrant Pacific-style decor, the fundraising event also offered energetic performances by Echo of the South Pacific, a Tampa Bay-area Polynesian entertainment group; a specialty drinks and beverage bar; a silent auction; raffles, and a performance by That Bald DJ.
As with past years, food was provided by Charlie Haney, owner of Rodizio Grill and Butcher's Mark, and cooked by Perry's Original Roadside BBQ, with this year's event named in Haney's honor due to his culinary contributions all three years.
Attendees said they enjoyed supporting the rescue while also experiencing the event scene.
"It's wonderful," said Michele Edgerley, a neighbor of Haney who said she and her husband Lee Edgerley invited as many of their other neighbors as they could. "All our neighbors get together to support Big Cat Habitat, which is such a wonderful cause. They did a great job — really well done."
"I'm here for just about everything," said Max Strong, a volunteer with the organization. "Definitely, fundraising is important for sure. It allows us to do what we do. … I think it's important to keep the human animal bond alive, and they do a good job of it here."
The event was also a chance for humans of all ages to come together, Rosaire said.
"It's open to the whole family, so it's a lot of fun."
