April 10 2019

Big Cat Updates

Wild Rehab Bobcats, Bravo and Tango were released back into the wild. Photos and videos coming soon.
Keeper Bridget’s Cooking Class was a blast, catch the replay below.
Big Cat Rescue outreach
Is it legal to transfer tigers across state lines?

Alexa Flash Briefing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb2veJslbro

In case you have missed previous days’ news briefings you can find them all at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCPv8ivo6o4CZHFifkfRYDw

More About Bravo and Tango’s Release

This will take you to Jamie Veronica’s Facebook page and photo album.

Coordinator Report – Kathryn Stapleton

Was a good day!! Beautiful weather.

Thanks to Stephanie Chaiser for coming in last minute to feed. Also thanks to Tanya Chute and Cindy Kuharek for cleaning all the big cats. We had quite a few new faces cleaning today. Welcome, Matthew Pagnotta, Gina Schopmeyer, and June Marsilia to the Keeper side. Thanks, Amanda Fenick, Phyllis Middaugh, and Caity Farr for training.

Also thanks to Christina Cochard for doing food prep by herself with a bit of guidance from Tanya. Thanks to Brittany Mira for doing operant sign-offs. Also thanks to Afton Tasler for helping with the Fox interview.

Was a busy day but a good one.

That’s all for me
Kathyrn

Big Cat Rescue Outreach

From Jennifer Leon: Thank you to BCR volunteers Lisa Spencer-Novak, Sarah Copel, Jennie Jamison, Lacy Benton, and Regina Turgeon for attending tonight’s FWC public meeting to urge officials to ban public contact with cubs! We even met one of our Facebook group supporters Joyce K. and her husband who drove all the way from Clearwater to support the cats!

Is It Legal to Transfer Tigers Across State Lines?

We frequently get asked is it “legal” under federal law to transfer a tiger to a facility in another state.

The answer is not a simple yes or no, and in addition to what the law says there are some serious practical issues when it comes to enforcement. There are two federal laws that apply: the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Lacey Act, which was amended by the Captive Wildlife Safety Act (CWSA). We are not lawyers but here is our layman’s understanding of how these laws related to the sale of captive tigers in the United States.

The laws are discussed in more detail at http://bigcatrescue.org/is-it-legal-to-transfer-tigers-across-state-lines/

Videos of the Day

Q&A at Big Cat Rescue- Follow along as Keeper Brittany shows you many of the Tigers, Lion, Leopards, Jaguar, Cougars, Lynx, Servals, Bobcats, Savannah Cats and an Ocelot that Call Big Cat Rescue was Rescue Home! Cats Featured: Priya, Keisha, Tiger Lilly, Thurston, Lovey, Purrfection, King Tut, Simba Savannah, Pharaoh, and Ariel.

Merchandise of the Day

The Big Cat Rescue Mandala Coloring Book is Back In Stock!

You can buy one today at:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LFP7LSF

You can donate to the cats at NO COST TO YOU when you select BCR as your charity on Amazon Smile and shop Smile.Amazon.com instead of Amazon.com. It is exactly the same as regular Amazon EXCEPT when you use the Smile URL Amazon donates .5% of your purchase to BCR. It’s added up to over $100,000 for the cats!

Cooking Class with Keeper Bridget

Cooking Class with Bridget – Have you wanted more out of your food? More flavor, more personality, more enjoyment? Are you interested in cooking but feel intimidated by what you see on cooking shows? Do you feel overwhelmed by ingredients and cost? I can totally help you out. I want to share the joy of food with all of you. I’m going to show you some recipes you can make to last a whole week, in just a small amount of time. These meals will be budget friendly, healthy, and can be customized to your specific diet. I can’t wait to show you what you can make in your own kitchen!

(You can skip the first several minutes as it is just getting setup and waiting for everyone to get there.)

Photos for the Day

Amazing Intern Tanya Chute loving on the foster kittens

From Carole – Howie did a fantastic job presenting to the FWC why all exotic cat handling should be banned and left them with a petition signed by more than 30,000 people, the 70+ page document with science backed up by 26 big cat vets as to why cub petting is cruel and a photo album of many of the legal, yet hellish conditions where big cats live in Florida. We are grateful that the FWC is considering the many people who wrote in and showed up to speak out to protect big cats and their cubs from the handful of exploiters who cause so much misery. Thank you, everyone, who is involved in changing history!