• Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home News World

Big Cat SOS

Carole by BCR
June 20, 2013
in News World
0 0
0
0
SHARES
52
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Caged tiger! The South Khairbari Leopard Safari and Rehabilitation Centre in western Dooars houses ten Royal Bengal tigers, an endangered species.

Big Cat SOS

A tiger rescue centre in West Bengal struggles to live up to its promise.

Sankar Ray
Rajen Pradhan
Friday, Sep 25, 2009

Neither the Asia regional director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Grace Gabriel, nor well-known wildlife conservationist Judy Mills know of Ram, Sita, Lakshmi and seven others like them residing in Khairbari, in western Dooars of north Bengal. They are Royal Bengal tigers, an endangered species. Their present, and perhaps last, home is the South Khairbari Leopard Safari and Rehabilitation Centre (SKLSRC) set up four years ago by the West Bengal Government wi th the sanction, including financial assistance, from the Central Zoos Authority under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

The ten big cats and some of the leopards at the centre are suffering from serious ailments, and the minimum care they deserve is missing.

There was a time when these same Royal Bengal tigers enthralled hundreds of children and adults alike at famous circuses across the country. Their agility and prowess understandably diminished with age. They were mostly rescued from the circuses — some were voluntarily handed over by circus owners who could no longer afford to maintain and feed them. When the centre was first set up, there were big promises. It was supposed to help treat rescued injured tigers in the Sunderbans too. The centre was also seen as a potential tourist attraction capable of earning valuable foreign exchange. But the high expectations seem belied.

This happens to be the lone tiger rescue and rehabilitation centre in eastern India, and the rare species — past their prime in hunting — need specialised clinical and health care. The attending vets are largely part-timers and none are specialised in treating big cats. The tragic circumstances leading to the death of a male Royal Bengal tiger last year adds to the general mood of pessimism. Karna of Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary was bitten on the tail by another tiger, Shyam, leading to a serious infection and damage to the veins connected to the spinal cord. Karna’s rear was paralysed within 48 hours of the bite and the vets were unable to administer saline after the tail was amputated. The then chief conservator of forests (wildlife) N.C. Bahuguna said, “It is very difficult to locate veins in a tiger body, apart from those in its tail. Our doctors somehow managed to push a bottle of saline. But that wasn’t enough. The injury extended to Karna’s spinal cord and his anus. Hence he could not be saved.”

The International Fund for Animal Welfare strongly condemns the “neo-liberal neglect” of big cats the world over and the support for “tiger farming”. Commenting on a recent TV show that advocated breeding tigers on industrialised farms to help save those in the wild, the Asian regional director of IFAW, Grace said, “It is inconceivable that profit and bottom line was the only lens through which 20/20 approached the issue of tiger farming. Every player in that trade chain is criminally responsible for the depletion of tigers in the wild, from poachers to smugglers to traders and to those who promote tiger trade: investors and owners of tiger farms.”

With the right scientific and clinical approach, tiger rescue centres such as the one in Khairbari can serve as a true sanctuary for this endangered magnificent animal.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2009/09/25/stories/2009092550060200.htm

http://bigcatrescue.org


Tags: News World
Previous Post

Ohio: Naming rights for new lion cubs up for bid at fundraiser

Next Post

New Anti-Fur Movie Trailer

Next Post

New Anti-Fur Movie Trailer

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Recent Articles

  • Summer Bobcat LIVE! June 26, 2022
  • Cat VS Dog…Fennel? June 22, 2022
  • Black Leopard Bath time! June 22, 2022

Save Big Cats

Donate to Big Cat Rescue

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

More from Big Cats

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV
Summer Bobcat LIVE!

Summer Bobcat LIVE!

June 30, 2022
Cat VS Dog…Fennel?

Cat VS Dog…Fennel?

June 22, 2022
Black Leopard Bath time!

Black Leopard Bath time!

June 22, 2022
  • Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2022 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • 2018 Appeal
  • About BCR
  • About our Cookies
  • Account
  • BCR in the Media
  • Big Cat NFTS
  • Big Cat Rescue Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade
  • Big Cat Rescuers
  • Big Cat Times
  • Blog
  • Board of Directors
  • Browse Submissions
  • Connections
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Credentials
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Donate Crypto
  • Embed Link
  • Followers
  • Following
  • GET THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT CUB PETTING
  • Global Big Cat News
  • Intern Program
  • Join Us
    • Registration
  • Kids
  • Latest from Big Cat Rescue
  • Licensing
  • Login
  • Login
  • Logout
  • Logout
  • Malaya Bobcat
  • Map
  • Map of Big Cat Owners
  • Member Directory
  • Members
  • My Profile
    • Edit Profile
  • Netflix
  • News about Big Cats
  • News Gallery
  • News@BCR
  • Our Live Feeds
  • Password Reset
  • PressRoom
  • Privacy Policy
  • Register
  • Register
  • Register
    • Edit Your Profile
    • Update Billing Card
    • Welcome
    • Your Membership
  • Rescues
  • Search result
  • Series Archive – Default header
  • Shop
  • SnowLeopard
  • Social Stream
  • Staff
  • Submission Confirmed
  • Teachers
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Terms of Use
  • User
  • USFWS
  • Vets
  • Videos archive
  • Get Involved
    • Automatic
    • Sponsorships
    • Volunteer
      • AdvoCats
      • Click to Feed
      • Intern
    • Legacy
    • Roar! Speak Out for Big Cats
    • Ink
  • Finances
  • How We Started
  • Abuse Issues
    • Issues
      • Exhibitions
      • Private Ownership of Big Cats
      • Zoos
      • White Tigers
      • Circus
      • Fur
      • Trophy Hunting
      • Canned Hunting
      • Why Regulations Don’t Work
  • Our Evolution
  • Photos & Facts
  • Videos
  • Our Volunteers
  • Your Privacy
  • Donate
  • Site Map
  • Field Trips

© Copyright 2022 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist