Big Cats: New and Proposed Rules

SKIP the bobcat

2011-07-22T05:05:00.001-07:00

Skip the bobcat was hit by a car on December 28th, 2010. After successful surgery to repair his shattered pelvis and 3 months of rehab at Big Cat Rescue he was unable to be released back into the wild...

Watch full episodes of the "Skipcam" camera trap videos here....

Episode 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErxBYXvT4-E

Episode 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vjkhbAF9vM

Swimming Bobcat!

2011-07-14T10:16:00.001-07:00

*Rare Footage! MAX the Bobcat our newest rescue investigates his two new pools and goes for a swim!

BIG CAT RAP!!

2011-07-09T13:15:00.001-07:00

Listen to Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Cougars and Ocelots BIG CAT RAP!! For FREE Big Cat Rescue ringtones visit: http://www.myxer.com/artist/513436/

Feeding 100+ Tigers, Lions, Leopards...

2011-07-03T00:37:00.001-07:00

What's the favorite time of day for BIG CATS? - - - - DINNER TIME! This is what the residents at Big Cat Rescue enjoy more than anything else, food, food, food! The cats definitely love to eat and we love to provide them with the best diet we possibly can, so if you would like to help us feed the cats please visit this site and donate what you can: http://www.razoo.com/story/Modglin THANK YOU!

Meet Canyon the SAND CAT!

2011-06-24T00:31:00.001-07:00

IS THIS THE WORLD'S CUTEST CAT???

Canyon the Sand Cat is one of the smallest residents at Big Cat Rescue, he's often mistaken for a domestic cat or kitten by tour guests! Listen to our junior volunteers as they introduce viewers to the cutest cat at BCR!?

Liger Physical

2011-06-13T03:48:00.001-07:00

Freckles is an 18 year old liger we rescued in 2008. She was in bad shape when she came to Big Cat Rescue, listen to what we have done to make her more comfortable while living at the sanctuary...

Vote Big Cat Rescue in Toyota's 100 Cars for Good

2011-06-04T11:21:00.001-07:00

Big Cat Rescue has been selected as one of 500 finalists in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program, which will award vehicles to 100 nonprofit organizations based on votes from the public. Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program will showcase five non-profit organizations each day for 100 days on Toyota’s Facebook page http://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood/

Sleepy Tigers....

2011-06-03T22:00:00.001-07:00

TIGERS SNORE TOO!! Check out our Tigers, Lions, Leopards and more doing what cats do best.....SLEEP! Big Cat Rescue is thankful to all our donors and supporters than enable us to rescue these cats and provide them with sanctuary so they can sleep in peace for the rest of their lives.

Top 10 Tiger Facts

2011-05-24T14:47:00.001-07:00

“If we can’t save the tiger from extinction, we can’t save anything!” was repeated in a myriad of ways over the past week in Washington, DC by conservation experts from around the world at The most important conservation initiative undertaken in the history of the world to conserve wild tigers.

*BIG Cat Toys!

2011-05-21T07:24:00.001-07:00

TIGER TOYS! Watch tigers, leopards & cougars playing with their oversized toys... THANK YOU to all our supporters and volunteers who enable us to provide these grr-eat enrichment items for the cats to play with!

Special thanks to: http://incompetech.com/m/c/royalty-free/for providing us with the music in this video.

For more info about BIG CAT RESCUE visit: http://www.bigcatrescue.org

BIG CATS need a BIG TRUCK!

2011-05-13T10:01:00.001-07:00

Help Big Cat Rescue with their mission! Vote for Big Cat Rescue on June 3rd in the Toyota 100 Cars For Good program and we could win a new rescue vehicle!

Vote here on June 3rd: http://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood/

Liger ROAR!

2011-05-10T14:33:00.001-07:00

Freckles the LIGER at Big Cat Rescue, Freckles was rescued along with two tigers from Mississippi in December 2008, read the full story here: http://bigcatrescuer.blogspot.com/2009/01/big-cat-bailout.html

Big Cat Rescue strives to make sure all of our cats are as comfortable as possible while living at the sanctuary, however we have to inspect and clean the enclosures daily whether the cats like it or not and this video clip is a good example of why these cats do not belong in backyards!

Tiger Easter!

2011-04-23T00:58:00.001-07:00

TIGERS & LIONS LIKE EASTER TREATS TOO! Watch Zabu the white tiger destroy her easter egg filled with catnip and leave the mess for Cameron the lion to investigate!

Big Cat Scares! :)

2011-04-03T04:32:00.001-07:00

Big cats can be very scary, but so can Big Cat Rescue volunteers!Sorry interns! If you would like to take part in our intern program please visit: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/how-you-can-help/volunteer-intern

Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom *Big Cats!!

2011-03-31T11:08:00.001-07:00

Feeding over 100 tigers, lions and leopards each day requires lots of food, watch the cats enjoy their dinner in this fun video!

LYNX gets a haircut!

2011-03-27T01:46:00.001-07:00

Dances With Wolves had been bottle raised and sold to someone who expected her to bond with him. His cats do commercials and ads and she was not inclined to do either. Living on Easy Street now, she can do what comes natural to her. Big Cat Rescue's resident Canadian Lynx gets rid of her bad hairdo!

Backyard Tigers of America...

2011-03-18T22:45:00.001-07:00

Did you know that it is 100% LEGAL to own tigers, lions and other exotic big cats as "pets" in the United States? There are literally thousand of big cats existing in horrible conditions in backyards across America...

Q: Do TIGERS hate CINNAMON??

2011-03-06T05:53:00.001-08:00

Do tigers hate cinnamon? We have 13 tigers at Big Cat Rescue so we decided to put cinnamon to the test and find out..... We also gave cinnamon to a few of our lions to see what they thought to the baking spice!

CIRCUS

2011-03-01T17:53:00.001-08:00

The CIRCUS is NO FUN for the animals...

Big Cat Rescue does something called Operant Conditioning to teach our cats to do things we need them to do for medical reasons, such as lean against the fence to get their shots or open their mouth so we can look at their teeth. We do this with rewards and the cats have fun because they are smart and bored and love the attention. We never punish or withhold food to make them do something, and the cats only do it when they want to -- not on our schedule.

But because tigers and lions in circus acts must perform specific acts at precise times and "the show must go on," positive reinforcement is not the only method used by circus trainers or night club magicians. Often the cats are beaten, starved and confined for long periods of time in order to get them to cooperate with what the trainers want. And life on the road means that most of a cat's life is spent in a circus wagon in the back of a semi-truck or in a crowded, stinking box car on a train or barge.

The messages the public gets from circus acts couldn't be worse. These acts either show man dominating one of nature's most magnificent creatures, which would never happen on an even playing field, or worse are promoted as illustrations of the "special bond" the trainer has with his captive. The latter just fuels the trade in big cats as pets and that never ends well for the cat.

18 Servals, 1 Sanctuary...

2011-02-21T08:18:00.001-08:00

Many of our servals are former "pets", wild cat species NEVER make suitable "pets" and are often abandoned once the owners realise this. Big Cat Rescue is a non-profit educational sanctuary home to over 100 unwanted, abandoned and abused exotic big cats.

♥ Big Cat Love ♥

2011-02-11T09:39:00.001-08:00

The love is in the air at Big Cat Rescue. Lions, Tigers, Leopards and more are enjoying the company of loving feline companions and special Valentine's Day enrichment to play with! :)

Bobcat Kittens + 2011 Rehab UPDATE

2011-02-05T22:31:00.001-08:00

The Big Cat Rescue - Bobcat Rehabilitation Program. We currently have three individual bobcats that we are rehabilitating, Midnight the bobcat kitten that was orphaned by a hunter in Alabama and Bellona and Skip two Florida bobcats that were struck by cars.
Listen to BCR President Jamie Veronica update viewers on the progress of the bobcats and their expected dates of release back into the wild where they belong!

Lion eats whole rabbit - WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT

2011-01-29T06:28:00.001-08:00

Watch Joseph the lion eat a whole rabbit in around 9 minutes (Time Lapse)
Whole prey is an important part the diet we feed our cats, as you can see they eat everything including the bones, stomach contents and fur. This provides great nutrition and a nice change of diet for the cats at their favorite time of day....DINNER TIME!

LION TACOS!! - - - $8.75 each!!

2011-01-23T22:23:00.001-08:00

First there were LION BURGERS, know we have LION TACOS, this abuse as to stop!

An Arizona restaurant known for serving tacos made from exotic meats is taking advanced orders for a particularly rare delicacy - LION MEAT !!

Boca Tacos y Tequila, a Tucson Tex-Mex restaurant plans to put lion on its menu for one night only February 16th, provided enough diners express interest in chowing down on the big cat.

WAYS TO HELP STOP THIS...

Please send an email or call the FDA to let them know that regulations should be passed prohibiting "threatened" species from being served as food products.

FDA email: consumer@fda.gov

FDA phone: (949) 608-3530 Arizona Consumer Complaint Coordinator

SIGN THE PETITION HERE: http://animals.change.org/blog/view/lion_tacos_on_the_menu_in_arizona

2 Tigers vs RHINO !?

2011-01-21T02:34:00.001-08:00

!! WATCH 2 TIGERS ATTACK A RHINO !?- Shere Khan our 750lb Siberian/bengal Tiger and China Doll have fun destroying our model Rhino.

How to Flea Treat 100+ BIG CATS !!

2011-01-16T00:53:00.001-08:00

Tigers, Lions, Leopards, all cat species can catch fleas, so at Big Cat Rescue we have to treat all of our 100+ residents with flea prevention just like your domestic cat at home every single month!

Cougar Rescue

2011-01-06T08:23:00.001-08:00

Meet Big Cat Rescue's newest residents, Freddy and Sassyfrass. They were rescued from Illinois in November 2010, listen to their story and watch the rescue!

Living in the Lion's Den for 30 Days James Jablon

2011-01-05T06:05:00.001-08:00

Why is it so bad for James Jablon of Wildlife Rehab of Hernando Florida to be living in the lions' den with two white lion cubs?

How about 10 reasons, just for starters:

Om Nom Nom - Serval :)

2010-12-30T13:38:00.001-08:00

Listen to Ty the Serval Om Nom Nom while eating his dinner! Ty came to Big Cat Rescue on 6/18/98. His previous owners had become worried that Ty, who has all of his claws, would harm their young children. The breeder had told them that if they raised Ty with their infant son they would bond forever. By the time Ty was three, the boy was still a toddler and Ty went after him. The parents had visited Big Cat Rescue before and felt that Ty would have a comfortable and happy home here. His owners caught him up in a crab trap and transported him to the sanctuary in the back of their pick up truck. After spening days in the heat, on the open road, he finally arrived. Ty has finally found refuge and seems to be quite happy here. He lives to eat and will begin to look down the pathways for approaching keepers an hour before feeding time.

Big Cat Christmas!

2010-12-20T02:23:00.001-08:00

WATCH Tigers, Lions, Leopards and more having fun destroying their big cat christmas presents! Big Cat Rescue is home to over 100 unwanted, abandoned and abused exotic big cats who love their presents just as much as we do!

Help the BIG CATS this christmas!

2010-12-15T17:24:00.001-08:00

Thanks to the generosity of the family of William and Lois Modglin of Glendale, California, this grant provides that any donations to Big Cat Rescue that indicate they are to be submitted for a match from this grant will be matched dollar for dollar by a donation from this grant immediately upon receipt of you donation up to the $200,000 maximum. This 100% match means your donation has twice the impact!

Help FREE Tony the Tiger!

2010-12-12T05:27:00.001-08:00

Breawna Smith is a ten year old animal advocate who recently visited the Tiger Truck Stop in Louisiana, listen to her report on Tony and his living conditions...

Humane Reasons Behind Oregon's new Ban on Exotic Pets

2010-12-10T06:37:00.000-08:00

Friday, December 10, 2010
By Damian Mann
Mail Tribune

If you want an alligator or monkey as a pet, you're out of luck. The same goes for lions and tigers and grizzlies.

Only Oregon residents who already have permits for some of these exotic animals will be allowed to keep them starting Jan. 1.
The new law

Beginning Jan. 1, the state will not issue any new permits for exotic pets. Current owners will be able to renew their permit and keep their pet until the animal dies or is sold. Owners of exotic pets that don't have permits will have to give them up or sell them legally to someone out of state.

The law covers the following animals:

* Felines not native to Oregon, with the exception of domestic cats.
* Non-wolf canines not indigenous to Oregon, except domestic dogs.
* Primates such as monkeys or capuchins.
* Bears.*
* Members of the crocodile family.

Anyone who obtains one of these animals before the new law takes effect will not receive a permit.

* Black bears that aren't wild are OK because they are native, but still fall under Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife rules.

A new state law, passed in 2009, is designed to protect the public from these type of animals and to limit the number of non-native species in Oregon.

"They are still classified as potentially dangerous animals," said Bruce Pokarney, spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Agriculture, which regulates the permits.

Residents who already have a permit will be allowed to get renewals until their exotic pet dies. No permits will be issued for any new pets obtained by Oregon residents from now on.

"It's too late to go out and get a new animal," Pokarney said.

Dave Siddon, executive director for Wildlife Images in Merlin, said he doesn't remember anyone ever asking for a permit for a pet grizzly. The most popular exotics are felines.

Siddon knows all too well how dangerous it can be to own an exotic pet.

Nikki, a sedate-looking Siberian Lynx who barely looked at its raw meat sitting on a table Tuesday, was rescued from Washington after it bit an adult woman and 3-year-old child.

"They were ready to euthanize him," Siddon said.

Many of the animals are easy enough to deal with when they're young, but become powerful predators with sometimes unpredictable instincts when they get older.

Siddon's organization rescues sick, injured and orphaned animals and offers the public a chance to view indigenous species such as cougars, bobcats and bald eagles.

He said many people decide to take ownership of exotic pets without giving it much thought.

"We've been called out for people who died and left their animal in an abominable state," he said. "They think with their emotions, instead of their minds."

Siddon has seen tigers kept in flimsy chicken wire compounds.

Some of the animals can only be cared for in facilities such as Wildlife Images. Kody, a grizzly bear rescued from Alaska, sat comfortably enough in a large enclosure, waiting for his next meal. Because it's wintertime, his intake of fish and chicken goes up from 5,000 calories a day to 25,000, Siddon said.

Wildlife Images exhibits the animals, so it falls under five different regulatory agencies in order to operate, Siddon said.

The Department of Agriculture has issued 49 permits for 88 exotic animals statewide. Most of the permits are for exotic felines, followed by primates.

In Jackson County, three permits have been issued, one for 12 wolves in Rogue River, one for a serval (African wild cat) in Eagle Point and an alligator in Medford.

In Grants Pass, one person has two permits, one for five capuchins and another for a vervet, or primate.

Ultimately the law will result in no more exotic animals in the state, except in wildlife parks designed to house and exhibit them.

Other local laws may restrict snakes and other animals not specifically cited in the new law.

If a resident doesn't have the appropriate permit for one of these exotic animals, law enforcement could remove it.

Any resident who doesn't have a permit and can no longer keep the exotic pet could contact Wildlife Images, which might be able to take the animal. The number is 541-476-0222.

"We expect an influx of these animals once the new law takes effect," Siddon said.

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476, or e-mail dmann@mailtribune.com.
www.bigcatrescue.org

CUTEST Big Cat Contest! - *WIN Paw Painting!

2010-12-05T22:41:00.001-08:00

Of course we think all of our cats are cute, but we have selected 15 different cats to let viewers decide which they think is the CUTEST! Watch the video decide which cat you think should win, then simply visit our facebook page and comment on their photo, the cat with the most comments and "likes" will be crowned "Big Cat Rescue's Cutest Cat" and the person with the funniest comment will WIN an original Paw Painting by Contestant #8 Narla the cougar worth $100 - The purr-fect Christmas gift!

GEOFFROY CAT Species Spotlight

2010-12-01T01:09:00.001-08:00

Geoffroy cats are one of the smallest species of wild cat in the world! Listen to our Education Director Willow Hecht talk about these tiny cats and the problems they are facing in captivity and in the wild.

Petting Lion & Tiger Cubs at Malls & Fairs

2010-11-29T21:03:00.001-08:00

The idea of petting and playing with a tiger cub has an understandable natural appeal. The cubs are adorable, and the tiger is one of the most powerful and fascinating of all animals. What you don't know haunts them for a lifetime of deprivation and abuse.

Turkey Day for TIGERS!

2010-11-25T03:03:00.001-08:00

We celebrate Thanksgiving at Big Cat Rescue and it's a favorite holiday for the Tigers, Lions and Leopards too! Watch as we hand out whole turkeys and chickens to the big cats living at the sanctuary, the cats consume the whole bird bones 'n all!

TIGER FAIL!! Vegetarian Tiger??

2010-11-17T19:09:00.001-08:00

SHERE KHAN weighs over 700lbs! He is a Siberian/Bengal tiger and he eats grass just like your domestic cat at home :) Why do cats eat grass? ...

*BAD BIG CATS!!

2010-11-13T10:57:00.001-08:00

*FACT: Tigers, Lions, Leopards and any other species of wild cat will NEVER make a suitable "pet". Despite this obvious statement, it's 100% LEGAL to privately own these animals in over half of the United States!

Petting Lion & Tiger Cubs

2010-11-10T23:54:00.001-08:00

When you pay to pet a cub, what are you really supporting? This video shows you how people pimp out tiger cubs to support themselves while making no provisions for the lifetime care of the big cats they are breeding and buying. Watch this video about two such pay to play schemes run by Kathy Stearns of Dade City's Wild Things and Joe Schreibvogel of G.W. Exotics.

BOBCATS of Big Cat Rescue

2010-11-07T21:19:00.001-08:00

Big Cat Rescue is home to 32 bobcats! Whether they are former "pets", fur farm rescues or wild bobcats that were injured and unable to be returned to the wild, they all have permanent sanctuary at BCR.

"BEARCAT" VS PUMPKIN !!

2010-10-31T00:16:00.001-07:00

Big Cat Rescue is home to over 100 Lions, Tigers & Leopards, we are also home to Banjo the Binturong or Bearcat! Watch Banjo enjoy his Halloween treat a pumpkin complete with a banana mouth, plum nose, Fig Newton eyes and grape hair!

Big Cat Halloween

2010-10-26T17:46:00.001-07:00

Tigers, Lions, Leopards...the Big Cats like to carve pumpkins too! Take a look at halloween at Big Cat Rescue!

Lion + White Tiger = Cameron & Zabu!

2010-10-22T16:37:00.001-07:00

Say hello to Big Cat Rescue's "odd couple" Cameron and Zabu (Male African Lion & Female White Tiger) were rescued from a roadside zoo and circus in New Hampshire in 2004.

BIG CAT RESCUE - Fur Ball 2010

2010-10-13T17:33:00.001-07:00

Big Cat Rescue's 11th annual Fur Ball was a roaring success! Thank you to everybody who attended, donated and volunteered, together we are helping to make a difference in the lives of big cats around the world!

Big Cats GO GREEN! How Tigers Recycle!

2010-10-11T10:25:00.001-07:00

Tigers, Lions, Leopards ... we recycle a little differently at Big Cat Rescue! With 45 acres and over 100 big cats to care for we have lots of landscaping projects as well as lots of cats to keep enriched, so we do both at the same time!

Tony the Truck Stop Tiger: UPDATE

2010-10-02T09:38:00.001-07:00

UPDATE: Tony is still "living" at the tiger truck stop in Louisiana, it's very important that we the public keep the pressure on the government agency which decides the fate of Tony.

MEET OUR TIGERS! 2010 Year of the Tiger

2010-09-25T09:34:00.001-07:00

Tigers are one of the most popular animals in the world, instantly recognizable and ultimate predators yet they are a vanishing species...

With more tigers living in captivity in the USA than are left in the wild!

WORLD FIRST - Snow Leopard Lithotripsy.

2010-09-17T16:05:00.001-07:00

Cloe the snow leopard was diagnosed with a kidney infection and kidney stones in her left kidney. We decided the best option to help save her kidney function was to consider lithotripsy.

Dade City Wild Things Owned by Kathy Stearns

2010-09-17T09:54:00.001-07:00

A friend and I recently visited Dade City’s Wild Things. What we saw was amazing, in this day and age, but certainly NOT in a good way. Maybe if I recount our trip there, you’ll understand why.

Judge Upholds Most Lynx Habitats in 6 States

2010-09-12T04:16:00.000-07:00

By MEAD GRUVER

Associated Press Writer

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012855687_apwylynxhabitat1stldwritethru.html

CHEYENNE, Wyo. —

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service erred little when it designated a vast area scattered over six states as critical habitat for the threatened Canada lynx, a judge ruled Thursday.

The designated habitat totals 39,000 square miles, an area the size of Indiana that includes parts of northern Idaho, Maine, Minnesota and Washington and swaths of western Montana and western Wyoming.

The Fish and Wildlife Service designated the habitat last year, prompting a lawsuit from snowmobile enthusiast groups in Wyoming and Washington state. The groups worry the designation could close off areas to snowmobiling and harm snowmobile-related businesses.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal upheld most of the designation after hearing oral arguments in the case. Her lone exception was certain national forest land in the North Cascades in northern Washington state, where Freudenthal said Fish and Wildlife didn't adequately consider the economic effects of designating the habitat.

"To be perfectly frank, the court is not of the opinion to enjoin the entire 2009 rule," said Freudenthal, issuing one of her first rulings since becoming a judge in June.

She is the wife of Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal, who nominated her for the bench.

"We're really pleased she's upheld the designation almost entirely," said Sean Helle, an attorney with the environmental law group Earthjustice, which represented environmental groups that intervened on the government's side in the case.

The Wyoming State Snowmobile Association and Washington State Snowmobile Association sued Fish and Wildlife last year over the habitat designation.

The designated habitat covers more than 20 times more area than what Fish and Wildlife designated as critical habitat for the Canada lynx in 2006. Fish and Wildlife revised that habitat designation after it became known that a deputy assistant Interior secretary, Julie MacDonald, improperly influenced findings for lynx and other species.

"This rule is replete with controversy. That's why we're all here today," Beth Ginsberg, an attorney for the snowmobile groups, said in court.

Ginsberg argued that Fish and Wildlife didn't go far enough to study the potential effects of the new habitat designation. The habitat designation already has harmed at least one Washington state snowmobile sales business, she said.

Meanwhile, 500 square miles of recently burned forest in Washington state can't reasonably be considered lynx habitat until the trees grow back years from now, Ginsberg said.

U.S. Department of Justice attorney John Martin, representing the Fish and Wildlife Service, said federal law doesn't require Fish and Wildlife to do more than a basic environmental analysis. He pointed out that most of the designated habitat is on federal land already being managed to protect lynx.

The snowmobile groups have a "subjective apprehension" about what the federal government "might do in the future," he said.

Helle, the Earthjustice attorney, argued that even the burned-out area should be part of the designated lynx habitat. Forest fires help lynx habitat by encouraging the growth of healthy young trees, he said.

Freudenthal said she would issue a written ruling soon.

www.bigcatrescue.org

Mtn Lion Owner Disagrees with Ban on Exotics in Ohio

2010-09-09T16:19:00.000-07:00

Click on story title to watch TV video of interview

TIPP CITY, Ohio -- A Tipp City mountain lion owner disagrees with state officials on the proposed ban of exotic animals.

Several high-profile animal attacks, including one in Ohio last month, has state officials cracking down on exotic pets.

Javier Perez owns a full grown mountain lion. He believe dogs on the loose pose more of a threat to public safety than his caged mountain lion. Perez believes the ban would be unfair.

The sale and ownership of exotic animals would be banned and the rules would grandfather current pets but not allow replacement or breeding of pets.

Governor Ted Strickland's agreement indicates that banned animals will include big cats, bears, primates, large constricting and venomous snakes and alligators and crocodiles.

www.bigcatrescue.org

Bobcat Kittens "The Outside World"

2010-09-08T13:57:00.001-07:00

!!!WARNING!!! This video shows scenes of live animal predation. The three bobcat kittens are released into their outside rehab enclosure!

2010 Big Cat Wins Animal Lovers vs Animal Terrorists

2010-09-06T11:24:00.001-07:00

And attacked we were, albeit mostly just vile verbal attacks from people like Vernon Yates, Alan Rigerman, Gloria Johnson & Lisa Welch among others who wouldn't curse me to my face, but hissed the evil they would do to me as I passed. Others including Kevin Antle of T.I.G.E.R.S, Zuzanna Kuko of R.E.X.A.N.O., Joe Schreibvogal of G.W. Exotics and others have slandered us on the Internet.

Pet Supplies That Support Big Cats

2010-09-06T08:50:00.001-07:00

Want to help Big Cat Rescue AND get great pet supplies? Visit www.petsuppliestampa.com, the brand-new online pet supply store started by Big Cat Rescue’s Operations Manager Gale Ingham and volunteer senior keeper Willow Hecht. Ten percent of the profits from the website will go to Big Cat Rescue!

Petsuppliestampa.com features affordable, quality pet supplies and great customer service from two animal lovers. The site has everything you need for cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, and small mammals, and features products not found in local pet stores. The site also has an extensive inventory of professional-grade grooming supplies, such as shampoos, flea dips, and clippers. Visit www.petsuppliestampa.com to pamper your pets and help the big cats.

Pet Serval Rescued

2010-09-01T14:25:00.001-07:00

Servals are unfortunately very popular in the exotic "pet" trade, we recently rescued Servie the Serval after her owner of ten years was hospitalized and unable to care for her any longer.

Big Cat Rescue AdvoCat News August 2010

2010-08-26T10:51:00.001-07:00

The AdvoCat Newsletter

Big Cat Rescue August 2010

in this issue:
Help Takoma the Bobcat
Bucs Club Seats Raffle
"Most fun event I've..."
AdvoCats Make a Difference
Grrreat Videos to Enjoy
HUGE Enrichment Donation
Cat Behavior Classes
Catera & Sophia Pass On
Bobcats & Blue Martinis
Inside Big Cat Rescue

TIGERS ♥ to Paint !!

2010-08-25T16:18:00.001-07:00

Tigers, Leopards, Lynx....BIG CATS like to paint too! The cats had grr-eat fun creating purr-fect paintings we will auction off at our annual fundraiser the "Fur Ball"

SNOW LEOPARD stalking and attacks!

2010-08-23T14:12:00.001-07:00

Snow Leopards are apex predators and have amazing camouflage, allowing them to get up close to their prey, before their final pounce and attack!

Circus Life..."Captive" Entertainment

2010-08-20T12:15:00.001-07:00

Circus Life...Step Right up to the Greatest Show of Exploitation on Earth!

USDA only requires that a cage for a wild animal be large enough that the animal be able to stand and turn around in the cage.

COUGAR Species Spotlight

2010-08-13T10:17:00.001-07:00

Cougar/Mountain Lion/Panther/Puma/Grey Ghost, whatever these cats are known by, they are very unique animals. Watch the video to learn more about this cat and the problems it is facing in the wild.Cougar/Mountain Lion/Panther/Puma/Grey Ghost, whatever these cats are known by, they are very unique animals. Watch the video to learn more about this cat and the problems it is facing in the wild.Cougar/Mountain Lion/Panther/Puma/Grey Ghost, whatever these cats are known by, they are very unique animals. Watch the video to learn more about this cat and the problems it is facing in the wild.Cougar/Mountain Lion/Panther/Puma/Grey Ghost, whatever these cats are known by, they are very unique animals. Watch the video to learn more about this cat and the problems it is facing in the wild.

Q: Do TIGERS like catnip??

2010-08-03T17:17:00.001-07:00

Ever wondered if big cats like TIGERS, LIONS & LEOPARDS like catnip?

We always get this question from tour guests, so we thought we'd find out!

White Tigers Are All Inbred and Crossbred

2010-08-02T10:53:00.001-07:00

Dr. Dan Laughlin states, “…every white tiger in the U.S. is not only the result of repeated inbreeding of genetically defective animals but, even worse, is a hybrid or crossbred animal. Thus, anyone involved in breeding and/or exhibiting white tigers is doing a great disservice to honest conservation and preservation efforts to save the five remaining and endangered subspecies of tigers barely clinging to survival…”

Liger + Tiger + Lion = BIG CAT RESCUE!

2010-07-29T15:37:00.001-07:00

Liger, Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Cougars, Lynx, Ocelots, Servals, Sand Cats,...Big Cat Rescue located in Tampa Florida, is the world's largest accredited non profit sanctuary. Home to over 100 unwanted, abandoned and abused exotic big cats.

BOBCAT KITTENS Vs Rats/Chicks/Mice!

2010-07-19T18:05:00.001-07:00

BOBCAT KITTENS - Episode 4, since last time we have switched the kittens from their milk diet to solid food (whole prey). They have exploded in size and have been having lots of fun in their inside environment!

Bobcat Kitten FAIL

2010-07-10T18:21:00.001-07:00

Midnight, Rain & Storm are three orphaned Bobcat kittens, find out more here:http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

July 2010 AdvoCat Ezine with Big Cat Rescue News

2010-07-08T13:09:00.001-07:00

The July 2010 issue of the Big Cat Rescue AdvoCat has stories about new tour times, the death of a beloved tiger, how concerned citizens are making the world a safer and more humane place and how a liger and an ocelot were given extraordinary vet care.

Ocelot Ear Surgery at Big Cat Rescue

2010-07-06T13:28:00.001-07:00

When PurrFection the Ocelot developed a hemotoma on her ear she needed emergency surgery to alieviate the swelling. It's been raining for days on end and we didn't want her to suffer so Big Cat Rescuers braved the weather to get her the vet care she needed. When you operate a sanctuary for big cats it is a non stop committment. That means feeding, cleaning, enriching and providing top notch vet care no matter how miserable the weather. Watch this video of the day in the life of Big Cat Rescuers.

R.I.P Snorkel the Tiger ...

2010-07-05T12:30:00.001-07:00

As a cub, Snorkel spent his early years forced to pose as a prop with people for their photos. Then he ended up caged for years at a family circus.Luckily, he found a true safe haven at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, FL.

ANGELICA the BOBCAT

2010-06-28T11:57:00.001-07:00

Angelica the BOBCAT was rescued by Big Cat Rescue after her owner was in foreclosure and unable to keep her any longer. NO wild cat species will ever make a suitable "pet" ... ignorant or uneducated people often find this out the hard way and the cats are always the ones that suffer!

Windsong the Bobcat Founder of Big Cat Rescue Dies, Sanctuary Mourns

2010-06-20T05:56:00.001-07:00

The AdvoCat is a free monthly big cat magazine about the daily operations of a world class sanctuary for lions, tigers, leopards, bobcats and many other exotic wild cats. This June 2010 issue brings the sad news of the death of the "founder."

CANADIAN LYNX Species Spotlight

2010-06-15T10:05:00.001-07:00

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/cats/captive/canadalynxdanceswithwolves.htmDances With Wolves is the resident Canadian Lynx at Big Cat Rescue. Listen to Master Keeper Barbara Frank talk about Dances and Canadian Lynx in the wild.

Beautiful, Wild and Free.

2010-06-09T12:54:00.001-07:00

Ligers, Sand Cats, Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Cougars, Lynx, Bobcats.....Big Cat Rescue's Theme Song is Beautiful, Wild and Free.

Terez Hartmann, is a seasoned entertainer, speaker, forward-thinking pioneer, entrepreneur and business professional with a background in marketing and psychology.

Because she was so deeply touched by her experience with the magnificent cats of Big Cat Rescue, she chose to write a song to honor these amazing creatures AND for a limited time, offer a portion of the proceeds of this download purchase to benefit the cats!

BOBCAT KITTENS! "Play Time"

2010-06-05T12:16:00.001-07:00

The cute bobcat kittens are really growing fast! This video introduces the viewer to the purrsonalities of the individual kittens! Follow the progress of the kittens here LIVE! http://www.bigcatrescue.org/video/00352.htm

Dangerous Trade: About the Show Dealing in Tigers

2010-06-04T10:13:00.001-07:00

Don't miss Dangerous Trade on Planet Green (which features International Tiger Coalition and Global Tiger Initiative members)!

Tune into Planet Green at 10 pm on June 6th (in the USA) to follow the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) as they protect the natural world from environmental crime and abuse.

Working undercover to expose international environmental crime—illegal wildlife trading, illegal logging and trade in timber species, and the worldwide trade in ozone depleting substances—EIA has directly brought about changes in international laws and the policies of governments, saving the lives of millions of rare and endangered animals and putting a stop to the devastating effects of environmental criminals. The work they with their Indian colleagues at the Wildlife Protection Society of India, for example, helped to piece together the tiger skin trail in 2004 and 2005—which contributed to major changes in the patterns of consumption.

As the tiger team leader Debbie Banks puts it, the primary message of the show is: "this isn’t rocket science... it would be very straightforward to break the back of this illegal trade. If a small NGO with limited resources can uncover such a vast amount of information in a short space of time, then why can’t the Chinese authorities? If only they would apply the resources, they could make a serious dent in the criminal networks that control this trade."

At the start of Dangerous Trade and the tiger trade investigation, the Environmental Investigation Agency finds that people were being forced by Chinese officials to wear skins at traditional festivals to undermine the Dalai Lama’s appeal in 2006 to respect the tiger, which led to Tibetans burning all their big cat skins. Additional information indicated that people were still trading skins... Find out what EIA?s learns about who is trafficking skins into China and how. Cameras follow the surveillance team as it tracks the EIA undercover operatives—watch the show and you'll learn in suspense!

Check out the tv schedule for listings.

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/dangerous-trade-about-the-show.html

BIG CAT Proposal...

2010-05-29T16:18:00.001-07:00

There was a BIG surprise waiting for one of our keeper tour guests recently, when her partner had organized a surprise proposal in our tour waiting area at the sanctuary!

Mary Poppins Crew Visits Big Cat Rescue

2010-05-26T16:23:00.001-07:00

A” Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” Day at Big Cat Rescue!

Tampa, Fl.… On Thursday, May 27^th, company members from the North American touring production of MARY POPPINS, currently performing at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center) through Sunday, June 6, 2010, will visit Big Cat Rescue, the largest accredited sanctuary in the United States dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of exotic cats.

The MARY POPPINS North American tour celebrated its first anniversary on March 25, 2010 and announced that it had achieved the milestone of being the most successful touring theatrical event in 2009.

Big Cat Rescue, a non-profit educational sanctuary, is devoted to rescuing and providing a permanent home for exotic (i.e. wild, not domestic) cats who have been abused, abandoned, bred to be pets, retired from performing acts, or saved from being slaughtered for fur coats. The sanctuary’s mission includes educating the public about these animals and the issues facing them in captivity and in the wild.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to partner together with the cast of Mary Poppins” said Jeff Kremer, Director of Donor Appreciation with the nonprofit sanctuary.

The company of Mary Poppins will arrive at Big Cat Rescue at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 27^th , for a private tour of the sanctuary, where “A Spoon Full of Catnip Helps the Medicine Go Down!”

Big Cat Rescue is a 501(c)(3) not-profit charity. The sanctuary receives no government support and relies on its educational activities, such as tours of the facility, and the generosity of donors such as the cast and crew of Mary Poppins to support the magnificent animals that call the sanctuary home.

Following their visit to the sanctuary, these energetic folks will head back to the Straz Center for the Performing Arts to take the stage in what will likely be a most inspired performance.

For more information visit: www.strazcenter.org. and www.BigCatRescue.org

Help Save a Serval

2010-05-25T13:07:00.001-07:00

A bobcat with a broken leg nears starvation so his human neighbors called Big Cat Rescue to come to his aid. Voting for Big Cat Rescue at the Animal Rescue Site is a great way to help rescue bobcats like this at no cost to you.

Rarest Cat in the World? DENTAL SURGERY

2010-05-22T16:07:00.001-07:00

TONGA, a very rare White Serval - (Only two in the world that we know of) was found to have a broken tooth. We assessed the tooth and decided that the best thing to do was to capture Tonga and take him to the veterinary clinic where it could be treated.

WATCH THE VIDEO TO SEE HOW HIS TREATMENT WENT!

Animal Rescue Site Enables Bobcat Rescue

2010-05-17T10:51:00.001-07:00

Purr-fect Mom to Baby Bobcats!

2010-05-08T12:38:00.001-07:00

Update on the three orphaned bobcat kittens...Midnight, Rain and Storm are all doing grr-eat thanks to their surrogate mum Bobbi the domestic cat!

They're all eating well and gaining weight and starting to explore their environment more!

Follow the progress of the kittens here LIVE! http://www.bigcatrescue.org/video/003...

For more info about BIG CAT RESCUE visit: http://www.bigcatrescue.org
Find us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Cat...
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/1bigcatrescue
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/BigCatRescue
DONATE: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/donate.htm

THANK YOU!

Pennsylvania town passes exotic pet ordinance

2009-12-08T13:26:00.000-08:00

Freeland's exotic pets expelled by ordinance

By AMANDA CHRISTMAN (Staff Writer)
Published: December 4, 2009

If you live in Freeland and have a pet puma - or any other animal considered exotic - you'll have to pay a fee or find it a new home.

Freeland Council approved its version of an exotic pet ordinance at Thursday night's meeting.

The ordinance was drafted and advertised to the public in November after two pet pythons went missing from an Adams Street home, to the fright of several people in the neighborhood. The snakes were eventually found, according to borough police, but residents still rallied for a ban on certain animals from becoming pets.

Now, residents who keep a pet defined under the ordinance as exotic or wild is subject to a $1,000 fine, 30 days in prison or both for each day the violation exists.

The ordinance also bans breeding or selling the animals in Freeland.

If someone has a pet considered exotic, they don't necessarily have to get rid of it. The pet owners can obtain a $300 permit and non-conforming use status for the animal, pending borough approval. The pet in question cannot have a history of health or safety problems and the owner must fill out an application that includes the animal's species, age and sex and a plan for housing the animal to prevent its escape.

If the pet dies or is taken from the home for any other reason, it cannot be replaced.

The permits must be obtained within 30 days of council adopting the ordinance.

Anyone who violates the ordinance must get rid of the animal or give it to the borough police department. Officers are allowed to release the animal into the wild, a zoo, or "dispose" of it in a humane manner, at the owner's expense.

achristman@standardspeaker.com

http://www.standardspeaker.com/news/freeland-s-exotic-pets-expelled-by-ordinance-1.461253

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Ontario town passes exotic pet law following discovery of jaguars, lions, monkeys in town

2009-12-08T09:07:00.000-08:00

December 08, 2009

Exotic pet laws passed

Exotic pets are under fire these days, and several Ontario municipalities have put in place special bylaws restricting ownership of some exotics. The most recent case involves Thorold, where the discovery of several pet jaguars, lions and monkeys prompted local officials to take action.

The new bylaw bans ownership of primates (including apes), tigers, leopards, panthers, cougars, most reptiles, dangerous snakes, elephants, marine mammals, venomous snakes and some other wildlife not native to Canada.

Provincial wildlife laws do not usually deal with exotic wildlife. Recently, British Columbia put into place a new law restricting the importation of some exotic pets, but other provinces have so far not followed suit. Consequently, it is up to local municipalities to put into force their own restrictions.

These new laws do not pertain to budgerigars, canaries and other traditional pet birds, nor to some other exotic animals.

http://www.simcoe.com/article/151535

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Ontario: "Province-wide law needed to protect animals"

2009-11-21T09:00:00.000-08:00

By NTW Editorial
Editorial
Nov 06, 2009

It's astounding to think that in an era when we're supposed to be more enlightened about the welfare of animals and the frailty of many species because of the environmental carnage caused by humans, Ontario has no province-wide law covering the keeping of exotic animals.

Instead, the protection of species ranging from elephants and aardvarks to primates such as gorillas and chimpanzees is left to a mishmash of municipal bylaws scattered across this province.

Many municipalities have no such law, meaning there is little if no regulation of these animals, many of which are endangered in their own habitat.

The City of Thorold found the folly of not having such as bylaw recently, when a police raid on an alleged grow-op in a wooded area next to Highway 406 revealed three lions, a jaguar, monkeys and exotic birds in enclosures.

Because the animals aren't native to the province, even the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has no jurisdiction, the way it would with black bears.

The city is one of two municipalities covered by the Lincoln County Humane Society that doesn't have an exotic animal bylaw. City staff have pulled together a draft bylaw that lists a wide range of animals that would for most people be banned, including everything from lions and tigers to primates, alligators, dolphins and whales, venomous snakes and black widow spiders.

Most of us have seen those pathetic roadside 'zoos' in many parts of Ontario, where miserable creatures are kept in often horrific conditions for the amusement of people.

The need for a province-wide law covering exotic animals, with wording built in to guarantee the humane treatment of native species such as beers and deer, is obvious.

It's time once and for all to demand Ontario bring in legislation doing exactly that.

http://www.forteriepost.com/news/article/285643

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Learn more about big cats and Big Cat Rescue at http://www.bigcatrescue.org

Ontario city drafts exotic animal bylaw after lions, jaguar found

2009-11-21T08:55:00.000-08:00

Exotic animal draft bylaw ready for input

Thorold
Nov 06, 2009

Owning a wide array of exotic animals ranging from elephants and lions to gorillas, poisonous snakes and aardvarks could soon be illegal for most people in Thorold.

That's because the city, through the Lincoln County Humane Society, has a new draft bylaw regulating the keeping and care of animals. The bylaw is not yet approved by city council.

The bylaw, which people will be able to provide input into up to and including the Nov. 17 city council meeting, was drafted in the wake of the revelation that three lions, a jaguar and monkeys are being kept on a property in Thorold. The animals were discovered after police raided an alleged marijuana grow-op on the property next to Highway 406 recently.

The new bylaw, if adopted as it's written, does much more than just restrict exotic animals. It also contains sections stipulating the proper care of domestic animals such as cats and dogs, limits the number of pets people can in most cases have, and has provisions on dealing with dogs seemed to be dangerous.
Thorold is one of two of five municipalities covered by the Lincoln County Humane Society that doesn't have an exotic animal bylaw.

The list of prohibited animals in the bylaw includes bears, primates including monkeys and chimpanzees, non-domesticated cats including tigers, leopards, panthers and cougars among others, wolves, foxes and coyotes, reptiles such as gila monsters, vipers, cobras, alligators, pythons and anacondas, elephants, sea mammals such as dolphins and whales, and venomous spiders such as tarantula and black widow spiders.

There are exemptions for those bans, such as accredited veterinary clinics, lawful circuses or other entertainment venues, legally operated animal rescue operations or legally operated educational programs in which the animals are owned by institutions accredited by groups such as the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The bylaw also limits people to three dogs or three cats in most cases, and contains a provision requiring owners to stoop and scoop after their dogs.

In cases in which a dog bites or attacks another animal or person without provocation, the bylaw has a provision declaring such dogs dangerous, requiring a muzzle.

The bylaw also covers the adequate care of pets, including appropriate shelter, water, food and a clean and sanitary environment, and requires dogs to be licensed with the city.

City clerk Susan Daniels said in a report to city politicians that it's essentially the same bylaw adopted by the Town of Grimsby.

People who contravene the bylaw could be subject to fines under Ontario's Provincial Offences Act.

After the discovery of the big cats and monkeys in Thorold, Kevin Strooband, executive director of the local humane society, said even the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources doesn't have jurisdiction over lions and jaguars, because they're not native animals to this province.

http://www.forteriepost.com/news/article/285603

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Learn more about big cats and Big Cat Rescue at http://www.bigcatrescue.org

Pennsylvania town to vote on exotic pet ordinance

2009-11-12T08:12:00.000-08:00

On the list
By AMANDA CHRISTMAN (Staff Writer)
Published: November 3, 2009

Freeland Council continued its meeting to December so it can vote on a proposed exotic pet ordinance.

The ordinance stems from an incident last week, when two pet pythons were reported missing from an Adams Street home, which alarmed several neighbors enough to ask council to ban some pets considered dangerous.

Anyone that keeps a pet defined as exotic or wild by the proposed ordinance is subject to a $1,000 fine, 30 days in prison or both, for each day the violation exists.

The proposed ordinance also bans the breeding, sale, adoption or transfer of pets considered exotic or wild.

The ordinance also provides rules for anyone that owns an exotic or wild pet in the borough now. Essentially, the ordinance states people must own the pet prior to Monday night's council meeting, when council announced it would advertise the ordinance for 30 days.

Those pet owners can get a $300 permit and non-conforming use status for the animal pending zoning officer approval and if they meet certain criteria set by the ordinance. Those criteria include no prior health or safety problems against the pet owner. The owner must also fill out an application that includes the animal's species, age and sex and a plan for housing the animal to prevent escape. The pet is also not allowed to roam in public freely.

When the pet dies or is removed from the home it can't be replaced.

The permit must be obtained within 30 days of council adopting the ordinance.

Anyone that keeps a wild or exotic pet in violation of the ordinance must get rid of the animal or give it to the borough police department. Officers are allowed to release the animal to the wild, a zoo, or "dispose" of it in a humane manner, depending on the type of animal. The animal's owner will pay the borough for the cost of removal or placement. The ordinance would be enforced by borough code, zoning, police and possibly a building code inspector.

Council will vote on the ordinance at its continued meeting. Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m. Once the ordinance is advertised it will be available for public inspection at the borough.

The two snakes reported missing Wednesday prompted Freeland police and fire departments to conduct a search of the neighborhood around 345 Adams St., looking for a nine-foot long and a four-foot long python.

Nicole Composto of 343 Adams St. who lives in the other half of the double home where the snakes went missing was so scared that she, her husband, Steve, and two small children stayed with a relative until Saturday night. At Monday's council meeting, Composto thanked the borough for its quick action in dealing with the issue and for arranging for a Vector Control exterminator to inspect the homes and try to locate the smaller snake, which is still at large.

The larger snake was found later that night but the smaller python still remains at large. Solicitor Donald Karpowich said, when talking to the snake's owner, he was told the snake likely died because its body can't handle the cold weather.

Resident Nick Lapchak, who attended Monday's council meeting said many people in the neighborhood were worried about the missing pythons.

Councilman John Budda asked if pit bulls could be added to the list of banned animals. Karpowich said he didn't think it could, but noted any dog that harms a human being or has a history of aggressive behavior is banned. Sgt. Rob Maholik said the ordinance should include any dog that harms a human or another animal and Karpowich agreed to add that to the law.

achristman@standardspeaker.com Animals considered wild or exotic and, according to the ordinance, are banned from becoming pets in a Freeland home, include but aren't limited to:

Amphibians - All venomous frogs, toads, turtles.

Bears

Felines - Lions, pumas, panthers, mountain lions, leopards, jaguars, ocelots, margays, tigers, bobcats and wild cats. It excludes common domesticated cats.

Crocodilians - All alligators, caimans, crocodiles and gavials.

Dogs - Wolf, fox, coyote, dingo or the offspring of a domestic dog that was bred with such types. Also, any dog that bites, injures or attacks a human being without being provoked, or any dog deemed dangerous under state law is banned.

Pigs - All wild or domesticated swine, excluding certified Vietnamese potbellied pigs.

Reptiles - All venomous and constricting snakes, such as boa constrictors, pythons and all venomous lizards.

Venomous invertebrates - Such as spiders and scorpions.

In addition, porcupines, skunks, sub-human primates, raccoons, civets, weasels, martens, mink, wolverines, ferrets, badgers, otters, ermine and mongoose.

Vietnamese potbellied pigs must be certified as such by a nationally recognized registry or a licensed veterinarian, they must also be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and can't be bred. Owners must also keep proper documentation if they were advised against vaccination by a licensed veterinarian.

Domesticated ferrets are allowed but must be de-scented, spayed or neutered, vaccinated and not allowed to wander freely outside. Proper vaccination documentation on the pet ferret must be shown to a borough official upon request. Ferret breeding is banned.

- Amanda Christman

http://www.standardspeaker.com/news/on_the_list

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Better Email Addresses to Save Cancun Tigers

2009-09-14T18:28:00.001-07:00

These email addresses have been reformatted and all work. PLEASE try to write something to them again, it's so important…….thanks!!

This little guy needs your help……….

Would you please join me in writing to GGP – corporate owner of 200 regional malls throughout the country? They are based in Chicago and they own Southland Mall, the latest venue for G.W. Exotic's newest traveling magic show billed under the name "Awakening Production."

If we don't strike at the root – the corporate owner of all of these malls – we'll never be able to stop this man's abuse. By the time the local malls find out about him, he's moved on and even the resulting bad publicity is yesterday's news for them. They don't care since he's long gone.

Won't you take a minute today to politely ask them to refrain from allowing these exhibits in any of their malls? The facts are listed below for you in my letter.

You can simply cut and paste all the GGP corporate officers and newspapers from my list below:

john@bucksbaum.net, adam.metz@ggp.com, ed.hoyt@ggp.com, robert.michaels@ggp.com, sharon.polonia@ggp.com, wally.brewster@ggp.com, ronald.gern@ggp.com, joel.bayer@ggp.com, editor@thenewsherald.com, contribute@tribune.com, zfinken@suntimes.com

GGP Chairman of the Board:

John Bucksbaum                                                Phone: 312-604-2029 (direct line)
191 N. Wacker Dr. Suite 1500                                        312-621-0590 (main office number) Extension 244
Chicago, IL 60606                                              Fax:      312-621-0984 (not private)

Subject: What is your stand on corporate responsibility?

This week, G.W. Exotics was able to convince another large corporation – GGP - that their traveling animal show was just an innocent display of wild animals. Your Southland Mall played host to this charade, this time G. W. Exotics billing itself as "Awakening Production."

First, let me say that I am not a member of PETA. I am just a mother/grandmother who happens to be a senior keeper at an accredited rescue facility caring for big cats - just like those at your mall - who have been abandoned, abused, orphaned, bred nearly to death in order to supply these "displays." The govt. doesn't step in to save them, we as ordinary citizens are called upon to do it. These animals are ultimately dumped when they are too large to handle and too expensive to care for. Legislation and regulations are scant and enforcement is rare since this falls very low in priority. Budget cuts have resulted in too few inspectors to begin to make a dent in curtailing abuse like this.

If you take the time to investigate and delve deeper, you will learn that this isn't an innocent, family fun exhibit GGP is hiring. There is a dangerous, abusive, and well-documented past to this exhibitor, Joe Schreibvogel. In fact, he has become a pariah in the animal protection world. Why? Because he is a major supplier to the illegal trade of exotic animals in this country.

At your Southland Mall, he showed up with 7 baby exotic lions, tigers, and kangaroos. What do you think will happen to these animals once they are too large for his mall "human encounters?" Their shelf life is very short. More and more are bred constantly to fuel his business while those that grow too big are disposed of. Since his shows are only a couple of days, by the time the public, or the malls who have hired him, find out about his notorious past (under many different business names), he has moved on. Quite like the old-time snake oil salesmen.

But these are not the old days. This is a new world of corporate responsibility. Recently, when the Price Chopper chain of stores found out a display like this was taking place at an event they were sponsoring, they yanked their sponsorship. They stepped up and did the right thing. Will GGP do what is right and humane and help stop this abuse, too? Is it really worth having your image tarnished by this man's sordid reputation? Wherever he goes, controversy and bad press follows (see articles below).

Your corporation has booked this man in the future at many of your malls. Attached and below, are the facts, legal proceedings, and numerous articles written about Joe Schreibvogel to prove his reputation as an animal abuser. GGP has qualified for the "Companies That Care Honor Roll" for 3 years. Will you be a good corporate citizen and "walk the talk?" Please show that you truly care by cancelling any future shows by this exhibitor at any of your malls. How can you not?

Sincerely,

Julie Hanan

Lutz, FL

Cc: CBS – Chicago

NBC – Chicago

ABC – Chicago

Chicago Tribune

Chicago Sun Times

Exotic Joe is actually Joe Schreibvogel, President of the infamous G. W. Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, OK. His USDA license is License 73-C-0139 and his USDA violation file is attached (please take the time to read it since it lists many of his animal cruelty violations). He has been slapped with violations and even fined $25,000 which, in the world of USDA animal violation fines, is a huge amount. At any one time, he has housed more than 170 big cats and 1,400 animals on 16 acres. I am a senior keeper at an accredited big cat rescue sanctuary. We currently provide a home for about 125 rescued wildcats on 42 acres and feel we are maxed out, given the space we have. With 1,570 animals crammed onto 16 acres at G. W. Exotic, you can imagine the poor quality of life and lack of care these animals must endure.

If you check out Joe Schreibvogel's website at http://www.gwpark.org/ you will see a website filled with people holding, handling, posing with baby exotic animals. This begs the question, "Where do all these animals wind up when they are adults?" Though he'll claim he doesn't breed or sell, the evidence below is quite the contrary. In addition, what quality of life do these animals suffer when they are trucked all over the country for these "magic" shows?

What is commonly referred to as "puppy mills" is what Schredibvogel runs, the difference being he churns out dangerous carnivores. He is a major supplier fueling the exotic animal trade. It's very easy for him to book gigs and travel with these babies since he ties his act to "protecting endangered species" - or whatever the buzzword of the day is. But, make no mistake, this is a modern day snake oil salesman making money off the backs of these innocent animals with more and more being churned through his "park." All the while, he is exposing the public to a tremendous amount of danger.

Isn't it time our state and national representatives enact legislation to protect the general public from this type of deceptive practice and eliminate the public safety risk and the animal abuse it encourages? The maulings and killings become more and more prevalent. Haley Hilderbrand, a high school senior was killed when she posed with a tiger for a photo only a couple of years ago and yet the namesake bill sponsored after her death still lingers in Congress…..Julie Hanan, Big Cat Rescue, Tampa, FL

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON JOE SCHREIBVOGEL, G.W. EXOTIC ANIMAL PARK:

The following quotes are from G.W. Exotic Animal Park:

· "… I do not in any way breed, sell, ship out, lease, or loan out any of my animals …"
—[J1], letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, December 6, 2002

· "[A]ll of our cats are fixed or split up so they can't breed, … we do not buy, sell, or trade any animal…."
—[J1], e-mail message to PETA, August 30, 2003

· "I never sell or donate to anyone."
—[J1], letter to Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Renewal of Commercial Wildlife Breeders License, November 21, 2001

Contradictory incidents since 2001:

· GW sold one male and two female lion cubs for $1,500 each to the Amarillo Zoo in Texas. All three were born at GW in September 2005 and were declawed before they were 1 month old. Parents of the cubs were all GW residents who were allowed to breed.

· TV news reported an astounding 18 new tiger cubs and one very pregnant tiger at GW. The pregnant tiger, Sasha, was GW's first rescued, and never spayed, tiger.

· A female cougar, born at GW on March 14, 2000, was shipped to the Seoul Grand Park Zoo in the Republic of Korea.

· A cougar, born at GW, was shipped to the Sofia Municipal Zoo in Bulgaria.

· Two cougars born at GW were shipped to the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand.

· GW reportedly tried to sell an infant baboon named Savannah, born April 24, 2003, to an undercover activist who visited the facility.

· GW sent a lion cub to Capital of Texas Zoo (Cedar Creek, Texas). The cub was then loaned to Bobbie Colorado, who appears weekly on an Austin TV station. While in the custody of Bobbie Colorado, the lion cub was killed by a dog.

· GW transferred a tiger named Blondy to the Hillcrest Zoo, a roadside zoo in Clovis, New Mexico, that has been repeatedly cited for a multitude of violations of the Animal Welfare Act, including failing to provide sufficient food to three zebras who all died within a two-day period.

· In 2003, GW obtained four snakes, four flying squirrels, two sugar gliders, and 10 alligators from Strictly Reptiles, a Florida wholesale distributor of reptiles.

· GW has purchased animals including a bear cub, a tiger cub, miniature horses, and birds from exotic animal auctions, such as Lolli Bros., which states on its Web site: "From Apes to Zebra—We sell it all!! In addition to 'live' animal sales, we also offer a phenomenal selection of excellent of Taxidermy [sic] at each sale."

EXOTIC ANIMAL DISPLAY: WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
Despite vociferous criticism from animal rights groups, traveling showman says he offers a once-in-a-life experience
Video shows tigers being hit with the butt of a rifle, a goat with a horn ripped off exposing its brain, USDA lawsuit with 14 infractions
By _TRENT JACOBS_
(http://www.dailysentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2009/04/24/mailto:tjacob\s@coxnews.com)
The Daily Sentinel
Friday, April 24, 2009

Lions, tigers and bears took over the University Mall earlier this week,
and tonight residents are promised a free anti-drug and alcohol magic show
at 6 p.m. in the middle of the mall concourse, courtesy of none other than
Joe "Exotic" Schreibvogel.

Schreibvogel is the ring leader of a traveling zoo and magic show that has
performed for audiences young and old across the country for several
years. Schreibvogel was to perform several magic shows earlier this week, but
his tour bus broke down, leaving him stranded at his animal park in
Wynnewood, Okla, After chartering a bus and starting an emergency fund-raising
effort to fix the bus, Schreibvogel was scheduled to arrive in Nacogdoches
sometime Friday afternoon. He said he will take the stage tonight before
heading back out of town Sunday.

Preceding Schreibvogel's arrival was an 18-wheeler trailer carrying baby
lions, bears and tigers that have been on exhibit at the mall all week. For
a $25 donation, mall patrons can take pictures and visit with the animals
for eight minutes. Schreibvogel owns and operates a non-profit animal ranch
in Oklahoma called the G.W. Exotic Animal Park. The park was founded in
1997 and named in honor of his brother, Garold, who was killed by a drunk
driver in Corsicana, Texas. Schreibvogel says his brother was passionate about
wildlife, and he now uses his traveling magic act to build awareness among
young people about the dangers of drugs, alcohol and bullying. He will open
and close tonight's show with songs he wrote about his father's inability
to express love to his dying son and how he was forced to take his brother,
who spent a week in a coma due to his injuries, off life support.

Schreibvogel says he is on a constant hunt for donor money to help keep
his park, which also houses various volunteers, afloat. He says he takes no
salary, and the only people on his payroll are the commercial truck drivers
he uses for the traveling baby animal show and to pick up meat for the
animals. He also mentions that he used his inheritance from his grandfather to
keep the park running and it's 1,400 animals fed, which he says takes about
$60,000 a month.

It's because of that large sum of money that Schreibvogel says he is
"forced" to breed young lions and tigers and take them out on the road. Despite
his claim that he gives the baby lions and tigers to zoos and other
accredited preserves, it is an action that animal rights groups like the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals oppose vehemently.

According to Lisa Wathne, who is a captive exotic animal specialist with
PETA, said, "Joe Schreibvogel is directly contributing to the exotic-animal
trade that he says he is against. But the truth of the matter is, he is
putting a lot of animals into that trade. It's despicable."

But Schreibvogel claims that patrons to his wildlife park cannot sustain
the costs of operation, and Internet scams have dissuaded people from
donation through his Web site. On the site, he talks about a crusade to save
"dying malls across America" and describes his traveling act as a
once-in-a-lifetime experience for the over 2 million people he meets a year.
"We help the malls, and they help us by letting us use the space for free.

I meet 2-year-old people and 95-year-old people that have a life dream of
being able to go see a tiger in real life. So, here they have the option to
sit in a cage, get educated, fall in love with and get a personal aspect
of a baby tiger that otherwise they would have never seen in their life,"
Schreibvogel says.

But it's that chance encounter that James Bias, spokesperson for the SPCA
of Texas, said is a misrepresentation of true wildlife advocacy.
"You know you're taking wild animals, regardless of how they've been
raised, and they are still wild and not domesticated, and putting them on
wheels and trucking them around. That's just not what these animals were geared
to do, and, of course, you're increasing their stress levels and the
potential for abuse," Bias said. "For somebody to claim that this is an
opportunity for the community to see wild animals up close, this usually
doesn't represent what their normal environment is. You're not going to see someone who's

holding a tiger in a shopping mall realize that these animals deserve dignity. I mean this is the least dignified way for animals to be cared for."

In fact, Schreibvogel, his animal park and his traveling animal show have
all been fined and cited for numerous infractions by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, which is responsible for enforcing federal animal welfare
laws. In January 2006, the USDA filed a lawsuit against Schreibvogel, and he
along with his park were put on 18 months of probation for 14 infractions,
including poor living conditions for the animals, unsanitary conditions and
a general lack of proper care for the animals by untrained staff, the suit
said. Schreibvogel was also ordered to pay $5,000 in fines and has since
been taken off probation. Schreibvogel says the USDA "targeted" him after he
was cited for not having "a readily identifiable employee" within proximity
to some rescued baby deer. In a moment of passion, Schreibvogel says he
threw the USDA inspector who issued the citation out of the park a move he
now says he regrets. Schreibvogel says he is now in compliance with the
USDA and provided The Daily Sentinel with copies of 11 inspection reports
dated from November 2006 to January 2009 reflecting his claim, with only one
infraction concerning proper recording keeping.

Schreibvogel also claims that a YouTube video made during his probation
period in 2006 by the PETA group was a "frame job," and the undercover PETA
agent used sympathetic friends to incriminate the park. The video depicts
park volunteers debating whether or not to properly euthanize a lame horse.
They argue that using chemicals on the animal would prevent them from
feeding the meat to some of the other animals, and that a gunshot to the head
was more appropriate. The video also shows an animal handler hitting tigers
with the butt of a rifle and a goat with a horn ripped off exposing its
brain. The video says the goat was left injured for days before being shot and
fed to the big cats at the park. Another portion of the video has an audio
recording of one park volunteer explaining how easy it is doctor the "feed
report," because inspectors cannot prove you did not feed the animals on any
given day. The park volunteer goes on to acknowledge the park was in
violation of the law when the park ran out of meat and did not feed the animals
for three or four days. The volunteer also says they are only allowed to
fast the animals for a single day, according to U.S Department of Agriculture
regulations. "They can't go back, unless they've got video cameras out
here, and prove that we didn't feed them that day. There's no way they can go
back and prove we didn't feed them," the volunteer says to the undercover
PETA agent. Other parts of the video show park staff kicking and swatting
animals and shows the erratic behavior of some of the captive tigers and
bears, describing them as having gone "cage crazy" from lack of psychological
stimulus in their tight confinements.

Schreibvogel says that all but one of the employees in the video had been
fired for other infractions and that the USDA had cleared him of any
wrongdoing after an investigation into the claims made in the video.
Schreibvogel says that the animals he rescues come from private owners, and due to
newly imposed restrictions in cities across the nation on exotic-animal
ownership in the past decade, he has taken in dozens of animals like tigers and
chimpanzees.

Summing up his long-lived feud with PETA, Schreibvogel says, "They believe
the animals are better off being put to sleep rather than being put in a
cage. Unfortunately, I don't think that's fair."

In response, Wathne maintains PETA just wants Schreibvogel to change his
business plan, saying, "We don't want to euthanize his animals. What we
would like to see Joe do is stop breeding animals ... stop bringing them into
an already overcrowded world and into a situation where he has to dump the
animals after he's done using them, and provide the animals he has with
appropriate space, food and shelter. If he were operating as a true sanctuary,
we would have no concerns with him. And, in fact, we would support him just
as we support numerous other sanctuaries across the country." Vote for
this story!

_http://www.dailysentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2009/04/24/exotic_jo
e.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=10_
(http://www.dailysentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2009/04/24/exotic_joe.ht\
ml?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=10)

Friday, June 29, 2007 12:36 AM CDT

BY JEAN STARR
Times Correspondent

MICHIGAN CITY - An exhibition of exotic baby animals and magic acts
opened this week at Marquette Mall, despite objections from People for
the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Mystical Magic of the Endangered arrived Wednesday at the mall.
Presented by G.W. Exotic Animal Foundation, the show will continue
through Sunday.

PETA said it conducted a covert investigation after learning of
complaints filed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service. The formal complaints against G.W.
Exotic Animal Foundation in Wynnewood, Okla., were for violations
including failure to provide adequate care and failure to minimize
safety risk to the public while handling the animals.

According to the USDA Consent Decision and Order docket, foundation
owner Joe Schreibvogel was fined $25,000 and told to cease and desist
from 14 violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

Schreibvogel told Marquette Mall manager Laura Tubbs that he has paid
the fine and presented her with recent inspection reports.

"We certainly do background checks on any of the acts," Tubbs said.
"Their whole organization is a positive message geared toward the
children, including anti-drug and not drinking and driving."

Michigan City Planner John Pugh said the city approves of special
exhibits at Marquette Mall.

"We're not involved in it because it is considered a permitted use as
part of Marquette Mall's permanent shopping zoning," he said about the
animal exhibit. "It's permissible, and they're considered accessory
uses such as car shows (and other) special events."

On the Web
G.W. Exotic Animal Foundation: www.gwpark.org.

http://nwitimes.com/articles/2007/06/29/news/porter_county/docbba09f511851b13086257309000a977f.txt
--
For the cats,

Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue
an Educational Sanctuary home
to more than 100 big cats
12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625
813.493.4564 fax 885.4457

http://www.BigCatRescue.org

Sign send a quick and easy letter to protect tigers and bobcats here:

http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=13810331

Free ways to join us and help the big cats:

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This message contains information from Big Cat Rescue that may be confidential or privileged. The information contained herein is intended
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Support MO House Bill 426

2009-09-01T07:41:00.001-07:00

New Bill May End Public Access to Exotic Carnivores

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BOONE COUNTY - A Boone County big cat sanctuary lets the public see what it takes to raise a tiger.

Dale Tolentino says he loves Hermara the tiger, but says taking care of her is a lot of work.

"The majority of the animals here are all rescue animals we took them because they needed a place to live." said Tolentino.

Hermara is eight months old and weighs 80 pounds. She needs 15 pounds of meat every day and a lot of attention and new toys.

Tolentino and his wife Debbie are sharing the experience of running an animal sanctuary. They're holding an open day on September 20th. Their address is 6000 Creasy Springs Road, in Boone County. Entry is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 10.

But a new bill may end public access to these big carnivores. House Bill 426 will go before the Missouri State House in the next session. It proposes to force owners of big carnivores, like Hermara, to get a permit and prove $250,000 of liability insurance, in case their animals escape and hurt somebody.

Missouri is one of only nine states where you can own a tiger without a permit.

Tammy Hickman volunteers at animal sanctuary. "A lot of people think they would make a great pet, you know, and they don't because there's so much money and so much energy that goes into these big animals, you can't just take it into the vet." said Hickman.

Dale Tolintino and his volunteers say if the new bill passes they will still be able to keep the animal sanctuary open.

They say they have plenty of land, insurance and dedication to the animals.

Reported by: Tom Maclean
Posted by: Jessica Holley

Published: Monday, August 31, 2009 at 8:43 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at 1:14 AM

For the cats,

Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue
an Educational Sanctuary home
to more than 100 big cats
12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625
813.493.4564 fax 885.4457

http://www.BigCatRescue.org

Sign our petition to protect tigers from being farmed here:

http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=9952801&type=CU

Free ways to join us and help the big cats:

Twitter: Follow Me and be invited to enter our Animal Lover's Dream Vacation Giveaway! http://twitter.com/BigCatRescue

This message contains information from Big Cat Rescue that may be confidential or privileged. The information contained herein is intended
only for the eyes of the individual or entity named above. You are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, disclosure, and/or copying of the information contained in this communication is strictly prohibited. The recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses. Big Cat Rescue accepts no liability for any damage or loss caused by any virus transmitted by this e-mail.

More Support for Wild Tigers in Captive Trade Bans

2009-08-26T07:42:00.001-07:00

PTI
25 August 2009 13:3 hrs IST
Trade in tiger parts; CITES asks China to submit report
Archana Jyoti, Staff Writer

New Delhi, Aug 25 (PTI) India's efforts to save tigers has received a major boost with a global forum asking tiger-farming states like China to submit a report by October on steps taken to restrict trade in big cat parts.

This is for the first time that the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Secretariat in Geneva has issued such a notification calling on relevant parties to report within a timeframe on steps taken by them to stop trade in tiger parts.

"It is a major development.The ruling undoubtedly puts a serious question mark on the fate of at least 5000 tigers currently in Chinese breeding farms as it has to now specify the steps taken to restrict farming in order to sustain tiger population in the wild. Other countries like Vietnam which are engaged in tiger farming will also have to report," sources said.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/246867_Trade-in-tiger-parts--CITES-asks-China-to-submit-report

The Hindu
Wednesday, Aug 26, 2009
New Delhi to urge Beijing to rethink lifting of ban on trade in tiger parts
Ananth Krishnan

Much of poaching in India is driven by demand from China
Use of tiger bone common in prescriptions of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Conservationists call for closing down of tiger farms in China

BEIJING: India will on Wednesday call on China to increase its efforts to clamp down on trade in tiger parts even as Beijing mulls lifting a trade ban, a move conservationists say will deal a fatal blow to India's wild tigers.

In recent months, there has been increasing speculation among conservationists in China that the government will lift a ban on the internal trade in tiger body parts. Much of the poaching in India is driven by demand from China, which has the world's biggest market for tiger parts. In China, the use of tiger bone is common in the prescriptions of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the popularity of which has soared in recent years with increasing healthcare costs.

Surge in tiger deaths

There has been a surge in tiger deaths in India in 2009, with at least 68 killings, according to reports. India has only around 1,300 wild tigers. There are few wild tigers left in China. While the Chinese government imposed a ban on trade in tiger parts in 1993, it also simultaneously sanctioned the setting up of controversial tiger farms from where parts from the animals are harvested.

There are around 4,000 captive tigers in such farms. Conservationists have called for closing down these farms as, they say, it encourages the consumer demand for tiger products. India will join those voices on Wednesday, when Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests (Independent Charge) Jairam Ramesh meets Zhou Shengxian, China's Minister for Environment Protection.

Mr. Ramesh told The Hindu that India would ask China to phase out these farms and strengthen enforcement.

"It is an important issue which has to be raised, as it is a problem of both demand and supply," Mr. Ramesh said. "A lot of the parts are smuggled through Nepal and Myanmar, but most of the demand comes from China. We are going to ask the Chinese to co-operate with us and also strengthen enforcement."

Cross-border trafficking

He would ask China to "provide full co-operation to India through liaising with Nepal for controlling cross-border trafficking," and to send a clearer message to consumers.

Chinese conservationists say the trade in tiger parts has generally been on the decline since the government imposed a ban in 1993, but caution there is a real possibility of a lifting of the ban. The consequences of legalising trade, conservationists say, will be catastrophic for India's tigers.

"The Chinese government thinks the farms are not that big of a negative for conservation," Xu Hongfa, China co-ordinator of Traffic, a wildlife trade monitoring network, told The Hindu. "The question of tiger farms is a great debate right now in China and it is a difficult problem to solve. We worry that if China reopens trade, it will increase consumer demand which will be difficult to control."

China, like India, is a member of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which has called for an end to the breeding of tigers for their parts. On Tuesday, the CITES issued a first of its kind notification asking countries like China that have set up tiger farms to report on steps they had taken to clamp down on trade.

"The CITES has sent out a message that tigers should not be bred for their parts," said Samir Sinha of WWF-India. "By legalising even a small part of the market, China will create additional demand that does not exist today. And the logistics of keeping this market clean are impossible. We are very, very concerned that if such a ban is lifted, it will be the last nail in the coffin for wild tigers."

http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/26/stories/2009082661331200.htm

India Wants China to Phase Out Tiger Farms to Save Wild Tigers

2009-08-26T05:34:00.001-07:00

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/KH27Df02.html

India on a tiger hunt in China
By Neeta Lal

NEW DELHI - Indian Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh - the new United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's first minister to visit China - is on a four-day trip to Beijing this week for bilateral talks on an array of ecological issues.

Apart from seeking increased bilateral cooperation on climate change, the issue that has dominated the minister's unfolding agenda is a vital conservation problem that has bothered India for years - China-led tiger poaching in India.

The poaching - directly linked to international trade through Nepal and Myanmar into China - has over the years led to an alarming plummet in the population of the Royal Bengal tiger, India's national animal.

Officially, domestic trade in tiger and leopard parts is illegal in China. But black-market businesses abound to cater to China's ever-growing demand for tiger parts to use in libido-enhancing and aphrodisiacal drugs. This demand fuels the smuggling of expensive tiger parts - skin, claws, teeth, penises and whiskers - out of India via neighboring countries and into China.

China also maintains scores of controversial tiger farms that are used to harvest the big cats' body parts. Experts estimate that some 4,000 cats are bred on these farms for use in traditional Chinese medicine in the wake of China's spiraling healthcare costs.

Ramesh has made a special request to China for an "active liaison" with Nepal to control tiger trafficking along the Indian border. He has also pushed for a phasing-out of tiger farms and the destruction of stockpiles of tiger parts. In recent months, there has been increasing speculation that China may lift its ban on trade in tiger parts imposed in 1993. This move, experts believe, could prove devastating for tiger conservation efforts in India.

"We need to intensify efforts with the Chinese so that international tiger trade networks are smashed," Ramesh, 55, told the Hindustan Times. "Poaching in India is directly linked to international trade into China."

The minister asked China to "assure increased enforcement to curb the tiger/leopard skin and bone trade considering it is the Year of the Tiger in 2010". He has also sought an assurance from his Chinese counterpart - Minister for Environment Protection Zhou Shengxian - that China will sensitize its consumers to the problem and discourage trade in tiger parts.

In the past, India has expressed uneasiness about China's appetite for tiger parts smuggled out of India. Still, tiger poaching continues to thrive along the Indo-Chinese border, with the Chinese authorities allegedly turning a blind eye to the problem. Tiger poaching and the smuggling of tiger skins is now the second-most common crime along the Indo-China border after the illicit trade of narcotics.

This flourishing commerce is having a catastrophic effect on India's endangered national animal. According to the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), only about 1,300 tigers remain in the wild in India, down from about 15,000 two decades ago. Other Asian countries have tiger populations, but the count is negligible when compared to India.

The Indian government's attempt to create 37 tiger reserves - spread across 19 states - has failed to provide a safe haven from poaching. The WPSI estimates that India has lost 66 tigers in 2009, with as many 23 shot by poachers.

Conservation of India's remaining tigers is a top priority for the UPA government. With the urging of conservationists and activists, the government has doubled the budgetary allocation for Project Tiger - India's flagship tiger conservation program launched in 1973 under the aegis of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

When Ramesh took charge of the Environment Ministry a few months ago, he took steps to strengthen legislation to deter poaching and other illegal activities in forest reserves. He also created the National Green Tribunal, a court that will hear all cases relating to the environment and forests. Ramesh has claimed he intends to bolster the Wildlife Protection Act and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau as well.

In a bid to augment the country's tiger population, state governments are adopting measures to aid breeding. This year, at the Sariska Tiger Reserve, three tigers - a male and two females - were relocated from Ranthambore Tiger Reserve to breed.

According to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, "India's growth is increasingly taking place at the cost of its environment." The premier's warning comes in the wake of the just-released State of the Environment Report which pointed out that at least 45% of India's land is environmentally "degraded". Air pollution is rising, the report claims, and India's flora and fauna are diminishing.

Manmohan has emphasized that to contain further decline of India's natural resources, stringent regulation and incentives are required along with initiatives to establish a balance between growth and the environment.

Ramesh has maintained that New Delhi considers Beijing an "important ally" in the battle against vital ecological issues. The minister's current visit to China reinforces India's desire to push the agenda forward.

Neeta Lal is a widely published writer/commentator who contributes to many reputed national and international print and Internet publications

We must end tiger farming now!

2009-08-20T09:12:00.001-07:00

According to the 2006 CITES CoP, the Chinese government reported that their tiger farms held 5,000 tigers, which were reproducing at a rate of 800 to 1,000 cubs per year. That means that China may now have close to 9,000 tigers on farms. We must end tiger farming now.

Killer Chimps

2009-08-14T17:10:00.001-07:00

Clips of Scott Lope in Killer Chimps http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXXjn4BaYVM

Chinatown tiger remedies seized

2009-08-13T09:05:00.001-07:00

Chinatown tiger remedies seized

Medicines made from endangered animals including leopards and tigers were seized when police swooped on a shop in Chinatown, central London.
The Metropolitan Police's wildlife crime unit raided the undisclosed shop on the day a legal loophole was closed.
Traders had previously been able to claim products came from countries with few wildlife crime laws - and it was hard to prove the goods' true origins.
But now medicines from rare species are illegal wherever they come from.

Police seized over 200 products during the raid on the shop on Tuesday.
Det Con David Flint said: "Most traditional Chinese medicines are not made from endangered species and can be sold legally.
"However, a small number of products do contain these ingredients, and it is these products that have an impact on wild populations."
He continued: "To meet this demand, poachers and traffickers will continue to profit from killing and supplying animals from other parts of the world, and the future of some of our most endangered species will be at risk."
20:08 GMT, Tuesday, 11 August 2009 21:08 UK

Source: BBC News
For the cats,

Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue
an Educational Sanctuary home
to more than 100 big cats
12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625
813.493.4564 fax 885.4457

http://www.BigCatRescue.org

Sign our petition to protect tigers from being farmed here:

http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=9952801&type=CU

Free ways to join us and help the big cats:

Twitter: Follow Me and be invited to enter our Animal Lover's Dream Vacation Giveaway! http://twitter.com/BigCatRescue

This message contains information from Big Cat Rescue that may be confidential or privileged. The information contained herein is intended
only for the eyes of the individual or entity named above. You are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, disclosure, and/or copying of the information contained in this communication is strictly prohibited. The recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses. Big Cat Rescue accepts no liability for any damage or loss caused by any virus transmitted by this e-mail.

Speak up for Tony the Tiger

2009-08-06T10:55:00.001-07:00

http://www.postsouth.com/homepage/x737379895/Truck-stop-gets-parish-permit-to-keep-tiger

Please contact the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries c/o Maria Davidson at 2000 Quail Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70808 (225) 765-2800 and ask that they NOT issue a permit to the Truck Stop and that they send Tony the tiger to Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, FL. Stay up to date on this at FreeTony.com

Truck stop gets parish permit to keep tiger

2009-08-06T07:50:00.001-07:00

Truck stop gets parish permit to keep tiger

By CRYSTAL CORKERN

OBLIVIOUS TO DEBATE...Tony, the Bengal tiger who is a roadside attraction at the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete, takes a nap as the debate about his future draws national and international attention on a petition website. The Iberville Parish Council will hold a public hearing on the tiger issue at 6 p.m. Tuesday on the second floor of the Courthouse.Chief Administrative Edward A. "Lucky" Songy Jr., who handled the permitting process, said the U. S. Department of Agriculture issued Sandlin a license last month, but the truck stop owner still has to get a third permit from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Tiger Truck Stop owner Michael Sandlin has cleared the second of three hurdles required for him to keep Tony the tiger as a roadside attraction, Parish President J. Mitchell Ourso Jr. announced Monday.

The parish government issued Sandlin a permit to keep the tiger.

"He met all the obligations the parish had for him," Ourso said.

Chief Administrative Edward A. "Lucky" Songy Jr., who handled the permitting process, said the U. S. Department of Agriculture issued Sandlin a license last month, but the truck stop owner still has to get a third permit from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries."If Wildlife and Fisheries says no, the tiger has to go," Songy said. "If they say yes, he stays."

Wildlife and Fisheries set off a battle over the tiger in December when it denied Sandlin a permit because of a parish ordinance against keeping wild, exotic or vicious animals and reptiles.

Sandlin went to court and won a temporary restraining order o stop the state agency from requiring him to move the tiger to an approved facility, but the case drew interest from animal rights activists who campaigned to have the tiger sent to a wildlife refuge in Florida or Tennessee. Tony drew statewide, national and even international attention.

The Iberville Parish Council voted in February to make an exception for Tony in the parish law, but Ourso vetoed the action and insisted on standards to assure the health and welfare of the tiger, and the protection of the public.

In March, the Parish Council passed an ordinance setting out the standards. It has taken until this month for Sandlin to meet all the requirements.

One sticking point was adequate insurance on the tiger in case of his escape, the parish president said. He said Sandlin's policy had covered the animal only on the truck stop premises.

Sandlin has kept tigers at the truck stop for some years, and has never had an escape.

Ourso said the owner has an escape plan in place, and all his employees have been trained in the use of weapons to deal with the tiger if necessary. The escape plan has been sent to the Office of Emergency Preparedness and local law enforcement agencies, he said.

Iberville Animal Control is conducting a weekly inspection at the truck stop to assure the tiger is well cared for, the parish president said.

The ordinance setting out the parish requirements for the truck stop tiger also says Tony will be the last cat allowed there.

You can comment here:

http://www.postsouth.com/homepage/x737379895/Truck-stop-gets-parish-permit-to-keep-tiger

Fercos Brothers Zuzana Kukol REXANO

2009-08-01T06:03:00.001-07:00

July 29, 2009 Las Vegas, NV: A white tiger that is used in a Las Vegas magic show performed a surprise disappearing act - when it escaped from its cage and went on the prowl. Terrified residents in the northwest of the city spotted the big cat wandering the streets on Thursday evening. Police and the Animal Rescue Service were alerted and the tiger was cornered in a family's back garden. Police Lt. Les Lane said the cat belonged to Fercos Brothers magic act.

Zuzana Kukol, the owner of the REXANO website that attempts to discredit those who oppose the use of big cats in circus acts, claimed to be training tigers for the 6th generation Fercos Brothers circus act in an online post to a snake owners blog. The Fercos Brothers operate out of Pahrump, NV and FL at 6155 S.W. 123rd Av Miami, FL 33183. http://www.911animalabuse.com/00abusers/zuzanakukol.htm

Fercos Brothers Circus has applied to the USFWS repeatedly in an attempt to move tigers in and out of the U.S. Big Cat Rescue always responds with letters to the USFWS explaining that circus acts do noting to protect tigers in the wild and allowing such movement is only a detriment to both the captive tigers and those in the wild. Check CatLaws.com to send a letter of your own. http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=13810331&type=CU

To see more escapes: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/big_cat_news.htm

More on Zuzana Kukol of REXANO: http://reporter.911animalabuse.com/service/searchEverything.kickAction?keywords=kukol&includeVideo=on&includeAudio=on&includePhoto=on&includeBlog=on&includeUser=on&includeGroups=on&includeMessages=on&as=23072

Tiger and Bobcat Comments due by 9/11/09

2009-07-29T17:46:00.001-07:00

To: USFWS Re: CoP15 FWS-R9-IA-2009-N0103; 96300-1671-0000 FY09 R4

Thank you for considering measures to help protect the tiger and other exotic cats. I am writing specifically about tigers and bobcats, but the perils they face include all species of exotic cats. In the case of the tiger, there are U.S. facilities that openly market lion meat in restaurants such as Spotos in Dunedin, FL, Czimer's in Chicago, IL and on the Internet at 1/800-Steaks.com. No one can discern between lion meat (legal) and tiger meat (illegal)

Tigers: There are less than 3,500 tigers left in the wild and we are losing one tiger per day to poaching. The demand for tiger parts has continued to rise as developing nations have become more affluent. China is the largest consumer of illegal tiger parts with the U.S. running a close second. The private possession of live tigers in China and the U.S. have provided a legal cover for an illegal trade. Until such practices are banned there will be no way to effectively protect the tiger in the wild. Demand for tiger parts will always place a higher value on authentic, wild caught tigers. Killing a tiger in the wild is much cheaper than raising a tiger to a size necessary to fill demand when it costs $7,500 a year to feed and care for a captive tiger who will not reach full size for 4-5 years.

These must be done to save the tiger:

1. Ban the private possession of tigers.

2. Repeal the exemption for "generic" tigers from the Captive Bred Wildlife permit requirement and require that all tigers be registered in a publicly accessible database, accounted for during their life and upon death, microchipped, and kept from breeding outside of AZA sanctioned Species Survival Plans.

3. Demand that all who parties who possess more than 8 tigers at any one facility provide a written plan for how they will immediately stop breeding and begin scaling back on their numbers of tigers held by placing them in legitimate sanctuaries that are open to public scrutiny.

Keeping tigers captive is clearly a violation of the intent of the Endangered Species Act. Being bred into a life of confinement and deprivation as part of a collection, whether that collection be publicly or privately owned, violates the definition of "take" provided in the ESA on several levels.

First of all, the definition clearly says endangered species and those similar enough in appearance to "substantially facilitate the enforcement" (ie: tiger bones vs. lion bones) may not be collected. That statement alone would prohibit all captive collections of endangered species, such as tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and most other exotic cats.

Harming, harassing and killing are also prohibited by law. When cubs are ripped from their mothers to be used as photo props, that is a violation. When adults are killed to make room for new babies for display, that too is a clear violation. When big cats are hoarded into tiny, filthy cages and given only putrid food, inadequate amounts of food and algae covered water to drink that too is a violation of the Endangered Species Act.

Even at the height of prosperity in this country there was never enough funding to properly regulate the trade in exotic cats. In this economic downturn there will be even less oversight of an industry that should not exist. Captivity by its very nature is inherently cruel to wild animals who were designed to roam over many miles. There are only a handful of offenders who breed exotic cats for their own profit and pleasure. More than 75% of the public polled said they would support bans on ALL exotic animals in private possession. Of the estimated 5,000+ tigers in the U.S. only 256 are in the AZA sanctioned Tiger Species Survival Plan. The rest should be sterilized and phased out over time as they die of old age.

Bobcats: Due to the Russian demand for bobcat fur, their pelts now draw some of the highest prices among trapped furs, commanding as much as $550 for a single hide. As the price has gone up, the number of bobcat skins exported by the U.S. has nearly tripled in five years, to 49,700 in 2006. Some trappers are capturing bobcats in states with quotas and bringing them to Wyoming, which has no limits, said Scott Adell, a Wyoming Game and Fish Department investigator. No one really knows how many bobcats live within their state boundaries and scientists have found that births are dropping rather dramatically. As a rehabber we are seeing case after case of bobcats who are suffering from the effects of a poisoned environment, such as mercury in their food sources. Bobcats live in areas where the endangered Canada Lynx is struggling against extinction and the same traps that are set for bobcats injure and kill their endangered cousins. For these reasons as well as moral ones the bobcat should not be removed from Appendix II protection.

Tigers and bobcats especially need your voice before September 11, 2009.

Please send a letter to both of these addresses:

Div of Management Authority, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Svc

4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 212

Arlington, VA 22203

or via e-mail at: CoP15@fws.gov

or via fax at: 703-358-2298.

Div of Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Svc

4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 110

Arlington, VA 22203

or via e-mail at: scientificauthority@fws.gov

or via fax at: 703-358-2276.

For more details: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/laws/2009/CITES.htm

ANOTHER TIGER TRADER NABBED BY POLICE

2009-07-21T10:15:00.001-07:00

ANOTHER TIGER TRADER NABBED BY POLICE

(Hanoi) July 21, 2009 – ENV congratulates the fine work of the Hanoi Environmental Police in this week's seizure of the frozen remains of a tiger, and bones from at least one other tiger. The tigers were seized from a taxi in Hanoi on the morning of July 16. Three men have been arrested in connection with
the case including the alleged owner of the tiger, the driver of the taxi, and an accomplice.

Environmental Police has been working with ENV for nearly seven months, on an investigation of the tiger trade in Vietnam, with the aim of identifying key figures in the illegal trade and better understanding the trade network from source to consumer.

Another study by the Environmental Police, the Forest Protection Department, and ENV has focused on surveying tiger farms to determine the number of tigers currently in captivity in Vietnam. ENV will soon produce a report for senior government officials detailing the findings of both investigations.

At present, there are more than 80 tigers in captivity in Vietnam. However, this number does not include circus animals or all of the animals known to be kept at zoos. ENV is working to ensure that Vietnam does not follow the path of China where tiger farming has developed to the point where about 5,000 tigers are in captivity, and tiger farmers are lobbying to legalize trade. ENV and other conservation organizations acknowledge that this would have a devastating impact on remaining populations of wild tigers throughout their range. Although consumer trade of tiger products is illegal in China, the black market trade continues, and
many experts believe that Chinese tiger farmers are selling tiger products out the back door of their farms.

"The same situation may be beginning to develop in Vietnam", says Nguyen Van Anh, manager of ENV's Wildlife Crime Unit. The tiger case this past week is highly suspicious given some of the circumstances surrounding one of the subjects. At this stage it is too soon to tell the extent to which Vietnamese tiger
farmers may be using the cover of "breeding for conservation or education purposes" to engage in illegal activities.

A new DNA study being conducted by the Environmental Police and ENV will help identify the source of tigers that have been confiscated in the trade over the past two years. Police will collect the samples and hope to learn the subspecies identification of some of the tigers that have been seized in trade, and if possible, the country of origin. This information will help investigators determine the source and mechanism involved in the illegal trade of tigers throughout the region.

ENV has also sought to work closely with leaders in relevant ministries and within the National Assembly to strengthen the protection of tigers and other fully protected species, such as bears and gibbons, both relatively common in illegal trading. Last month, at a meeting organized for key members of the National
Assembly. At that meeting, ENV representatives expressed concern over the possibility that regulations allowing breeding of protected species like tigers and bears will open the door for commercial trade as Vietnam implements its new Biodiversity Protection Law in 2009 which permits the establishment of
"conservation breeding farms" for some endangered species.

Vietnam may have fewer than 100 tigers remaining in the wild. About 3,500 tigers are believed to remain in the wild throughout Asia. However, with tougher laws and stricter punishment on the books, ENV and others on the front lines of conservation are hopeful that Vietnam will not follow, but lead regional efforts to
protect tigers.

"Our focus might have once been about protecting our own tigers," says Van Anh. "However, we can no longer afford to think just about our own tigers. The illegal tiger trade is a global issue transcending borders, and we in Vietnam need to step up and take responsibility as a member of the international
community to 'do our part' and help stop the illegal trade of tigers before they are lost."

Contact ENV for more information about our efforts to protect the region's tigers:
Ms. Nguyen Thi Van Anh
Wildlife Crime Unit Manager vananh.env@gmail.com
Douglas Hendrie
Wildlife Crime Unit Advisor dhendrie@fpt.vn
Some other places of interest to visit:
Visit "A Day in the Life of the Wildlife Crime Unit":
http://www.savingvietnamswildlife.org/Documents/Meet_ENV_WCU_Team.pdf
Saving Vietnam's Wildlife website tiger gallery: http://www.savingvietnamswildlife.org/wildlife/tigers.html
Watch a short film produced by the International Tiger Coalition (ITC) on tiger farming in China:
http://envietnam.org/videos/tiger-trade.html
See the Vietnamese language version of the ITC tiger film produced by ENV:
http://thiennhien.org/index.php?page=documentView&parent=172&id=113
Sign in to Facebook and keep up with our activities:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47162312016
Visit ENV's English-language website and explore other ENV activities: http://envietnam.org/
Visit ENV's Vietnamese-language website: http://www.thiennhien.org/
For the cats,

Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue
an Educational Sanctuary home
to more than 100 big cats
12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625
813.493.4564 fax 885.4457

http://www.BigCatRescue.org

Sign our petition to protect tigers from being farmed here:

http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=9952801&type=CU

Free ways to join us and help the big cats:

Twitter: Follow Me and be invited to enter our Animal Lover's Dream Vacation Giveaway! http://twitter.com/BigCatRescue

This message contains information from Big Cat Rescue that may be confidential or privileged. The information contained herein is intended
only for the eyes of the individual or entity named above. You are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, disclosure, and/or copying of the information contained in this communication is strictly prohibited. The recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses. Big Cat Rescue accepts no liability for any damage or loss caused by any virus transmitted by this e-mail.

'Canned hunting' of captive lions banned in South Africa

2009-07-21T10:08:00.001-07:00

'Canned hunting' of captive lions banned in South Africa
Published: 7:29PM BST 12 Jun 2009

The controversial sport of "canned hunting", in which trophy hunter tourists pay to shoot specially-bred captive lions, has been banned in South Africa. The South African government welcomed the move, which followed attempts by lion breeders to block the banning of their trade. "We need a clean hunting industry, free from unacceptable behaviour which could damage the country's image," said Albi Modise, a spokesman for South Africa's forestry department.

Until its ban, South Africa was one of the world's canned hunting capitals, with more than 1,000 lions killed every year by foreign hunters. Around 120 lion breeders are active in the country, supplying animals for tourists arriving from across the globe in an industry worth almost £1 million a year. But government proposals put forward in 2007 threatened to crush the industry by ruling that lions bred in captivity could not be hunted until 24 months after they were released into the wild. Angry breeders challenged the crackdown in court and argued that the regulations should allow captive animals to be shot within a few days of being released from their breeding cages. But on Friday Bloemfontein High Court judge Ian van der Merwe rejected their claim.

Delivering his verdict, he said biodiversity must be protected and that the breeding of lions in captivity with the sole purpose of canned hunting did not aid their protection. He added that he believed the breeders only cared about making money.

Animal welfare groups welcomed the judgment. Animal Rights Africa spokesman Steve Smit said: "Canned hunting is barbaric and South Africa has been shamed by it. We now hope the government provides adequate provision to insure the new rules are followed. "New laws mean nothing unless they are backed by resources to ensure they are not broken."

Speaking after the verdict, Carel van Heerden, a spokesman for South African Predator Breeders Association, claimed the ruling meant most of the country's 3,000 captive lions would now be humanely destroyed.
She said: "It feels like someone has kicked me in the stomach. "The practical implications of the verdict are devastating to our industry and to all the people involved in the industry. "It means that 5,000 breadwinners will soon lose their jobs, and about 3 000 (semi-tame) lions will have to be put down."

The lion breeders have now threatened to sue the government over the decision.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/5516764/Canned-hunting-of-captive-lions-banned-in-South-Africa.html
For the cats,

Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue
an Educational Sanctuary home
to more than 100 big cats
12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625
813.493.4564 fax 885.4457

http://www.BigCatRescue.org

Sign our petition to protect tigers from being farmed here:

http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=9952801&type=CU

Free ways to join us and help the big cats:

Twitter: Follow Me and be invited to enter our Animal Lover's Dream Vacation Giveaway! http://twitter.com/BigCatRescue

This message contains information from Big Cat Rescue that may be confidential or privileged. The information contained herein is intended
only for the eyes of the individual or entity named above. You are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, disclosure, and/or copying of the information contained in this communication is strictly prohibited. The recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses. Big Cat Rescue accepts no liability for any damage or loss caused by any virus transmitted by this e-mail.

Good news for tigers from WWF

2009-07-21T10:06:00.001-07:00

From the WWF Tesso Nilo Newsletter, May-June 2009:

Law Enforcement against Tiger Killing in Riau Made a Good Progress

Law enforcement process against tiger killing occurred in Indragiri Hilir District last February and now has shown positive progress. Two suspects who snared and killed three tigers finally were detained by the Judiciary Office of the district in 23 June. Long process of completing the investigation files over this case conducted by the civil investigator (known as PPNS) of the Nature Conservation Agency of Riau finally came to the end. Their investigation file has been accepted by Prosecution Office and therefore the prosecutors can officially detain the two suspects to be processed on the court trial.

Last February four tigers were killed in Indragiri Hilir District. One was killed by community as it attacked two farmers. Other three tigers were killed by poachers after straying into human settlement. Two suspect
poachers had even sold one piece of the three tiger's skins when the PPNS from the Nature Conservation Authority of Riau came to their house to confiscate the evidences.

The scene where the three tigers trapped is actually inside an acacia concession associated with Asia Pulp and Paper group. The scene was a swamp area located relatively far from the capital of the district. The information on this tiger killing was first received by the Tiger Patrol Unit of the project which then made coordination with the BBKSDA Riau and encouraged them to take action. This tiger killing attracted many
attentions from media and even the Minister of Forestry made a statement on national newspaper that he urges police to investigate this tiger killing.

WWF-Indonesia's Riau program helps and facilitates the civil investigators known as PPNS to file this case from the field into administration matters. Though long process of investigation and filing, the prosecutors finally accepted the file and detained the two suspects comprising of a father and a son. The two suspects were detained based on strong evidences that both are involved in the killing of the three tigers. During the
investigation, the two suspects admitted their act and therefore they break Conservation law number 5/1990 that bans everyone to trap, hurt, kill, keep, and trade endangered wildlife.

To build public opinion on law enforcement against this tiger killing case, WWF will shepherd the process through media monitoring in the hope that the court trial will be in favor of conservation effort. The verdict against this case is expected to give deterrent effect to other perpetrators.

Public Campaign for Law Enforcement against Wildlife Poaching

Wildlife killing is rising nowadays in Riau province. This condition is certainly upsetting and therefore requires public action. Wildlife conservation is everybody's responsibility therefore public awareness on protection of wildlife and their habitat needs to be built. To commemorate environment day, a group of youth clubs with support from WWF Indonesia's Riau Program started their campaign from 5 June to call support for their petition.

The petitions among others call on authorities to stop forest destruction and conduct spatial plan that contribute wisely to the people of Riau and conservation of wildlife, be consistent in implementing regulations in forestry sector, impose law against perpetrators of wildlife poaching and trade, take efforts to handle human-wildlife (especially elephant and tiger). The youth club made some ways to attract sympathy from public to in the efforts to gain support for the petition like holding performances of body painting in main roads, signing the support in a 100-m length banner, and distributing pamphlets and stickers to call for the support through on line number. Besides that, the youth club also paid visits to authority like the Governor of Riau, the Head of Riau Parliament, and Vice

Governor of Riau. As the result, the youth club got written support from these authorities.

The youth club did some performances to get public attention on their effort to get support over their petitions like body painting, distributing stickers and pamphlets. The youth club also opens on line support through sending short message service to the secretariat number besides collecting written support from related institutions. During two weeks of collecting the support, the total support gained reached about
1500 signers. This support will be delivered by the youth club to related authorities through face to face meeting which is planned to be set soon. With this meeting, it is expected that the youth club can convey their call to the government to take action over the petition. The youth club has been committed that they will do similar meeting with the institution to monitor commitment from the authority or at least to share update on periodical basis.

For the cats,

Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue
an Educational Sanctuary home
to more than 100 big cats
12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625
813.493.4564 fax 885.4457

http://www.BigCatRescue.org

Sign our petition to protect tigers from being farmed here:

http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=9952801&type=CU

Free ways to join us and help the big cats:

Twitter: Follow Me and be invited to enter our Animal Lover's Dream Vacation Giveaway! http://twitter.com/BigCatRescue

This message contains information from Big Cat Rescue that may be confidential or privileged. The information contained herein is intended
only for the eyes of the individual or entity named above. You are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, disclosure, and/or copying of the information contained in this communication is strictly prohibited. The recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses. Big Cat Rescue accepts no liability for any damage or loss caused by any virus transmitted by this e-mail.

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