Big Cats: Escapes, Killings and Maulings

Tiger attack in zoo leaves three-year-old boy critical

2012-01-06T18:00:00.000-08:00

By METRO WEB REPORTER - 5th January, 2012

A three-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being attacked by a tiger at a travelling zoo in Russia.

The child had been posing for a photograph with the big cat next to a small fence when he was clawed in the head by the tiger, sustaining horrific injuries.

A man nearby tried to stop the attack, which took place in Blagoveshchensk, in the Amur region of Russia.

'I hit it [the tiger] with a stick, there was a metal thing on it. But it clutched the kid very tight,' he said.

The young boy was rushed to the Amur Regional Hospital for emergency treatment.

A doctor said: 'The boy was brought in a bad condition, he had an emergency operation which lasted several hours.

'He is in intensive care now, in a bad condition. It is hard to give any prognosis so far.'

Sky News reports an official of the Amur Regional Investigative Committee as saying that an investigation is looking into the incident.

'According to the information we have, the tiger was not inside the cage, it was between the fence and the cage, so it was free,' he said.

'It was attached by a chain, but people were allowed behind the fence to take photographs.'

Video: Check out the Russian zoo where the attack occurred

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/886499-tiger-attack-in-zoo-leaves-three-year-old-boy-critical

http://www.bigcatrescue.org

Escaped Tiger Causes Scare in Northern Mexico

2012-01-02T19:27:00.000-08:00

Published January 02, 2012

An escaped pet tiger named Deborah spurred a massive deployment of police, firefighters and other first responders in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila, authorities said.

Apolonio Armenta, the Coahuila delegate of Mexico's environmental protection agency, Profepa, told Efe that alarmed residents began calling police late Wednesday night with reports about a tiger roaming the streets of Saltillo, the state capital.

"It was a tigress between 8 and 12 months old that some thieves allowed to escape when they broke into the office of the pet's owner, attorney Rodolfo Richards," Armenta said.

Richards eventually managed to recapture the 50-kilo (110-pound) Bengal tiger.

Deborah was only a month old when the attorney bought her from a pet shop in nearby Monterrey, Armenta said, adding that while Richards has paperwork confirming his ownership of the animal, he failed to register the tiger with Profepa as a pet.

Richards now faces up to 1.2 million pesos ($85,000) in fines if he cannot explain to Profepa's satisfaction why he didn't register Deborah.

Mexicans are alllowed to keep exotic animals as pets provided the comply with Profepa regulations, which include providing the animal with an appropriate environment and ensuring it does not become a threat to public safety.

Such animals are "relatively quiet, if they live with humans as cubs, you make sure that they don't suffer from stress or hunger and you give them medical attention to keep them healthy," Armenta said.

Six months ago, he noted, a mountain lion and a tiger were dumped in front of the Profepa offfice in Coahuila, while army troops later captured an African lion in the town of Nava.

Those three animals are now in the Monclova zoo.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2012/01/02/escaped-tiger-causes-scare-in-northern-mexico/

http://www.bigcatrescue.org

Fisherman killed by tiger in Sunderbans

2011-10-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

Ananya Dutta
KOLKATA, October 17, 2011

A fisherman was killed by a tiger deep inside the forests of the Sunderban Biosphere Reserve on Sunday.

Satyabrata Jana of Kultuli had gone fishing with four others in the Gazikhali forest area within the Sajnekhali wildlife sanctuary. They had spread their nets in the waters and were sitting on the land when a tiger attacked the group, Subrat Mukherjee, field director of Sunderban Tiger Reserve, told The Hindu over telephone.

“We have received reports of one person being killed by a tiger. They had gone fishing in the restricted area of the forest and did not have a permit for fishing,” Mr. Mukherjee said.

Since Mr. Jana was killed in the restricted areas of the forest, his family will not be eligible for the compensation that is given to victims of tiger attacks.

Illegal fishing in the restricted areas of the forest is a perennial problem that plagues the region and results in several incidents of man-animal conflict.

“The fishermen try their best to dodge the guards of the Forest Department and enter the restricted areas. Since they are flouting the rules they are not entitled to any compensation if any such incidents occur,” said Sarba Mondal, a resident of the Sunderban islands.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2543424.ece

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

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

Five-year-old boy mauled by tiger cub in South Africa

2011-07-20T17:12:00.000-07:00

By Aislinn Laing, Johannesburg
4:21PM BST 19 Jul 2011

A five year-old boy is recovering in hospital after he was mauled by an apparently tame tiger cub at a holiday resort in South Africa.

Finlay Holden was stroking the six-month old Bengali tiger's back when it turned around and grabbed his head between its paws.

The little boy was only saved after other holidaymakers and resort staff throttled the growling animal and hit it over the head repeatedly with a walkie-talkie.

His mother, Claire Holden, told how Finlay had screamed hysterically "Mum, make it stop! Make it stop!" as they fought to save him.

"The whole thing was just awful," she said. "There were all these people pulling at the tiger and it wouldn't let go. All I could do was wrap my arms around Finlay and try to keep him calm."

She said that she, her daughter Hannah, three, and Finlay had gone to look at Reno and Paris, the resort's two tigers, on Saturday morning. Also on the lawn with the resort's handlers was a boa constrictor.

"I told Finlay he must be careful and not make any sudden movements because all animals remain a bit wild," she said.

The website of the Zebula Golf Estate and Spa, which is situated in South Africa's northern Limpopo province, says that visits can touch and pose for photographs with the big cats.

"Even though they are cubs, you can come and witness their beauty, grace and can see the power of these incredible felines," it boasts.

In Finlay's case, the description was all too apt.

"The animal's mouth was wide open above his head," Mrs Holden said. "My child and I were covered in blood. My little daughter saw everything."

Finlay was left with deep cuts to his face, neck and throat and underwent surgery on Sunday. "He's doing remarkably well considering," Mrs Holden said. "We were lucky really – his jugular could easily have been torn or he could have been scalped."

She said the resort should now reconsider letting big cats play with children. "I don't blame the tiger and don't think it should be put down but they shouldn't be doing what they are doing and if they are going to continue, it needs to be with significantly smaller cubs."

Brenda Santon, Wildlife Manager for South Africa's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said it had repeatedly warned about the dangers of letting humans play with wild animals. "These poor animals belong in the wild and not in holiday resorts," she said.

Zebula Golf Estate and Spa has declined to comment.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/8647790/Five-year-old-boy-mauled-by-tiger-cub-in-South-Africa.html

http://www.bigcatrescue.org

Owner of Cricket Hollow Zoo in Manchester, Iowa attacked by tiger during feeding time

2011-07-17T18:17:00.000-07:00

From correspondents in Manchester, Iowa From: AP July 18, 2011 9:04AM

The owner of a small US zoo has been taken to hospital with injuries from a tiger attack.

The Delaware County sheriff's office says 52-year-old Tom Sellner suffered lacerations to his head and torso during the Sunday morning attack (local time) at Cricket Hollow Zoo in Manchester, Iowa.

He was flown to an Iowa City hospital. His condition wasn't immediately available.

The sheriff's office says Mr Sellner was attacked while feeding an adult tiger.

The tiger was not put down after the attack.

The zoo's website says it has more than 300 birds and animals, including tigers, African lions and other exotic cats.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/owner-of-cricket-hollow-zoo-in-manchester-iowa-attacked-by-tiger-during-feeding-time/story-e6frf7jx-1226096590147

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

Swimming Bobcat!

2011-07-14T10:17:00.001-07:00

*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!?

BIG CAT SUMMER!

2011-06-19T06:31:00.001-07:00

It's Summer time at Big Cat Rescue, check out all the cool enrichment we hand out to the tigers, lions, leopards and more!

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!

Quick relief for tiger attack victims now

2011-03-21T20:27:00.000-07:00

Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN, Mar 19, 2011, 04.26am IST

NAGPUR: At a time when man-animal conflict is at its peak, the state government has come out with relief to tiger attack victims by providing compensation without waiting for funds.

A GR issued by the state government recently states that legal heir of victims who die in attack by wild animals will get immediate relief. Even those injured in such attacks will get quick compensation

The GR states that even if funds are not available and the balance sheet is in minus, victim will get immediate aid. There are many complaints that kin of victims don't get financial relief in time.

The demand was made by chief wildlife warden DC Pant during a meeting with deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar during the assembly session in Nagpur. Pant pursued the matter.

"There have been compensation cases pending for years. This not only puts forest department in bad light but the field staff too has to face the ire of villagers. It also leads to locals turning against tigers," a senior official said.

The government pays Rs 2 lakh to the kin of victims who die in wild animal attack or suffer permanent disability. Besides, Rs 50,000 is paid to those injured. The government also bears the medical expenses of the injured.

During the last four years (2006-10), the man-conflict has increased in Vidarbha from 30% to 70%. At least 69 persons have been killed by tigers and leopards in Chandrapur district alone in the past six years from January 2005. In many cases compensation has still not been paid. However, the situation is expected to change in the current financial year.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-19/nagpur/29146053_1_tiger-attack-victims-compensation-tigers-and-leopards

http://www.bigcatrescue.org

Tiger kills man in Nagbhid tehsil

2011-03-21T19:18:00.001-07:00

TNN, Mar 20, 2011, 12.35am IST

CHANDRAPUR: A tiger killed a person and partially ate his body in the fields near Menha Kirmiti village in Nagbhid tehsil during midnight hours of Friday. Body of Shriram Atram (55) was recovered later in the same night by the villagers, but the reason of his visit to the remote area away from the village could not be ascertained.

Sources in forest department informed that Atram left his house at around 11pm and went into the fields around a kilometre away from the village. As he reached the nullah near the farm, a tiger lurking there pounced on him. The beast later dragged the body to some distance and devoured it before going back into the jungle.

"Later the villagers found his mutilated body lying near the nullah. The tiger had eaten some part of the body. Why he went to a distant farm (not owned by him) that too late in the night is still not clear," said DCF, Bhrahmapuri division, Sanjay Thawre.

Thawre informed that the family members of Atram have confirmed that he was in home till late night watching television, but later he went out without informing any one.

Thawre confirmed that it was the act of a tiger. "The place is close to the jungle. The tiger might have come there to drink water in the nullah. As Atram reached there at the same time, the beast attacked and killed him. We have recovered pugmarks of a tiger near the kill," said Thawre.

He informed that forest officials reached the spot on Saturday morning and sent the body for post mortem. An ex-gratia of Rs 10,000 has been paid to the kin for funeral formalities and the compensation of Rs 2 lakh against the death would paid later after the completion of documental formalities. Notably it is second instance when tiger had made human kill in the district this year. As many as 12 people were killed in tiger attacks in the district last year.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-20/nagpur/29148342_1_tiger-nagbhid-tehsil-sanjay-thawre

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

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.

Malaysia tiger mauling stopped by wife with soup ladle

2011-02-14T18:42:00.000-08:00

14 February 2011 Last updated at 04:52 ET

A man has been rescued from a near-fatal attack by a tiger in northern Malaysia by his wife.

She entered the fray wielding a wooden soup ladle at the tiger - which fled.

Tambun Gediu, now badly lacerated and recovering in hospital, had tried hitting the tiger away in vain and says his wife saved his life.

Wildlife rangers plan to track the tiger and send it further into dense, unpopulated jungle in the the northern state of Perak.

"I was trailing a squirrel and crouched to shoot it with my blowpipe when I saw the tiger.

"That's when I realised that I was being trailed," Mr Gediu said after surgery.

The tiger pounced not far from the Gediu home in a jungle settlement of the Jahai tribe.

Mr Gediu had tried climbing a tree to escape the animal, but was dragged down by the tiger.

His wife, 55-year old Han Besau, rushed out of the kitchen on hearing his screams and used the kitchen implement to good effect.

"I was terrified and I used all my strength to punch the animal in the face, but it would not budge," the New Straits Times newspaper quoted him as saying.

"I had to wrestle with it to keep its jaws away from me, and it would have clawed me to death if my wife had not arrived."

It was the first time anyone in the village had been attacked by a tiger.

The director of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks in the state, Shabrina Mohd Shariff, estimated that there were about 200 tigers in the jungles of Perak.

She added that five had been spotted near the major East-West Highway in the region.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12446232

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

S.F. tiger attack likely provoked, documents say

2011-02-14T12:25:00.000-08:00

By JASON DEAREN, MARCUS WOHLSEN
The Associated Press
updated 2/12/2011 4:32:05 PM ET 2011-02-12T21:32:05

Tatiana, who was killed by police after fatally mauling a teenager at the zoo on Christmas Day 2007, was likely provoked into leaping and clawing out of its enclosure, according to a federal investigation.

SAN FRANCISCO — A female Siberian tiger killed in a hail of police gunfire after fatally mauling a man at the San Francisco Zoo on Christmas Day 2007 likely was provoked into leaping and clawing out of its enclosure, a federal investigator said in documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The tiger named Tatiana killed 17-year-old Carlos Sousa Jr. and injured his friends, brothers Paul and Kulbir Dhaliwal, leaving claw marks etched in the asphalt and claw fragments in the bushes outside its pen. Claw marks were also discovered near the top of the enclosure wall, which was lower than federal safety standards dictate, showing that the big cat was able to get enough leverage to pull itself out.

"It appears the tiger was able to jump from the bottom of the dry moat to the top of the wall, and gain enough purchase over the top to pull herself out over the moat wall," wrote Laurie Gage, a tiger expert who investigated the scene for the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS, which oversees the nation's zoos.

"With my knowledge of tiger behavior I cannot imagine a tiger trying to jump out of its enclosure unless it was provoked," Gage wrote in the Dec. 27, 2007 draft of her report.

That statement was stricken from the final version of the report because it was "irrelevant from an Animal Welfare Act enforcement standpoint," said David Sacks, a spokesman for APHIS. Whether or not the tiger was provoked has long been a point of contention.

After sitting with its prey for a short time, Gage wrote that Tatiana likely followed the Dhaliwals' blood trail for about 300 yards to where it resumed attacks. Photographs show blood-smeared asphalt where the tiger apparently dragged Sousa's body.

"After a kill, I find it interesting the tiger would leave a kill to go after something else unless there were a compelling reason," Gage wrote. "The tiger passed exhibits with warthogs . which it ignored as it followed (the blood trail?) of the two brothers to the Terrace Cafe outside the dining area."

The documents, provided to The AP more than three years after a Freedom of Information Act request, offer the first public glimpse into the findings of the APHIS investigation and details from the scene written by some of the officers who killed Tatiana.

Gage and inspector Michael Smith investigated the enclosure and zoo premises on Dec. 27, 2007.

In more than 65 years no other tiger had escaped from that enclosure. San Francisco Zoo officials now say the enclosure should have been safer.

"Nobody was there to witness it at that time of day, it was closing, just the people who were there and the tigers," said Lora LaMarca, a zoo spokeswoman. "We cannot prove the animal was provoked, and regardless of that, she was able to jump out which led to a whole series of renovations to that exhibit which makes sure this will never happen again."

USDA fined the zoo $1,875 for violations associated with the flaws in the tiger enclosure that allowed Tatiana to escape, and for one unrelated violation.

The USDA's findings show the tiger jumped from the moat right in front of an area where a path had been worn through plants meant to provide a sight barrier. According to the reports, the zoo complained that people often pushed through the plants and leaned over the enclosure, sometimes even putting their children on its rim.

USDA's investigators said they found "some sticks, foreign to the exhibit, and at least one pine cone inside the tiger exhibit indicating that someone may have thrown these items into the enclosure at the tigers."

The Dhaliwal brothers denied provoking the big cat, though Sousa's father told police that Paul Dhaliwal had admitted to being drunk and yelling and waving at the animal. Sousa's parents settled their wrongful death lawsuit for an undisclosed amount, and the brothers settled their lawsuit for a reported $900,000.

An attorney for Sousa's parents, Michael Cardoza, called the theory that the tiger was provoked "mere speculation" that would not hold up in court.

"Keep in mind these are animals, who knows why they do anything?" he said.

Once Tatiana found the Dhaliwals, she sat for a while near one of the bleeding brothers outside the zoo's Terrace Café.

When San Francisco police officer Daniel Kroos and his partner arrived at the café area, he saw the tiger and one of the Dhaliwals sitting near each other.

The Dhaliwal brothers denied provoking the big cat, though Sousa's father told police that Paul Dhaliwal had admitted to being drunk and yelling and waving at the animal. Sousa's parents settled their wrongful death lawsuit for an undisclosed amount, and the brothers settled their lawsuit for a reported $900,000.

An attorney for Sousa's parents, Michael Cardoza, called the theory that the tiger was provoked "mere speculation" that would not hold up in court.

"Keep in mind these are animals, who knows why they do anything?" he said.

Once Tatiana found the Dhaliwals, she sat for a while near one of the bleeding brothers outside the zoo's Terrace Café.

When San Francisco police officer Daniel Kroos and his partner arrived at the café area, he saw the tiger and one of the Dhaliwals sitting near each other.

The Dhaliwal brothers denied provoking the big cat, though Sousa's father told police that Paul Dhaliwal had admitted to being drunk and yelling and waving at the animal. Sousa's parents settled their wrongful death lawsuit for an undisclosed amount, and the brothers settled their lawsuit for a reported $900,000.

An attorney for Sousa's parents, Michael Cardoza, called the theory that the tiger was provoked "mere speculation" that would not hold up in court.

"Keep in mind these are animals, who knows why they do anything?" he said.

Once Tatiana found the Dhaliwals, she sat for a while near one of the bleeding brothers outside the zoo's Terrace Café.

When San Francisco police officer Daniel Kroos and his partner arrived at the café area, he saw the tiger and one of the Dhaliwals sitting near each other.

"At this time I saw the tiger pounce on top of the victim and maul him continuously for several seconds," Kroos wrote. "At this time I was not able to shoot the tiger without placing the victim in the field of fire and thereby placing the victim in further danger."

"It appeared to me the tiger was protecting its prey," said Office Scott Biggs, who was also among the first officers to respond.

After several seconds of mauling, Kroos said Tatiana stopped and headed in the direction of one of the officers.

"Fearing that the tiger was going to attack and kill Officer Biggs, or that the tiger might turn around and continue to maul the victim who could not move, I fired my department issued firearm an unknown amount of times at the tiger in an attempt to stop the threat of further attack," he said.

The officers continued to fire at the tiger, with one putting a final shot in the animal's head to ensure it was dead.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41548098/ns/us_news/

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

♥ 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.

Man attacked by tiger, escapes

2011-01-17T11:34:00.000-08:00

TNN, Jan 17, 2011, 10.16pm IST

CHAMARAJNAGAR: Even as locals and tribals are demanding that Biligiri Ranganathswamy Hills be declared a tiger reserve, one person sustained injuries in an attack by the big cat.

G Vasantharaju, a resident of a tribal hamlet, was travelling downhill on his two-wheeler, when the tiger attacked him. But he escaped with minor injuries and is admitted to hospital at Yelandur. This is first time that a human has come under attack by the big cat at the forested area, once dominated by slain brigand Veerappan. Some one year ago, a tiger had killed a person at Gopalswamy hills near Bandipur national park.

But wildlife activists said there is no need to worry about tiger attacks, terming Vasantharaju's incident an isolated case. There is no history of humans being attacked by tigers at B R Hills, said H P Ashwin, a wildlife activist working on a tiger project in the forest area. Tribals are in the forested area but there are no instances of any attack, he pointed out, adding that they do not face any threat.

They said tigers generally don't become man hunters unless they are too infirm and can't hunt.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Man-attacked-by-tiger-escapes/articleshow/7306663.cms

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

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!

Another man killed by tiger in eastern UP

2011-01-08T19:36:00.001-08:00

TNN, Jan 9, 2011, 03.29am IST

LUCKNOW: A second killing in as many days inside the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, near Bahraich on the Nepal border, has set alarm bells ringing in the state forest department. The latest victim is a 55-year-old man, who was killed in a village situated inside the sanctuary on Friday.

Jagmal's partially eaten body was recovered from a dense forest on Saturday. The incident took place in Jamunia village, situated inside the sanctuary and is almost adjacent to the core area, an ideal tiger habitat.

Earlier, on Thursday, another villager Saligram, 60, was reportedly killed by the tiger when he had gone to work in his sugarcane field. The forest area from where Jagmal's body was recovered is about 12 km from the place where Saligram's body was found. ''The pugmarks found around Saligram's body were that of a tigress," said Katarniaghat range officer M K Shukla.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Another-man-killed-by-tiger-in-eastern-UP/articleshow/7244880.cms

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

Tigress mauls one to death

2011-01-08T18:37:00.000-08:00

TNN, Jan 8, 2011, 05.46am IST

LUCKNOW: The man-animal conflict has once again raised its ugly head. A 60-year-old man is the latest casualty to the big cat.

According to officials, the incident took place in Katarniaghat on Thursday morning. The fact that the body was intact and not consumed by the big cat gives some sense of respite to forest officers in the area.

"This is not a case of man-eating," said MK Shukla, Range Officer, Katarniaghat. 60-year-old Saligram, resident of Belahanpura village, was killed at around 10:30 on Thursday morning, when he had gone to work in his sugarcane field. The man had gone alone to the field.

The pugmarks found around the body appear to be of a tigress. In all possibilities, the tigress was already present in the dense sugarcane field, when the man reached the spot and was attacked by the tigress in retaliation.

The man had injury marks on his neck and died of excessive bleeding. A compensation of Rs 10,000 was released immediately to his family. Another Rs 1 lakh as compensation will be given by the state government once the formalities are done. The incident took place in compartment 4 of Sadar beat near Girijapuri barrage. The incident of this nature has not occurred in the area in recent past.

But the villagers have been alerted to follow precautions while venturing into sugarcane fields, especially when alone. When men move in groups, they mostly alert the tiger of their presence and in that case the big cat will avoid coming close to them.

Katarniaghat has a sizable population of big cats, both tigers and leopards. The tigers being present in sugarcane field is a common phenomenon in terai belt. Mostly, tigress with cubs are present in the fields. The killings taking place during the day are mostly the ones where tigers charge in retaliation when they are consciously or unconsciously disturbed.

In most of the incidents, where tigers have killed men in the recent past, big cats have not ventured out of the forest area. On the contrary, men have entered forests and got killed.

The officers said that since tigers live in the core area of the forests, they do not venture out of forest unless they turn into compulsive maneaters.

The forest department has increased the vigil in the area in order to avoid even the remotest chance of a similar incident happening again. The area has some villages in its vicinity.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Tigress-mauls-one-to-death/articleshow/7238694.cms

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

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:

Tiger kills wood collector

2011-01-01T20:49:00.000-08:00

Sat, Jan 1st, 2011 11:21 pm BdST

Khulna, Jan (bdnews24.com) – A wood and honey collector has been killed by a Royal Bengal Tiger in the Sundarbans at Koira Upazila in Khulna, forest department officials said.

The victim was identified as Mohammad Asadul, 32, of Bagali village under the Upazila.

Forest department's Kalabogi station officer Mohammad Jahidul Islam said a group of 7-8 wood and honey collectors, locally known as Bawali, went to Sormukho canal area of the forest to collect Golpata, leaves of a kind of small trees, with a valid pass a week back.

A Royal Bengal Tiger attacked and took away Asadul while he was cutting Golpata on Friday night, Jahidul told bdnews24.com.

On information, the forest department employees went into the forest and retrieved his mutilated body on Saturday morning.

http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=183227&cid=2

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

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!

2010-12-20T02:24:00.001-08:00

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!

2010-12-15T17:23:00.001-08:00

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...

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.

Transcript of Tiger-Mauling Interrogation Released

2010-11-27T00:10:00.001-08:00

By MATT BAUME
Updated 3:15 PM PST, Fri, Nov 26, 2010

Just-released transcripts reveal the interrogation techniques of police responding to a fatal tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo.

The mauling happened on Christmas Day, 2007. There were no independent witnesses or security cameras, so it's hard to say exactly what happened. What's known is that the tiger, named Tatiana, somehow escaped her enclosure, surrounded by a moat, and attacked a trio of young men.

Kulbir and Amritpal “Paul” Dhaliwal survived. Carlos Sousa Jr. did not.

According to Amritpal, "I started running from him and he [expletive] just attacked me. I couldn’t get away from him. And then right after, like, somehow I got away and he got my boy Carlos."

There's been heavy speculation that the men provoked the attack by harassing the tiger and throwing stuff into the moat. The police interrogator learned that they'd been eating nachos, and repeatedly asked if they'd thrown them at the animal or in the moat.

According to transcripts of the interrogation, the brothers saw the tiger slide down into the moat, then leap over a wall that was supposed to be insurmountable. That wall has since been increased in height by several feet. The men's lawyer has said that the zoo was negligent in not installing a higher wall in the first place.

Since the mauling, the brothers were involved in a drunk driving accident, one was arrested on suspicion of cocaine possession, and another was convicted of stealing electronics.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Transcript-of-Tiger-Mauling-Interrogation-Released-110879324.html

http://www.bigcatrescue.org

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.

Tiger Escapes from Cage, Mauls Worker

2010-11-09T12:38:00.000-08:00

CANCUN, Mexico -- Police in the Mexican resort of Cancun say a Bengal tiger named Satan briefly escaped an unlocked cage and mauled a worker in a nearby farm field before it was captured.

Police say the worker is in serious condition with neck wounds from Monday's attack.

Officers fired shots at the tiger but missed. The big cat's owner, Jose Juarez Gil, finally found Satan hiding behind bushes several hours later and got him back in the cage.

The tiger is about 16 years old and has no fangs or claws, but weighs about 440 pounds.

Juarez Gil is a breeder and has four other tigers in cages in a fairly crowded area not far from Cancun's international airport. Juarez Gil says he isn't sure who left the cage unlocked.

www.bigcatrescue.org

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.

8-yr-old boy mauled by Leopard in Kupwara

2010-11-07T14:17:00.000-08:00

SHAHID RAFIQ
Smaller Default Larger

Diver, (Kupwara) Nov 6: Residents of this village in Lolab area of north Kashmir district are up in arms against wildlife department for failing to neutralise man-eater leopard who mauled an eight-year-old boy here.

Student of second standard, Zahid Mukhtar son of Mukhtar Ahmad Khan was caught by a leopard near his home Friday evening and taken away to a nearby forest where his body was found next morning by the family members and residents.

“Zahid’s body was found in a den and in a mutilated form,” said the locals.

Agitated over the incident, residents staged protests against the wildlife department.
When contacted wildlife warden North circle Rouf Ahmad, told Greater Kashmir that there was no protected area for wildlife in Kupwara district and people were living inside the forest areas.
“Immediately we can’t stop the attacks of wildlife animals on locals. We can only acquaint people not to venture into the forests,” he added.

“To trap the man eater leopards in Diver and Hafrada areas we have constituted special teams which are equipped with tranquillisers and traps. In this connection we are utilizing the services of local people. Our teams have surveyed the areas and monitoring their movement,” he added.
Chief Conservator Forests Kashmir, Shafat Ahmad told Greater Kashmir that to minimize the casualties of locals, the officials of forest department will coordinate with wildlife officials.

www.bigcatrescue.org

Lion attack kills Zimbabwean man bathing at safari camp

2010-11-05T19:27:00.001-07:00

AFP November 4, 2010 Comments (17)

HARARE - A lion mauled and killed a Zimbabwean man as he was taking a bath at a camping site in the northern Makuti district, the country's wildlife authority said on Thursday.

"Peter John Evershed was on holiday with his wife and two local friends when he was attacked by a lion as he took a shower under a tree about 38 metres (42 yards) from the camp site," Caroline Washaya-Moyo, a spokeswoman for the parks and wildlife authority, told AFP.

Evershed, 59, was based in Harare.

"This is a sad and unfortunate incident," Washaya-Moyo said. "We urge our clients to observe the rules of the parks as these animals are wild."

The state-owned Herald newspaper said Evershed was in the company of his wife and other local tourists and went to take a bath under a tree when a pride of lions surrounded him.

"He screamed for help from other tourists who quickly drove to the scene flashing their lights in a bid to scare away the marauding lions," provincial police spokesman Clemence Mabgweazara told the newspaper.

The lions dispersed when a safari operator fired gunshots into the air, the police spokesman said, but Evershed had already sustained a deep gash to the throat.

In a separate incident, an 80-year-old man died after being attacked by a hyena on his way to church in eastern Zimbabwe, state news agency New Ziana reported on Thursday.

Quoting police spokesman Jephry Mudzemba, the news agency said Misheck Mudechiwe was in the company of his wife when a hyena confronted them on their way to a church service in a neighbouring village.

"The hyena severed his left arm and mauled part of his face," Mudzemba said.

Wildlife, especially lions and elephants, roam freely in remote parts of Zimbabwe, often preying on livestock and destroying crops.
© Copyright (c) AFP

www.bigcatrescue.org

Crowded into Parks by Poachers, Lion Attacks Camper in Zimbabwe

2010-11-05T19:12:00.000-07:00

Cape Town, South Africa

The death of a camper mauled to death by lions at a Zimbabwe game park highlights the country’s poaching crisis, a leading conservationist said.

Johnny Rodrigues said illegal hunting of lions, as well as prey such as impala and bison, is ‘traumatizing’ and forces those animals to encroach on public game parks, increasing the risk to humans.

Mr. Rodrigues, who is chairman of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, said, “Poaching is a big problem in Zimbabwe – not just by professional hunters after animals like lions, but also local people after buck (deer) or bison for food.

“A lot of animals are becoming traumatized by it. They’re becoming more aggressive and are coming into contact with humans whereas before, when there were plenty of animals they’d shy away from us. We’re turning these hunters into scavengers.”

Businessman Peter Evershed, 59, was on holiday with his wife, brother-in-law and a friend at the Mana Pools National Park on the Zambezi River when he went to take an outside shower on Saturday night.

It is thought that a young male lion, followed by four other giant cats, attacked him while he was in the shower. By the time those traveling with him dashed to the shower, which was 125 feet from their tents, Mr. Evershed had suffered fatal neck injuries.

The Zimbabwean’s body was taken back to Harare, where his wife Liz appealed for clemency for the lions.

“The party raised the alarm and five cars arrived and they started firing but it was too late. He didn’t stand a chance," Rodrigues said.

Lions and other animals roam freely in the park, which is not fenced.

“We used to have a lot of impala and buffalo here, but they’ve been poached or killed over the years, so it’s forced the lions to come closer to humans," Rodrigues added.

“More people are also coming to national parks like Mana and there’s no limit to people coming in. They can walk around without guides and the lions see that. They are wild animals and will kill if they’re hungry – it’s natural to them.”

He said the area has seen a reduction in the number of prides (lion herds) – from 20 prides five years ago to about eight now – spurred on by poaching. Chinese buyers will pay $3,000 per kilogram for lion bones to grind down for medicine or wine.

Rodrigues's conservation group said eight people were killed by lions in rural areas of Zimbabwe between May and June, which resulted in some cats being killed in revenge.

www.bigcatrescue.org

Man-eater leopard on prowl, mauls boy to death

2010-11-03T19:09:00.000-07:00

Mandi, Nov 2 (PTI) A leopard mauled a seven-year-old boy to death in village Gutkar in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh last night.
Sagar was playing outside a cowshed near his house when the leopard attacked him and took him away, police said.
The boy''s body and torn clothes were found in the fields, they said adding villagers, who were searching for the boy, had spotted the man-eater leopard.
Divisional Forest Officer Anil Joshi said a cage had been set up to trap the leopard.
He also handed over Rs 10,000 as financial relief to the bereaved family.

www.bigcatrescue.org

Witness Tells of Horror Lion Attack

2010-11-03T17:56:00.000-07:00

2010/11/03

THE sole witness of a horror attack in which a lion farm restaurant manager in Addo was mauled to death by three lions at the weekend has for the first time spoken out about the traumatic incident.

Yesterday, Simon Almanza, 35, described how Addo Croc and Lion Ranch restaurant manager Jan Frederiek Bredenhand, 30, was pulled from the fence of a lion enclosure by a three-year-old lion in the early hours of Sunday and mauled to death before his eyes.

While the ranch’s permits have been found to be in order, the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs has said it is investigating the incident, through its compliance, enforcement and biodiversity units. “The findings will be made available when the investigation is complete,” said spokesperson Sixolile Makaula.

According to Almanza, who works as an IT specialist on a farm nearby, they had walked to the lion camp shortly after 3am.

He said neither of them was drunk or had taunted the lions, as eyewitnesses who arrived at the scene later had suggested.

“I had had a few drinks, but I was far from p****d. Bredenhand wasn’t drunk, either.

“He had one or two shooters during his shift after patrons bought them for him, but that was all.

“I sat down in front of the fence, when he foolishly climbed that pole (a thick, 2m-high pole next to the gate). I didn’t stop him. I guess I was under the impression that he worked with them (the lions) and I didn’t think anything of it.

“I don’t think he had been up there for more than 15 seconds – it wasn’t long. Then one of the lions reached up and grabbed him. It was very swift. I’m fairly certain he had his legs dangling over the fence while sitting on the pole. As I remember it, the lion grabbed his leg and dragged him down.”

Bredenhand “disappeared” after falling into the enclosure.

In shock, Almanza ran back to the main homestead screaming for help, only to find no-one there.

“Then I flagged Waldo (Le Roux, who had been accompanying his wife to the Mondi Herald Addo Mountain Bike Challenge). He turned around and came back and I asked him to phone the police.” — By BRIAN HAYWARD The Herald

www.bigcatrescue.org

Big Cat Rescue Volunteer Describes Tiger Mauling

2010-11-01T16:26:00.000-07:00

Standing outside his Baraboo home Saturday, Jon Meeker, 38, describes an incident in which a 600-pound Siberian tiger pulled his arm through a cage and bit down. His wife, Emily, at right, now changes his bandages twice daily.

Ten days after a 600-pound Siberian tiger played tug-of-war with his arm, Jon Meeker says he's just trying to take it easy.

"No one is to blame for this," said Meeker, 38, at his Baraboo home Saturday as an IV pumped antibiotics into his system to help fight off infection.

Meeker and his wife, Emily, both volunteers at the Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue in Rock Springs, were doing chores at the outdoor facility Oct. 22 when the incident occurred. Jon was using a five-gallon jug to pour water through the cages and into bowls for the abandoned tigers, lions and leopards that live there.

As he walked toward the cage that held seven-year-old Kahn, a 600-pound Siberia tiger, Jon noticed the animal rubbing its body against the cage.

"He was being affectionate," he said.

He lifted the jug and began to pour, and the tiger clawed at the gate in what Jon described as a playful bat. One of the animal's five-inch claws went through the gate and caught a piece of Jon's clothing.

Before he knew it, the animal had pulled his arm entirely through the gate.

"Him popping my hand through was a one in a million chance," Jon said. "When he did, he got a hold of me and let me know it was time to play."

Even though he felt he was only being played with and not attacked, Jon said it was in that moment that a feeling of intense terror set in.

The animal clasped his arm and took a bite.

"I started screaming and my wife turned around and saw what was going on," he said. "She came over and started banging on the cage."

Volunteers helped get Jon away from the cage by distracting the animal and began administering first aid until first responders arrived.

Jon was flown to UW-Madison Hospital were he was treated for puncture wounds, a five-inch gash on his upper arm and torn tendons. Nerves had been pulled from his fingers and the cartilage in his wrist was "ripped up," he said. He was released five days later.

Emily now helps care for his wounds, changing his bandages twice a day and giving him pain killers when he needs them. It will be four or five weeks before he is functional again, Jon said, and he'll have to undergo cosmetic surgery and physical therapy.

The Meekers got to know Jeff Kozlowski, the rescue facility's owner, when Emily was working at a pet food store. Jon started volunteering there last spring.

He said he plans to start helping out again as soon as possible.

"They are wonderful companions, but you've got to respect the size," Jon said of the rescue facility's abandoned cats. "If that was a full-fledged attack, I wouldn't have an arm left."

Jon said he likely will feel nervous the next time he is around Kahn, but he won't let that stop him from volunteering. However, he said he wouldn't ever wear baggy clothes near the cages again.

Emily said she will plans to continue volunteering at the refuge, adding that the work done at the facility is too important to give up. She said she is amazed at her husband's resiliency.

"He takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'," Emily said.

Send e-mail to tdamos@capitalnewspapers.com

www.bigcatrescue.org

Lions Fatally Maul Lion Ranch Worker who Taunted the Animals

2010-11-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

Three lions proved who's at the top of the food chain when they pulled an inebriated worker who was taunting them into their enclosure and devoured him before his horrified friend, authorities said.

Jan Bredenhand, who had been working as the restaurant manager for the Addo Croc and Lion Ranch near Port Elizabeth, South Africa, for just one month, returned from an all-night party Sunday morning and hopped on a gate around the lions enclosure when he was attacked.

A witness told police that the 30-year-old and one of his friends provoked the lions with loud taunts, South Africa's Daily Dispatch reported.

"He climbed the fence around their enclosure and clearly got too close," police spokeswoman Gerda Swart told London's The Sun newspaper. "Since he was drunk he may not have been in sound mind, but it was an incredibly dangerous and stupid thing to do.

"People who play dangerous games with animals like lions are asking for trouble - and he got it."

It was the second mauling death of a worker by lions at the park in six years.

The friend, identified only as "Simon," ran for help and brought back several tourists who were staying in a nearby chalet, but it was too late.

"It was horrific," one of the tourists, Veluchia Hassim told South Africa's News 24 TV. "The one lion was gnawing on his ribs when we got there."

www.bigcatrescue.org

Jaguar Mauling: A Senseless Tragedy

2010-10-31T15:18:00.000-07:00

By Steve Fagin

A mauling by an escaped jaguar the other day is the latest, sad episode in a too-often-repeated series of ill-fated, cross-species encounters that usually end badly for humans and almost always worse for wild animals.

After this incident in the Central American nation of Belize both two-legged and four-legged critters were carted away feet first, a two-part tragedy that could have been averted if people only learned from past experience that large predators belong in their native habitat, never in cages.

It all began when a 4-year-old, 130-pound jaguar male jaguar, kept in captivity by filmmakers Richard and Carol Foster – who produced wildlife documentaries for National Geographic – escaped after winds from Hurricane Richard toppled a tree onto his cage.

The large cat, named Max, then attacked a dog owned by the Fosters' U.S.-born neighbor, Bruce Cullerton, and when Cullerton tried to save his pet the jaguar pounced, dragged him into the bushes and bit him savagely on the arms and neck.

After authorities found Cullerton's mangled body they baited a steel-mesh trap, re-captured the jaguar and killed it – the circle of life, wild-animal-in-captivity style.

I've never been a huge fan of wildlife documentaries since I always suspected filmmakers used captive animals for much of their footage, and the Fosters' episode would seem to confirm my suspicion.

According to published reports the Fosters were shocked – shocked! – by the attack since Max never showed any violent tendencies. Never mind that jaguars are the largest and most ferocious felines in the Western Hemisphere, stalking prey and breaking skull bones between their powerful jaws.

They obtained the jaguar two years ago from the owner of a resort who faced numerous complaints from visitors (I can't imagine why – after all, what is more enjoyable than watching a dangerous animal pacing back and forth in a cage?)

If you think these sorts of things happen only in foreign countries, you are overlooking numerous attacks in the good old U.S. of A. Last year a jaguar at Baltimore's Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo pounced on and critically injured an animal care worker; in 2007 one mauled a keeper at the Denver Zoo.

These incidents were relatively tame compared to other wild-animal attacks. We here in the Nutmeg State are all too familiar with the horrific episode involving Travis the chimp, who escaped from his enclosure in a Stamford home, went berserk and ripped off the hands, eyelids and nose of a woman called by the owner to help capture the animal.

Police finally shot poor Travis, and the victim, Charla Nash, was so badly mutilated a traumatized police officer who responded has had to undergo counseling. Nash, who has had numerous surgeries, sued the owner, Sandra Herold, and the state for allowing Herold to keep the animal. Herold died in May, so Nash would have to collect any damages from her estate.

I thought of Travis, Nash and Herold a few weeks ago when I read about a 300-pound chimpanzee named Sue that ran amok in Kansas City, racing through the neighborhood, pounding on doors, opening car doors, dragging a trash bin down a street and even smashing the windshield on a police cruiser. Luckily, nobody's face got torn off so the cops didn't have to shoot her. It was treated as just another lighthearted story with a happy ending to wrap up the evening newscast.

The brutal Stamford incident, though, has gained the dubious distinction of ranking Number 2 on Time magazine's top 10 list of animal attacks on humans. In case you're keeping score, here's the rest:

No. 10: San Francisco Chronicle editor Phil Bronstein (then husband of actress Sharon Stone) is forced to have foot surgery after being bitten by a venomous Komodo dragon during a private tour of the Los Angeles Zoo in 2001.

No. 9: A 600-lb. white Bengal tiger attacks Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy during their show at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 2002.

No. 8: A 12-year-old boy named Brian Jeffrey Griffin is killed when an alligator pulls him under the water as he swam with friends in Florida's Dead River in June 2003.

No. 7: Bear enthusiast Timothy Treadwell and his girlfriend are killed and partially eaten by coastal grizzlies in 2003 after living among them at Katmai National Park in Alaska for about 13 seasons. Treadwell was later the subject of the documentary film "Grizzly Man."

No. 6:  "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin died after being fatally pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming in Australia's Great Barrier Reef in 2006.

No. 5: A trainer is killed and more than 20 spectators injured after an elephant goes on a rampage at a ceremonial festival in the south Indian state of Kerala in 2007.

No.4: Tatiana, a 4-year-old Siberian tiger, escapes from its enclosure at the San Francisco Zoo and kills one teen and injures two others on Christmas afternoon in 2007.

No. 3: Rocky, a 5-year-old grizzly trained to wrestle with experienced handlers, bites Stephan Miller in the neck in 2008 during the filming of a promotional video in Big Bear Lake, Calif., killing him instantly.

No. 2: The Travis rampage.

No. 1: A 12,300-lb. killer whale named Tilikum fatally attacks his 40-year-old SeaWorld Orlando trainer Dawn Brancheau, dragging her underwater during a live performance last February.

You may have noticed, as I did, that in all but one of those incidents (the alligator attack on the 12-year-old swimmer) the human victims were not exactly innocent.

The animal victims, though, always are.

www.bigcatrescue.org

"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!

Belize Big Cat Kills Yank

2010-10-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

A jaguar that escaped from its cage at a Belize animal rescue center during Hurricane Richard fatally mauled an American whose body was found yesterday, officials said.

Belize's national police identified the victim as Bruce Cullerton, who held US and Belizean citizenship. Authorities found the victim's body near the animal center on Tuesday. They did not say where he lived.

The 4-year-old cat, named Max, escaped when a tree fell on his cage Sunday, the same day the Category 1 hurricane hit the Central American country's Caribbean coast with howling winds and rain.

www.bigcatrescue.org

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!

Exotic Cat Loose in Youngsville, LA

2010-10-25T19:06:00.000-07:00

Foster Park in Youngsville has been reopened for recreational activities. The public is advised to be careful and watchful for any sightings that are out of the ordinary, such as the serval. There is no evidence that the cat has been around any of the traps that were set, and there have been no sightings as of Friday afternoon.

Since the cat is thought to be domesticated and there is no evidence of the cat in the area, Foster Park is open for weekend activities.
UPDATED 1:40 PM

No new sightings of the serval have been reported today in Youngsville, said Animal Control supervisor Virginia Lee.

Lee said they have not received any reports from possible owners and none of their traps have been set off.

She said the initial search is over and Animal Control will only react from reported sightings.
UPDATED 11:30 AM

Lafayette Animal Control continues the search for the loose serval in Youngsville. Traps are still set up in the sugarcane field near Foster Memorial Park, but it has not been caught yet.
ORIGINAL STORY

Lafayette Animal Control is still on the lookout for an African serval, an exotic cat, in Youngsville after it was first spotted early Thursday morning.

Virginia Lee, Lafayette Animal Control supervisor, said the first spotting of the serval was near Foster Memorial Park in Youngsville early Thursday morning.

The animal was still loose as of 7 p.m. Thursday.

Traps were set up in a sugarcane field near the park in hopes of capturing the serval, and Lee is hopeful it will be caught in a peaceful manner.

Animal Control received about three to four calls throughout the day about confirmed sightings of the serval, with the furthest being about a half-mile north of Foster Park.

Animal Control has not received any recent sightings, with the last one being at 1 p.m.

"We've stretched our search area into the perimeters of Youngsville," Lee said, although she was not able to specify how far out. "We might have to come up with a different game plan (today) if we don't catch it tonight."

The owners also have not been identified, nor have they come forward.

"After talking to some people, we're having the feeling this cat has been on loose for a while," Lee said.

The traps, Lee said, are humane traps they also use to catch stray dogs and cats. She said they are wire traps that when an animal steps inside, it triggers the door to close.

A serval is a medium-sized cat that originates from Africa. They are mainly a nocturnal animal and are carnivorous, with their diets including rodents, birds or reptiles, according to the African Wildlife Foundation.

Lee said while the serval they are looking for has been domesticated, there is still some risk involved. She said it's not uncommon for people to want to buy a serval as a house pet, but she doesn't encourage such actions.

"Don't just walk up to something like this," she said. "It's always an unsafe thing when it's an animal that's not well known."

She said anytime there is an animal outside of its normal settings, it will become defensive, especially when approached by people it's not used to.

Lee said anyone who spots the serval should leave it alone and call 911, where they will be directed to the right person.

www.bigcatrescue.org

Man Injured in Leopard Attack

2010-10-25T18:21:00.000-07:00

HAZARIBAG: A man of Dugdha-Sitagarah village in Hazaribag district was seriously injured on Saturday when he tried to save a woman and her child from the clutches of a leopard which was chasing them.

Lillo Gope (55) was grazing his cattle when he saw the animal chasing the duo. On seeing this, Gope pushed the woman and her child to safety. Annoyed by this, the leopard attacked Gope who sustained injuries in the abdomen and head. But, Gope did not give up and fought with the leopard with his lathi and rained blows on the animal.

At this juncture, the scared woman rushed to the village and informed the people who rushed to the spot to rescue Gope. On seeing the villagers, the leopard left the spot and went inside the forest nearby where the victim was grazing his cattle.

Later, the villagers admitted Gope to Hazaribagh Sadar Hospital. After getting the news, both police and forest department officials recorded the statement of Gope. Hospital sources said Gope's condition was very serious and all efforts were being made to provide him the best possible treatment so that he survives.

www.bigcatrescue.org

Tiger bites volunteer at refuge

2010-10-23T18:56:00.000-07:00

Khan, a 7-year-old Siberian tiger, pulled a volunteer into his cage Friday.

By Brian D. Bridgeford Posted: Saturday, October 23, 2010 3:30 am

ROCK SPRINGS - A Baraboo man was flown to University of Wisconsin Hospital on Friday - but is reported to be recovering - after having his arm grabbed by a tiger at a big cat refuge.

Shortly after 12:30 p.m. Sauk County 911 dispatch received a call from Jeff Kozlowski at the Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue and Education reporting an injury to a volunteer, according a statement by Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Sheriff Richard "Chip" Meister.

The North Freedom First Responders were called to assist John M. Meeker, 38, who was injured by a 7-year-old Siberian tiger named Kahn, Meister reported. Meeker had been watering the cat through his enclosure of chain link fencing. Kahn grabbed the man's arm and pulled it into the enclosure. Other people at the refuge were able to get Meeker away from the cat and administer first aid.

A short time after the incident, North Freedom firefighters could be heard over the police scanner setting up a landing zone on a field near the refuge. Meeker was taken to University Hospital in Madison by the Med Flight helicopter ambulance, Meister stated.

Kozlowski said Meeker was watering Kahn from outside his cage by pouring through the 4-inch-square chain link mesh of the cat's enclosure. In an act Kozlowski said was playful, not aggressive, Kahn grabbed a loose sleeve of Meeker's sweatshirt and pulled his hand into the cage.

Meeker reflexively tried to pull his arm back. The tiger then clamped his mouth down harder, resulting in a number of punctures to Meeker's skin, he said.

"There's some puncture wounds and tearing," Kozlowski said. "He's got full feeling in his fingers and can move them."

Kozlowski said he does not consider the event an attack. Witnesses reported Kahn was not growling, he said.

"He was just playing," Kozlowski said. "He's grabbed my hand before and pulled it through."

Kahn is up-to-date on rabies and other shots, so Kozlowski said he doesn't expect ramifications from the incident.

"He's quarantined for 10 days, which is regular for an animal bite," he said. "But he's already quarantined - he's in his own cage."

Shortly before 6 p.m. Kozlowski said he had spoken with Meeker's wife Emily on the phone moments earlier. John Meeker's wounds were being cleaned and sutured by hospital staff, he said.

The incident remains under investigation by the Sheriff's Department, according to Meister.

http://www.wiscnews.com/baraboonewsrepublic/news/article_366cf546-de48-11df-a784-001cc4c03286.html

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

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.

Wild Cat on the Loose in Youngsville, LA

2010-10-21T17:03:00.000-07:00

Wild cat on the loose in Youngsville near school

Associated Press - October 21, 2010 2:24 PM ET

YOUNGSVILLE, La. (AP) - Authorities say an exotic cat is on the loose, forcing an elementary school to keep its students indoors as officials worked to capture the cat.

The Green T. Lindon school was placed on lockdown Thursday after the cat, believed to be a serval, was reported to be nearby.

The Daily Advertiser reports that the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, Broussard Police Department, Youngsville Police Department and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries were on the scene.

Sheriff's deputies say the serval, a cheetah-like cat and native of Africa, likely got loose from its owner, who was not immediately identified.

www.bigcatrescue.org

Search for Escaped Serval Cat

2010-10-21T14:05:00.000-07:00

What is believed to be a serval cat is lurking through Youngsville neighborhoods.

Law enforcement and paramedics were called after a Youngsville Police officer spotted the animal this morning. The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office contacted Wildlife and Fisheries to assist Youngsville P.D in the search.

The public is asked not the approach the animal. Animal control workers are hoping to lure it into a trap.

The search for the elusive animal has prompted one school to change its daily routine. Students at Green T. Lindon Elementary are securely in classrooms. Normally they would have PE and recess, but that's all canceled that for today, according to Principal Gina Cahee.

Officals are getting several tips from various neighborhoods, including 4th Street, Fortune Road and Verot School Road in the Youngsville area.

KATC contacted the Zoo of Acadiana. Spokesperson Leigh Coletti said all their large cats are accounted for. They do not have cheetahs, but they do have a leopard and serval cats.

Zoo owners Matthew and George Olbenburg are participating in the search to help identify the animal if they can find it.

www.bigcatrescue.org

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!

Tigers escape Great Cats pen

2010-10-11T20:44:00.000-07:00

Pair of Bengal tigers slip out of enclosure
By SCOTT ALLEN, sallen@thehj.com
Published: Monday, October 11, 2010 8:12 PM CDT

IDAVILLE — An Indiana conservation officer explained that no one was endangered after two tigers escaped their pen at Great Cats of Indiana on Saturday.

Indiana Conservation Officer Bill Hinshaw assisted Officer Matt Tholen in investigating an incident at the big cat sanctuary after a pair of Bengal tigers slipped out of their enclosure last weekend.

“The owner was guessing that the tigers were wrestling, they fell against (the corner) and popped the board and wire enough that they were able to get out,” Hinshaw said.

But, Hinshaw said, the tigers didn’t breach the perimeter fence at Great Cats and no one was endangered.

“The whole compound has a perimeter fencing that is, I think, 10 feet tall,” the conservation officer said. “They never got out of the compound; they were still enclosed within the perimeter fencing.”

But because, Hinshaw said, the tigers were jumping up on the perimeter fence Great Cats owner Rob Craig elected to take decisive action.

“He didn’t want to take any chances of them getting off the property,” said Hinshaw. “He elected to shoot them; he ended up wounding one and destroying the other.

“They never got off the property.”

He said the tiger that was wounded was hit in a fatty area on its body and actually retreated into a cage.

“The other one got a little more aggressive and was jumping more on the fence, and he elected to put it down and was able to destroy it,” Hinshaw said.

The conservation officer believes that when the tigers’ pen broke, they left it to explore the grounds but never left the perimeter fencing.

For neighbor Margaret Haskell, her only issue with Great Cats of Indiana has been overgrown weeds.

“Really I had the impression that the pens or the cages were pretty strong and well built,” said Haskell, who lives next door to the cat sanctuary.

“One thing that has concerned me has been all the weeds that are so tall, next to our house between the two places,” she said. “I thought at different times a tiger could get out and be in there and I wouldn’t know it until they jumped my fence.”

Haskell described a mostly affable neighbor relationship with Craig.

When the incident occurred Saturday night, at around 10:30 p.m., she was already asleep but her son heard a commotion.

“My son was in the family room out here and he heard … what sounded like some gun shots,” Haskell said, estimating five or six shots.

“He didn’t see anything that evening but the next day he commented that he wondered what had happened.”

Haskell said that she’s observed Great Cats of Indiana has been mostly closed this season though its typically advertised as open to the public seven days a week.

“It’s shut down to the public; it has been most of this year,” she said. “He’s got closed signs there at the gate.”

Though the website http://www.greatcatsofindiana.org/ is still online, the published phone number for Great Cats was disconnected Thursday.

“It’s just one of those things, I hope somebody double checks those cages and makes sure they’re still strong,” Haskell said.

http://newsbug.info/articles/2010/10/11/monticello_herald_journal/local_news/doc4cb3b46e12528170058807.txt

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

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.

San Antonio Zoo Black Leopard Dies

2010-09-25T17:44:00.001-07:00

A black leopard at the San Antonio Zoo has died of unknown causes after a brief illness, according to zoo spokeswoman Debbie Vanskike.

Gina, 11, died Friday, leaving behind a male companion named Sam. Both leopards came to the zoo in 2007 from a rescue group, Vanskike said.

Tests will likely take several weeks to reveal the cause of the leopard's death.

www.bigcatrescue.org

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!

911 calls released after Jungle Island tiger escape

2010-09-22T18:59:00.001-07:00

911 calls released after Jungle Island tiger escape

Posted: Today at 6:45 pm EDT
Last Updated: Today at 6:56 pm EDT
Wed Sep 22, 2010

See Video At: http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21002289194315/

MIAMI (WSVN) -- Police have released the calls for help after a tiger gets loose at a South Florida attraction.

Miami Police released the 911 calls Wednesday afternoon, after a tiger and an ape escaped from their enclosures on Aug. 28th and caused a public panic.

Caller: "He just jumped out."

911 Dispatcher: "He jumped out?"

Caller: "He jumped out."

911 Dispatcher: "Do you know which way he went?"

Caller: "No, I don't know."

According to witnesses, the ordeal began when a monkey escaped its enclosure at the park and went into the tigers' exhibit. Officials said a mechanical problem and human error by an employee led to the escape of the monkey.

Caller: "I think it's very dangerous, because the tiger is wandering here with people with kids, and they have us here waiting for them to catch the tiger. This is an extremely dangerous situation."

Caller: "No one seems to have control of the situation over here."

Several guests escaped, but one caller describes hiding in the bathroom.

911 Dispatcher: "OK, so you're in the males' bathroom?"

Caller: "Yes, I'm in the bathroom with the males."

Another caller is heard expressing concern for the safety of the children at the park.

911 Dispatcher: "The police is coming."

Caller: "And tell them that we are all here at the back, and people are getting very nervous."

The president of Jungle Island has been charged with two misdemeanors in the tiger escape. The owner of the tiger was also charged.

http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21002289194315/

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

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.

Poor Care, Neglect, or Worse, What Killed the Big Cat?

2010-09-16T17:26:00.001-07:00

Sept. 14: As green and welcoming the Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) may seem to Bengalureans looking to get away from the noise and pollution of the city, not everything seems to be well at the park if the recent deaths of lions and tigers in its grounds are anything to go by. The Bannerghatta zoo has lost a few big cats recently, throwing up questions about the quality of care they receive at the park.

A couple of insiders blame poor coordination between the administration and ground staff for the deaths of the animals. If they are to be believed, the zoo is guilty of neglecting the animals in its care, particularly where their feeding is concerned. While the park buys about 600 kgs of beef every day to feed about 150 carnivores, including lions, tigers and leopards, the meat is allegedly never washed or checked. “Zoos across the globe follow quality control where the food of the animals is concerned. The meat is washed with boiling water to remove infectious bacteria before it is given to the animals. But nothing of the sort is done at the BBP,” they alleged.

It is also claimed that senior officers at the park are not present during the feeding of the carnivores and other animals. “Officers of assistant conservator of forests rank and above are supposed to be present when the animals are fed or when they are given medication. But such rules are not followed at the park. It is left to the animal keepers to gives the big cats both their feed and medication,” claim a few insiders.

Animal experts feel the zoo is becoming too commercial for its good, and is losing its focus on animal conservation and education as a result. “The park organises as many as 120 safari trips every day and the drivers hurry up each round, so that they can move on to the next. Why are they concentrating so much on making money? The BBP was set up as a rescue centre for animals and not to provide people entertainment,” says a wildlife expert. Park officials admit it is sometimes difficult to provide the thousand odd animals in their care individual attention, particularly as they are short of animal keepers and wildlife veterinarians.

But they maintain that a range forest officer has been given the responsiblity of feeding and taking care of the animals in the safari area and he tries to do the best he can.

www.bigcatrescue.org

Woman Saves Son From Leopard

2010-09-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

VERAVAL (JUNAGADH): Timely action by a woman saved the life of her two-and-a-half-year-old son from a leopard in Indroi village near Veraval on Friday night.

According to the forest department, the incident occurred at about 9.30 pm inside the compound of a farmhouse owned by Dinesh Dodiya in Vadi area on Ishwariya Road in the village.

"Doidya's son Dishant was playing in their courtyard, while his family members were taking supper, when a leopard pounced upon him. Seeing this, Dodiya's wife Rasila rushed to her son's rescue, shouting for help. Her cries alerted labourers in the farm who gathered at the site, following which, the big cat left the boy and vanished back into the forest," said round forester VS Aparnathi.

The incident left the boy with claw injuries on his back, following which, he was rushed to the primary health centre, where doctors said his wounds were not serious and would heal soon. Meanwhile, the forest department has installed several cages with live baits in them around different places near the site of the incident to catch the big cat.

"Ishwariya Road is becoming infamous as leopard road, as the sight of the spotted big cats is a common occurrence at sundown," said a source from the forest department.

www.bigcatrescue.org

Victim in Vegas lion attack at the MGM Grand is on the mend

2010-09-13T17:26:00.000-07:00

By Kitty Bean Yancey, USA TODAY

The normally docile lions are a big attraction at the MGM Grand in Vegas.
CAPTION
Las Vegas News Bureau
A man who worked at the popular Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is "doing well," after being attacked by one of his charges, Yvette Monet of MGM Resorts tells me.

The incident, which happened without warning as lionkeepers worked inside the glass-walled Habitat Sept. 1, was captured on video. He looked to be bitten on the leg, though MGM says it cannot discuss details.

An MGM statement says that the Habitat is not run by the casino resort and that "the Habitat operator tells us that the handler is in good health and anxious to return to work."

The Habitat, off the casino, is one of Vegas' most popular free attractions. The MGM statement says that "the lions do not live at the hotel. They are provided by Keith Evans, a contracted animal expert, and housed at an off-site facility. The animals are displayed on rotating shifts at the Habitat ... Most of their time is spent at the large desert compound where they live. The trainer involved in this incident was treated and released from the hospital. ... Incidents where animal handlers are bitten are very rare."

Take a look at a YouTube video of the attack, shot by a visitor, at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW_x-2MXrkI

Posted Sep 9 2010 4:04PM Comments 22
www.bigcatrescue.org

Serval Cat Spotted Again In Clark Co.

2010-09-12T05:30:00.000-07:00

CLARK COUNTY, Ohio -- A wild cat on the loose in Clark County has been spotted again.

A woman said she noticed the cat walking around the backyard while she was babysitting three children.

The African Serval has been missing since early July, and the cat's owner is eager to have her back again.

Police and the owner want people to know that the cat has been declawed and is not a danger to people or their pets.

They think she has been surviving on mice ever since she ran out of the house two months ago.

Lindsay Ayres said, "When I first heard that there was one on the loose, I thought it was somewhat of a joke. I never expected to actually see it."

ON Friday, Ayres was watching television with the boys she was babysitting, when she noticed something strange in the backyard.

"I looked out the window and something caught my eye moving over by those palm trees," said Ayres.

She knew right away that it was a cat. However, this animal was bigger and longer than any cat that she had ever seen before.

She made some noise to see what the cat would do, but it did not seem to notice her.

Ayres said, "It just looked, it didn't really care, and just kept on going."

The cat followed a treeline and finally disappeared into a field behind the house.

"I could see it was blondish in color, yellow, and it possibly had spots," said Ayres.

Cindy Shaffer believes that was her cat.

"Absolutely! There's been too many people that have described her like that," Shaffer said.

Whenever someone has spotted her pet, named Seraphina, Shaffer goes there and sets up traps. So far, she has always been a few hours too late.

Shaffer said, "We believe that if we can get there and see her, that we'll be able to catch her."

She wants everyone to know that Seraphina is not dangerous but she says it would not be wise to try and catch her yourself.

"If she doesn't know someone and they try to pick her up, there's a chance she could bite them. Any animal could. But she's not a danger," said Shaffer.

Still, Lindsay Ayres said she will keep the three children that she babysits inside for awhile.

"I would assume that it's somewhere off in these fields hiding," said Ayres.

You should call the police if you happen to see the cat.

Shaffer said she is hoping that Seraphina will be returning home soon and she won't become wild in the two months she has spent prowling around Clark County.

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!

Video of Lion Attacking Trainer at Vegas MGM Grand

2010-09-08T13:47:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS -- Video of a lion attacking a trainer at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas has been posted on the YouTube website.

MGM Resorts International spokeswoman Yvette Monet on Tuesday confirmed the video was from the Sept. 1 incident, when a lion lunged at a trainer in full view of casino patrons.

The video shows the trainer attempting to hold the lion down and a second trainer stepping in between the two. The lion is eventually pushed away, but continues to walk around the habitat as if in pursuit of the trainer.

Monet had previously said the trainer, who received stitches in his leg, was not an MGM employee.

The incident is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The agency also responded in 2003 to the Las Vegas’ most famous animal attack, when magician Roy Horn was mauled by a tiger during a performance at the Mirage resort.

www.bigcatrescue.org

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.

Man-mauling tiger remains elusive

2010-09-05T11:55:00.001-07:00

Man-mauling tiger remains elusive

TNN, Sep 5, 2010, 12.21am IST

LUCKNOW: The search for the elusive tiger continued in and around Khutar range of Shahjahanpur forest division on Saturday. The big cat was not even once spotted during the whole day.

The villagers raised an alarm about having seen the tiger around Saraiyan village quite a few times during the day. However, officials could not find any trace of the big cat at any of the spots.

The combing continued in the area which has vast expanses of sugarcane fields and tiger, if at all present in the area, could have taken refuge in these dense fields. Since the department has already ordered for "tranquilisation and capturing" of the big cat combing operation might continue.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Man-mauling-tiger-remains-elusive/articleshow/6493645.cms

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

Jungle Island president, tiger owner charged over escape

2010-09-05T00:06:00.001-07:00

Jungle Island president, tiger owner charged over escape

The tiger chase of an ape at Jungle Island has resulted in charges against the tiger's owner and the park's president.
Posted on Saturday, 09.04.10
BY PAMELA DUQUE
pduque@MiamiHerald.com

The president of Jungle Island has been charged with two misdemeanors following the brief escape of a gibbon and a tiger that spurred a lockdown at the facility.

The owner of the male tiger also was charged with one misdemeanor for keeping the animal in conditions that could jeopardize public safety, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Saturday.

Investigators with the agency, known by its acronym FWC, charged the park's president, Bern M. Levine, with two second-degree misdemeanors for conditions resulting in the animals' escape. The FWC investigation concluded that the ape escaped due to human and mechanical error, and the cage in which the tiger was kept does not meet state requirements.

``The investigation revealed that there was about a foot and a half, almost two feet, of mulch added to the floor of the cage, making the cage a little bit lower than it appeared,'' FWC spokesman Jorge Pino said.

Florida law requires the fence of the cage to be 10-feet high with two feet of overhang.

The FWC recommended Jungle Island raise fences to at least 14 feet with four feet of overhang.

Levine was also given a written warning for not notifying the FWC of the incident. According to Pino, it was the Miami-Dade Police Department who notified the FWC.

``If you own captive wild life, the very first call you make is to the FWC if something happens,'' Pino said. ``We are the agency specialized in recapturing the animals, and we are the investigating agency to investigate the escape.''

Bhagavan Antle, the owner of the 500-pound tiger named Mahesh, was charged with one count of maintaining captive wildlife in an unsafe condition, resulting in threats to public safety.

Neither Levine nor Antle could be reached for comment Saturday. The charges for both men have a maximum penalty of $500, Pino said.

Mahesh, a male tiger, jumped over his fence to chase after Watson, a small, 8-year-old ape, after it, too, sneaked out of his cage.

No one was seriously injured during the Aug. 28 incident, but four people were treated for minor injuries and a fifth was treated for a panic attack.

The park's staff managed to capture the tiger without tranquilizers, and Watson was later found on a picnic table. The park also moved the male tiger to a different cage while changes are made to meet state requirements, Pino said.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/04/1809170/jungle-island-president-tiger.html

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

Big Cat Wins in Florida 2010

2010-09-04T09:59:00.001-07:00

I find this hard to write. I have put it off for two days, but need to record it while it is still fresh in my mind and while I have the notes, sent out as Tweets, from the momentous day; September 1, 2010. It is easy for me to write when I am impassioned against some terrible wrong. The words flow fast like our creek does following a brush with a hurricane; so fast in fact that it takes a lot of editing to make sense of it all sometimes. But now, in the wake of this long and frustrating battle, I find myself exhausted as if finally swimming ashore from some distant shipwreck I find the oasis of sand so soothing as to lay down my face and sleep for a week or two or eternity...

Were it completely over I might give in to that temptation, but it's not, so I'd like to share where we have been, what has been accomplished and how you can help us end an era of abuse and exploitation. This story starts in 1994 when I attended my first Florida Wildlife Commission meeting. I think they called themselves Game & Fish back then and that is the name that I always have to dismiss from my tongue in search of whatever they are calling themselves most recently. The legislature had put into statute in 1967 that the trade in wildlife was to be regulated, but it wasn't until 1974 that the legislature addressed the growing concern of people keeping lions and tigers as pets with a second statute. Bare bones rules were enacted, but were not revisited until 1994 when killings, maulings and escapes by big cats first peaked. They seem to have been trying to reinvent themselves to remain relevant, while still clinging to the practice of killing animals for fun, which is not an activity embraced by 99% of Floridians and 97% of Americans overall. Their rule enhancements did nothing to stop the escalation of killings, maulings and escapes which nearly doubled by 2003.

I still remember that 1994 meeting and having signed up to speak my heart was pounding so hard that the pressure threatened to send a spray of blood out my nose, eyes and ears. Speaking before a crowd and addressing this agency that had dealt so treacherously with me before were the last thing in the world that I wanted to do, but I felt it was important. They were asking for stakeholder input on some new cage regulations and given the inhumanely small cages that were currently legal in the state, I just had to be there. When I stood to speak I nearly passed out, but remained standing, clutching the chair in front of me, and said what needed to be said despite the fact that the room had closed in dark around me and I was unable to see or hear anything but the sound of jet engines roaring in my head. I relayed how we has started out with cages that were many times the size of their minimums, but had discovered that the cats would let you know when you had it right. They would quit their incessant pacing if they had more room. Their new rules, which were a minor improvement but still far short of humane, were implemented in 1998.

From 1999 until 2003 Big Cat Rescue worked to support the Captive Wildlife Safety Act which was a federal bill that prevented the sale of big cats, (lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cougars and cheetahs) across state lines as pets. The number of cats we had been called upon to rescue had been doubling every other year and in 2003 we had to turn away 312 big cats who had been bred for use as pets and props and now had outgrown their profitability. When the Captive Wildlife Safety Act passed, the next year the number we had to turn away dropped to 110 and has continued to drop every year. This proved conclusively that the best way to save the most big cats was through legislation as we could only afford to rescue 5 or 6 cats each year whereas better laws had prevented the birth and abandonment of hundreds of big cats, mostly tigers.

Over the years I continued to attend their meetings but 2005 was the beginning of five year investment that Big Cat Rescue would put into improving the rules that regulate the possession of wild animals. I attended countless stakeholder meetings, watched in horror as their Captive Wild Animal Technical Assistance Group made one self serving suggestion after another in the hopes of making it easier for the 9 out of 11 of them to deal in wildlife and I attended most of the Commissioner hearings. The only people who attended these meetings were people who own and exploit wild animals and who spoke out loudly against any provision that would provide a modicum of comfort for the animal or safety for the public. There were three of us, and sometimes four, who I could count on to be there as a voice for the animals; Dr. Jennifer Hobgood from HSUS, Lori or Liz from Defenders of Wildlife & Heather Veleanu (who has now moved to PA.) We would huddle together like a 3 headed cat looking in all directions for an attack by one of the breeders, dealers or egotists who fancied the idea of a pet tiger.

And attacked we have been, 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.Ol, Joe Schreibvogal of G.W. Exotics and others have slandered us on the Internet. Dr. Hobgood had her car broken in to and her computer stolen and I have been ushered out of the building more than once by armed FWC officers who sought to insure my safety until I wasn't their responsibility (read off their property.) In one instance I had a police escort until I was completely out of the city limits on the interstate headed home one night after an FWC meeting. There was even a hotel in the Florida Keys that would not allow me to stay in their facility overnight for fear of what the animal terrorists might do to me. I had tried to hire a body guard for that meeting, but a last minute problem on their end left me exposed. A friend of a dealer in Miami who had been implicated in killing a USDA officer and stuffing his hacked up body parts into a drum had assured me that any trip of mine to So. Florida would not include a return home.

Our vehicles were often the target of the animal terrorists and Big Cat Rescue had to replace 12 tires over the course of these past 5 years from someone slicing our valve stems. The tire experts said it had been done maliciously so that at high speeds the tires would blow simultaneously and this had happened to my daughter as she was driving a van load of interns one night. I couldn't share much more of what was being threatened against me because I needed to be there for the cats and if my husband or family knew what I was up against they would never have allowed me to be in such peril. I take a deep sigh of relief knowing that we have finally reached a tipping point and even though I will not be liked by some of the animal abusing miscreants at future meetings we finally outnumber them.
In this recent five year ordeal cage size minimums were never even considered. They limited the scope of their work to redefining Class I (big cats), Class II (medium sized cats) and Class III (small cats) minimum acreage requirements for possession Class I and Class II, reset violation penalties and looked at how to resolve the clash between their agency issuing permits to people to own dangerous animals and the counties trying to prevent such possession in inappropriate neighborhoods. I tried to make it easy for them and affordable for tax payers. I took their 67 pages of rules and using all of their same terminology and formatting crafted new rules that would prevent the future breeding of captive wild animals, except for legitimate species survival plans administered by AZA zoos.

The draft would enhance the safety of the public and the welfare of the captives so that no animals would be displaced and thus would allow owners to keep their animals until they died of old age, but they would not be able to buy, breed, trade or sell to replace them. The rules put the burden of identifying and accountability upon the exotic animal owner and called for these records to be publicly available because there are plenty of watchdog groups who would make sure the rules were not being broken. This would save the FWC and thus the taxpayer from having any additional expense for all of the additional improvements.

I presented this document with all of the corroborating evidence that proved its viability within days of the FWC announcing that they would be reviewing their rules. I created charts of all of the killings, maulings and escapes since 1990 showing that even though FL only accounts for 6% of the national population it accounted for 12% of the 602 reported incidents. I tracked how other states had passed bans and how their numbers of killings, maulings and escapes dropped dramatically and in most cases to zero. With the help of google sites I even created a national database that could be monitored by USDA or any state agency whereby licensees would be required to update their records of births, deaths, sales and trades in real time so that inspectors could watch for trends and have an updated checklists in hand when they did their annual inspections so they could easily determine if the licensees were reporting accurate numbers. Neither the USDA nor the FWC wanted any part of a simple solution. Where is the job security in that?

The whole five year process seemed more to me like an excuse for FWC staff and commissioners to get to spend time in luxurious resort hotels on the beach and road trips all over the state than any real effort to get things done. The stakeholder meetings only allowed for a person to have 3 minutes at the mic to present their case with no visuals and no one in the audience other than the people who made their living from dealing in exotic animals. Determined not to be ignored I solicited photos of Florida's abusive situations from our 60,000 supporters and posted the images, the charts of escalating killings, maulings and escapes and petitions and letters for them to send to the FWC and USDA on the Internet. As a result tens of thousands of letters were written by people who care about animals to the FWC and USDA during this time asking that the trade in exotic cats be banned. When the FWC dismissed the emailed letters as being unimportant, I wheeled hard copies of the letters in stacks of boxes on a furniture dolly to make the point. I printed out the images of the decrepit Florida facilities and the sad cats languishing in their own feces and laid copies for each Commissioner at their chairs along with copies of the charts, maps and where they could find more information online if they cared at all.

One of the problems the FWC admitted to a reporter when they said, "In a perfect world we would know where all of these animals are." was that they didn't have good records that told them what nor how many wild animals were held. Iin some cases only P.O. boxes or out of state addresses were listed for licensees who clearly had dangerous animals inside the state. Using a combination of USDA, FWC, newspaper mentions and eye witness reports, I created the first map to show where exotic cats were within the state. From 1967 when there were 1,000 people in possession of captive wild animals the number rose to 8,000 by 1994. As the rules have been made even slightly more restrictive the number of wild animal possessors have dropped to 4,000 in 2008. Despite this drop, Florida big cat incidents continued to climb against the mirrored decline across the nation. The reason is that eight states passed bans or partial bans since 2005 while the FWC just piddled around with a few inconsequential improvements to their rules. The indisputable conclusion here is that regulation can't work; only outright bans do.

The reason for that is enforcement. There will never be enough tax money available to enable adequate inspections and there is no incentive for inspectors at the state or federal level to do their job, because to do so only results in them being perceived as the "bad guys." If an inspector sees animal abuse and cites the owner, there is an expectation that they do something about it if the owner doesn't comply. The kind of people who keep exotic animals in cages for their own amusement or financial gain are not the kind of people who care about following the rules. If the inspector continues to cite the owner, year after year for the same infraction, then the watchdog groups can report to the public that the government isn't doing their job. The problem is that there is no where for the wild animals to go if they are confiscated. Zoos want to breed babies for a paying public to see, so they don't want adults. Sanctuaries are over flowing and under funded and cannot possibly handle the influx of unwanted adult wildlife. The only alternative available to the government, if they do their job and seize an abused wild animal, is to euthanize the animal and that is a public relations nightmare that no one wants to consider.

The result is that the inspectors don't report the abuse they see and in most cases the abuses are hidden from public view so that they are unknown and ignored. The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act was a law pushed through Congress in 2006 by the animal abusive industries such as biomedical and factory farms which made it a federal crime of terrorism to trespass for the purpose of documenting abuse. The law is so overly broad and vague that it will not withstand challenge, but has had a chilling effect on whistle blowers and undercover investigations, which was its creators' intent. While it was proposed as a counter to animal extremists, they were breaking the law already and wouldn't care about a new one. This law only made it harder for people who care about animals to show others what really happens behind closed doors and gates.

The past five years have really been a roller coaster ride of wins and losses for the animals. Even though the Captive Wildlife Safety Act passed in 2003 there was no rule enacted to enforce it until 2007 and it was deeply flawed until 2009. I look at that sentence and think to myself how amazing it is that six years of frustration, letter writing, calls to Congress and to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and USDA and the Secretary of the Interior and all of the hard work of thousands of our supporters and other animal welfare organizations and their supporters; how all of that effort went into what can be summed up in one sentence…in one result: the banning of trade in big cats across state lines as pets. Its text doesn't look like much on this page, but if you consider the trend of unwanted big cats doubling every other year that was halted by this one law, and do the math, then there were easily 2,500 big cats who were spared being brought into this world for the purpose of being used as ego props. That made all of the blood, sweat and tears worthwhile.

Back at the state level the final rules have been proposed by the FWC after all of our combined efforts. The results are far more modest than what we have been able to do at a federal level, but as to just exotic cats they include:

1. Cougars can no longer be kept as pets. Existing pets can remain where they are, but cannot be replaced unless the owner upgrades their facilities to house Class I animals, which means 5 acres, instead of 2.5 acres and stronger cage material. It also means cougars are added to the list of big cats that cannot be walked on leashes in public or handled by the public after reaching 40 lbs according the the FWC in contrast to the the age of 12 weeks according to USDA provisions.

2. Bobcats who are trapped as "nuisance wildlife" cannot be killed, but rather must be turned loose on 40+ acres in the same county where trapped.

3. Anyone who possesses a Class I animal, such as a lion, tiger, bear, etc. must post a $10,000 bond to protect the public in case of injury or escape.

4. Those who possesses a wild animal must disclose where the animal is kept; ie a physical address.

5. In the past the FL statutes read that a person could not keep a Class I animal as a pet, and thus had to be a commercial enterprise in order to possess lions, tigers and other big cats. The USDA requires that anyone using a wild animal for a commercial purpose must be licensed by USDA but the FWC ignored that federal requirement and allowed that all a person had to do was to claim they were a business in order to keep a tiger in their back yard. The new Florida rules state that if you are required to have a USDA license by claiming your wild animal is a commercial enterprise, then you must have that USDA license in order to qualify for a FWC license. This will flush out many of the back yard breeders who will now have to comply with USDA standards which are minimal, but in many cases superior to FWC standards. For example the FWC does not require than animals be given veterinary care, wholesome food nor clean cages which are mandated by the USDA.

6. Fox penning was a FWC sanctioned form of animal fighting whereby bobcats, foxes and coyotes would be released into caged areas and hunters would turn packs of dogs loose to chase and kill the wild animals. The wildlife would be ripped, limb from limb by the baying hounds and all in the name of "training" and sportsmanship. When a neighboring family to one of these 16 licensed fox pens alerted us in 2009 to the activities happening in broad daylight, seven days a week at one of these "fox pens" we began a crusade with our supporters to shut them down. We succeeded in the fall of 2010 with a complete ban on the practice of turning dogs loose on bobcats, foxes and coyotes in fenced areas.

7. The last win was the weakest in language adopted by the FWC, but may have the most impact in practice. The FWC stipulated that whenever there is a new application for a Class I license, or if someone upgrades to a Class I license, they will notify the county. Our proposal and that of tens of thousands of animal lovers was that cities, counties and municipalities be given the authority to craft even more restrictive ordinances to insure the humane treatment of animals and the safety of their citizens. The state of Florida is unique in that the FWC was granted extraordinary power by virtue of a constitutional amendment and have interpreted that to mean that only they can determine appropriate neighborhoods for the possession of wild animals. This conflicts with the counties' authority to decide land use and zoning so there have been a number of squabbles over what is or isn't an appropriate neighborhood to have a tiger kept in a cage the size of a parking space. While the FWC did not formally concede to the counties' interest, they have at least agreed to let counties know when someone plans to bring lions, tigers and bears to their area.

What the counties, cities and municipalities can do from here may well have to be decided in another constitutional amendment that curtails the FWC's control over an issue they have handled so poorly. Online polls show 85% support for such a constitutional amendment. Meanwhile a landmark case is playing out in Levy county that will set the stage for what happens next.

In some ways the 7 wins for the cats above don't seem like much for all of the effort that went into it, but it reminds me of the story about the man who watched a boy throwing beached starfish back into the sea. As the man looked down the miles of shoreline and chided the boy that he couldn't make a difference for all of the hapless starfish, the boy tossed another one back into the surf and replied that it made a difference to that one.

While the report above is told from my vantage point, I was only one person involved in these changes. There were thousands of others who did what they could and many who pushed beyond their own limitations to come in person to speak up for the animals. At the June FWC hearing the animal lovers outnumbered the animal terrorists 52 to 20. By the September FWC hearing the animal protectionists outnumbered the animal exploiters six to one. As a result there are thousands of exotic cats who won't be bred into lives of confinement and deprivation. Bobcats won't be trapped and sold into situations where they are used as dog bait. The public now has some small recourse against the $10,000 bond if they are injured or sustain damage from a large captive wild animal and the increased requirements mean that there will be less likelihood of living next door to lions, tigers and other big cats. To the people who won't lose life and limb because of this past five years' worth of work, it means everything to them, even if they never know that they are the beneficiary of the work. To the animals who will be spared lives of misery it also means the world.

All in all it was worth it but there is still much to be done. We will continue to seek out the truth and expose the abuses. We will continue to ask you to join us in making a difference.

Click HERE to see more legislative wins for 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.

Tiger injures man in Kheri village

2010-08-30T22:15:00.001-07:00

Tiger injures man in Kheri village

TNN, Aug 30, 2010, 12.40am IST

LUCKNOW: A man was injured by a tiger in Mailani range of South Kheri forest division early on Sunday morning. Forest officials could not locate the pugmarks as area is flooded due to rains. It was also not confirmed whether it was the same tiger which has taken eight lives since May this year.

The injured was identified as Rambhajan, a resident of Kuriyani village of Mailani range. He had a chance encounter with the tiger when he was going to his fields in the morning. The man was admitted to the local hospital and given medical aid.

Kuriyani is a village in South kheri forest division. It is about 10 km from Saraiyan village of Khutar range in Shahjahanpur where tiger was spotted on Saturday night, around 9, by locals. The forest staff had reached the spot but could not locate the pugmarks due to flooding in the area. The search operation was carried out near Kuriyani on Sunday morning. In the evening, tracking team resumed operation in Saraiyan village. Pilibhit DFO VK Singh said that the animal could have shifted location.

There is doubt emerging if it is the wandering "charger-tiger" which left the man injured in Kuriyani village. "Man-mauling tiger will not run away so easily, it could have dragged the man inside forest," said VP Singh, a wildlife conservationist camping in the area. Mailani forest has sizeable tiger population and Kuriyani is a village bordering the forest. Chance encounter with big cats is not a rare occurrence in the area. Search operations will continue to tranquillise and capture the tiger.

Meanwhile, elephants which have been brought from Dudhwa for search operation are present in Bilandapur forest beat of Khutar range of Shahjahanpur. The villagers there had not been allowing the elephants to move from the spot. "They are demanding search team to go inside forest, search for tiger and assure that big cat has moved out of the place," said a local forest staff. The local political figures are working to allay the fears of villagers.

The terai area is reeling under tiger fear. Since May 3, eight humans have been killed and partially eaten by a sub-adult tiger. Officials are presuming the same tiger to have struck on all occasions. The last human kill was made on August 26 in Bilandapur forest beat. No human kill or attach was reported in the area till early Sunday morning when Rambhajan was attacked and injured. The senior forest officials along with experts from wildlife organisations are on watch.

Baits have been tied inside forest patches where tiger was reported to be moving. Enclosures have been set and villagers are told not to venture into forest's periphery. The rains and flood is making the search operation difficult.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Tiger-injures-man-in-Kheri-village/articleshow/6458468.cms

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

Small ape triggered tiger escape, frenzy of events

2010-08-29T21:50:00.000-07:00

Small ape triggered tiger escape, frenzy of events

Visitors continued to trickle into Jungle Island, a day after a 500-pound Bengal tiger escaped. Mahesh and another tiger are being kept from the public as the state's wildlife commission investigates.

Posted on Sunday, 08.29.10
BY LAURA FIGUEROA and CHRISTINE DOLEN

Watson -- a small, 8-year-old ape -- was known for being a bit mischievous.

But when he sneaked out of his cage at Jungle Island on Saturday, Watson set off a chain of events straight out of a thriller movie:

A 500-pound Bengal tiger leapt over a tall fence, dozens of frantic visitors ran for their lives, and park workers labored to lure the predatory animal back into a holding cage.

``I might have shouted a bunch of cuss words after the first millisecond of shock,'' said Dr. Jason Chatfield, Jungle Island's curator. ``But after that, you go back into action.''

A day after the frenzy, it became increasingly clear that Watson had triggered the unusual sequence of events at the Watson Island animal park.

Visitors continued to trickle through Jungle Island's doors on Sunday -- though Mahesh and another tiger were not on display. The pair are being kept in holding cells while an investigation continues to determine how Mahesh was able to scale over the 14-foot fence. No one was injured by the male tiger.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Jorge Pino said that the agency closed down the tiger exhibit ``until the facility makes certain changes to its caging requirements so that this doesn't happen again.''

The investigation is looking into the escapes of both Mahesh and Watson. ``We're investigating escaped captive wildlife, which is a violation of the law,'' Pino said. ``It is fair to say someone would be found responsible.''

``It's very important to figure out exactly what happened, to design it so that it doesn't happen again,'' Chatfield said, noting that Watson Island park's 14-foot fence was already two-feet higher than required by law.

Saturday's series of events started around noon when the white-handed gibbon, a species of ape native to Southeast Asia, escaped from his pen. A team of four animal handlers attempted to wrangle the precocious primate, Chatfield said, but he soon made his way to the tall, fenced area enclosing the tigers.

Watson's presence sparked the interest of Mahesh, who became ``excited'' and chased Watson around as he made his way across the chain-link fence.

Though he didn't have a full view of how the tiger made it so far up the fence, Chatfield said he likely lunged, gaining enough momentum to reach the top, where he eventually fell over it.

``It didn't charge a single person,'' Chatfield said. ``There was no interest in the people, maybe a passing interest. He was really after the gibbon, because it was something he'd never seen.''

Though he had a tranquilizer gun handy, Chatfield said he never found it necessary to fire.

``Our goal wasn't to force him to do anything,'' Chatfield said. ``He was being a cat and roaming, circling his home. We wheeled his cage, which he is familiar with, and he wasn't afraid of his trainers. Never once did he run or pounce. He walked around, and walked into his cage.''

While Jungle Island officials paint a picture of a controlled scene, park visitors including Leigh Stewart of Pembroke Pines gave a dramatically different account.

Stewart, who was making her first visit to Jungle Island with her two-year-old son, said she was watching when a staff worker entered the gibbon's cage for a feeding. Watson then escaped.

``She left the gate open, but all the monkeys followed her because she was feeding them,'' Stewart said. ``[Watson] walked right out of the gate, but she finished feeding the rest of the monkeys, then went after it.''

Chatfield said he could not go into detail about how Watson escaped from the pen, because the incident is still under investigation. But he said a faulty lock on the first of two doors leading into the cage, combined with ``human error,'' may have made it easier for him to escape.

After Watson jumped into the tiger habitat, Mahesh appeared to bite the ape ``on the butt,'' the Pembroke Pines resident said. Watson jumped out again, as Mahesh chased after him, she said.

When someone yelled ``everybody run,'' Stewart dropped her purse and dashed with her family to a crowded barn, where park visitors were herded for protection.

``We stayed in this one dirty barn with more than 100 people, touching skin-to-skin,'' Stewart said. ``They brought in one fan. There were huge turtle cages and food for the animals in there. It was 100 degrees, dark and no light. All the kids were crying.''

No one was injured by the prowling tiger. But four people hurt during the chaos after Mahesh's escape were treated for minor injuries. A fifth person was transported to a Miami hospital after suffering a panic attack, said Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Ignatius Carroll.

Despite hearing about Saturday's chaotic events, visitors continued to trickle into Jungle Island on Sunday.

``It was a one-time only thing,'' said Adriana Norriega, of Miami, as she carried her son Alex, 3, in her arms. ``I don't feel unsafe, and the kids always love coming here.''

Meanwhile, Watson is being kept away from the public.

``He's a little distressed,'' Chatfield said.

After Mahesh had been caged, park staff were finally able to locate Watson standing on a picnic table.

``The handler who raised the gibbon told him, `You've been a bad boy,' '' Chatfield recounted. Then Watson put his head down ``like he knew he had done something wrong'' and jumped into the safety of his handler's arms.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/29/v-fullstory/1797092/tiger-leaps-14-foot-fence-gets.html

http://www.bigcatescue.org

Loose Bengal tiger causes brief panic at Jungle Island

2010-08-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

Loose Bengal tiger causes brief panic at Jungle Island

Posted on Sat, Aug. 28, 2010
BY MEGAN TERILLI and JOSE CASSOLA

A 3-year-old Bengal tiger got loose at Jungle Island on Saturday, causing panic and sending park-goers running for safety on the Watson Island attraction off the McArthur Causeway linking Miami to Miami Beach.

Five people were treated at the scene by Miami Fire Rescue workers, said Fire Lt. Ignatius Carroll, including an unidentified woman in her 30s or 40s who was transferred to a Miami hospital suffering a panic attack.

Ashley Serrate, public relations manager for the park, estimated that the episode took place before noon and lasted less than a half hour. It was not immediately known how the tiger got out of its enclosure or how it was recaptured.

But park guest Larry Rhodes, 46, of Pompano Beach, said he was in lockdown inside a barn at the park for 90 minutes while staff handled the crisis.

``People were running for their lives,'' Rhodes told The Miami Herald.

A Miami police statement said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had launched an investigation and ``have taken over the entire incident.''

The police added that they were alerted to the episode by a flurry of 911 calls ``from frantic patrons stating they encountered a tiger that had gone lose on the Jungle Island Park grounds.''

For Miami mom Dorothy Evans, there with two small children for a birthday party, the first sign of trouble came when they spotted a monkey loose in the park.

A running crowd of staff and visitors soon followed, shouting and heading their way.

``We were really scared. There were people crying,'' said Evans, who had come to the park with her family, including an infant and a toddler. ``We thought it was because of the loose monkey but they said it was because of the tiger.''

Staff members then told them to run to the barn area.

The scene got so chaotic at one point, Evans said, that park visitors were knocking each other down. One child scraped his face.

Carroll said two of those treated on the spot included a mother and her 15-month-old baby. The mother, whose name was not given, was ``running trying to get somewhere safe, and fell on top of the baby'' who suffered some scratches. ``Nothing life threatening,'' the fire lieutenant said.

Also treated, he said, was a pregnant woman who ran and later complained of abdominal pains and another woman.

Serrate said the tiger, named Mahesh, got excited when a park worker went past her cage with a Gibbon ape called Watson.

A staff worker was transporting Watson for a vaccine and medical care when Mahesh spotted it, she said. She could not elaborate on how the cat scaled a 14-foot-high enclosure, but she said the tiger was recaptured after workers moved a transport cage near the tiger, who walked into it ``on her own.''

But Carroll, who was not at the scene, said he understood that Jungle Island staff ``put some food inside one of their rolling cages and the cat just strolled right on.''

Serrate, refusing to permit reporters from entering the park, said the tiger's 14-foot fence was four feet higher than regulation.

Even three hours after the episode there was still confusion at the popular attraction, once known as Parrot Jungle.

Serrate first invited reporters inside to speak to ``the witnesses now back enjoying the park'' and see that business had returned to normal. An undisclosed number of guests who wanted to leave received refunds of their $32.95 for adults and $24.95 for children admissions fees.

When a Miami Herald reporter and photographer reached the park, Serrate was blocking their path. ``I cannot allow media into the park today,'' she declared.

Park officials also were not able to specify the last time the attraction that once called itself Parrot Jungle had a potentially dangerous animal on the loose.

Jungle Island, which moved to its current location from Pinecrest in the mid 1990s, is popular with children and is often the site of large gatherings like corporate picnics.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/28/1796793/loose-bengal-tiger-causes-brief.html

http://www.bigcatrescue.org

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 !!

2010-08-25T16:20:00.001-07:00

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!

2010-08-23T14:10:00.001-07:00

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