January 30 2018

Big Cat Updates

Sue Messineo’s Coordinator Report for Saturday, 1/27/18

Little Dove’s enclosure was completely cleaned/done. Baby Cakes has moved to the staff offices. When I left him food this evening he seemed very happy, walking from side to side and interested in what I was doing. The hospital cage was cleaned and the side of the hospital he was on was also cleaned. Most cats ate well. It took three feedings for Arthur and Andre to get to a good amount of food. Several tours today meant the opportunity to teach many people about big cat issues. It was a beautiful day!

Becky Gagliardo’s Coordinator Report for Sunday, 1/28/18

Great volunteers and interns today-as usual. Food prep was done early. Memorial garden was raked. We deep cleaned the cooler, deep cleaned the Keeper Cafe, picked up sticks, opened up tunnel area in enclosures next to Tiger Lilly, and made lots of blood cicles. We had some classes and sign offs done. Day ended a little wet. Baby Cakes is doing great – he loves his new office.

Lauren Buckingham’s Coordinator Report for Monday, 1/29/18

We had a good day today with lots of volunteers. Zeus was wanting pork & chicken this morning but thenin the afternoon all he wanted was red meat. He had the keepers hopping. Cooper’s release crate was cleaned and taken back out to the rehab section. A number of Operant and Enrichment sign offs were done, as well as, general Operant by volunteers.

Food prep was finished before lunch. Extra big turkey drums were pulled for Cameron & Joseph as that is what they seem to want most. NOTE: If YOU would like to donate to the turkey tear fund you can do so at https://BigCatRescue.org/turkey

Valentine’s Day Brick’s

Limited Time Special: Purr-chase a Pave the Way Heart brick for Valentine’s Day and Receive a Second One!

What’s more romantic than a permanent reminder of your love for someone human or furry? Two reminders!

Pave the Way Fundraiser - Valentine's Day Heart Bricks — Pave the Way Fundraiser – Valentine’s Day Heart Bricks

Now through February 4th, order one of our Pave the Way bricks with a laser engraved heart on it and wording of your choice for $200 (4 x 8 inch brick) or $350 (8 x 8 inch brick) and receive a second identical brick! These costs are just $50 more than what we usually charge to order just one brick. The first brick will be installed along the path to Big Cat Rescue’s Trading Post Gift Shop and a second identical brick will be shipped to you! Orders must be placed by February 4th to ensure delivery by Valentine’s Day.

Order here:
https://big-cat-rescue.myshopify.com/products/valentines-day-special-pave-the-way-brick

Action Alert

Let CBS Know They Shouldn’t Use Big Cats as Props

Concerned supporters contacted Big Cat Rescue about the CBS television show NCIS Los Angeles that recently featured an adult tiger in an episode. We looked into it and believe the show rented the tiger from Hollywood Animals, a notorious exotic animal rental business that “trains” big cats and other exotics and rents them out for events, movies, TV shows and advertising.

Hollywood Animals makes the dangerous claim that their big cats are perfectly safe working with untrained actors. They have a long history of exploiting big cats and numerous USDA violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

Big Cat Rescue contacted executives at CBS to explain that big cats should never be used as entertainment or props to boost ratings for television shows; they are wild animals that deserve dignity and respect. We also provided CBS with info about Hollywood Animals. Nobody from CBS responded.

So now we NEED YOUR HELP. Will you please let CBS executives know there are many people who feel that big cats should not be exploited on a television show? Ask CBS to exclusively utilize computer generated imagery (CGI) technology rather than real big cats. Thank you for your speaking out for this tiger!

We make it easy with just a few mouse clicks at: http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/51389/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=24171

BigCatTV.com NEW VIDEO

Afton has made a new video about Cooper the wild bobcat that was released back into the wild last week.

We watched Cooper the rehab bobcat grow from a baby searching for an easy meal in a lady’s chicken coop, to a successful hunting young adult. It was time for Cooper to be set free back to the wild where he belongs. BigCatTV.com

Facebook Live Video Replays

Wildcat Walkabout at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, FL where we will visit with rescued lions, tigers, leopards, bobcats and more!

Rescued foster kittens play with volunteers to get them socialized and adoptable as soon as they are 2 pounds. Then they will go back to The Humane Society of Tampa Bay to be fixed and get their forever homes. Watch more at http://explore.org/bigcatrescue

Meet Nikita Lioness, 500 pounds of fabulous. Watch more at http://explore.org/bigcatrescue

Keeper Lynda coaxing elderly cougar, Reise, to come get her daily meds.

Sleepy Seth in his own lakeside habitat at Big Cat Rescue. Watch more at http://explore.org/tigerlake

Some Sunday cuteness for you in these mini panthers.

Wildcat Walkabout at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, FL where we will visit with rescued lions, tigers, leopards, bobcats and more!

Dade City’s Wild Things owner tests limits of federal court in PETA lawsuit

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

NOTE: Dade City’s Wild Things owner tests limits of federal court in PETA lawsuit. I think Stearns is lying to the judge when she says she’s put cub handling on hold, so if you can set up a cub swim, be sure to let us know so it can be presented as evidence.

Babycakes the Genet Gets a NEW HOME

Bobcat Rehab – Cooper

Cooper the Bobcat has graduated rehab and was set free, but first the Big Cat Rescuers had to crate him up for the 3 hour ride to freedom. This is 360 virtual reality video so have a look around.

Foster Kittens

The following kittens have found their furever homes:

Sirius
Aurora
Comet
Tacoma
Timmy
Trevor
Tonya
Travis
Diana

Diana was adopted by one of our very own volunteers!

How To Tell Them Apart

Some of you have been asking for this link so thought I’d share it again, here for you. It takes a while to learn how to tell the cats apart. Tigers can be disguised by their size, stripe patterns, and behaviors.

How to tell the Texas Tigers apart. LOTs of photos of Amanda, Andre & Arthur http://bigcatrescue.org/telling-apart-arthur-andre-amanda/

Keeper Corner & Fun Photos

Gilligan LOVED his tuna sicle but said there was something wrong with it!
It melted!!

Poor Joseph got his supplements all over his face.

What does Big Cat Rescue feed the cats? BigCatRescue.org/feed-cats/

Seth, the Tree Hugger

This was taken on the Tiger Lake web cam. Find all our web cams at BigCatCams.com
Photo by viewer Maegan S.

Andy’s funny face!

This was taken on the Tiger Lake web cam. Find all our web cams at BigCatCams.com
Photo by viewer Robin F.

Win A Big Cat Rescue Supporter Band – Show the world that you support Big Cat Rescue by wearing one a Big Cat Rescue awareness bracelet. Band is black with the BCR tiger, paw prints, and the words Big Cat Rescue in white. Each day that you make the Call of the Wild Carole is notified and at the end of every day, Carole will run a randomizer to pick one winner every day. It is important that when you make the Call of the Wild that you use you accurate address because that is the address that Keeper Lauren will then mail a Big Cat Rescue Supporter Wrist Band to the daily winner. Make the Call of the Wild at https://BigCatAct.com If you do not know what the Call of the Wild is check out the info at: http://bigcatrescue.org/cta-call-wild/ Recent Winners:

Jan 1, 2018 – Patricia K
Jan 2, 2018 – Geraldine P
Jan 3, 2018 – Gail B
Jan 4, 2018 – Sandy F
Jan 5, 2018 – Lauren L
Jan 6, 2018 – Cynthia R
Jan 7, 2018 – Dolores T
Jan 8, 2018 – Donna G
Jan 9, 2018 – Jean H
Jan 10, 2018 – Pamela H
Jan 11, 2018 – Caryn N
Jan 12, 2018 – Ann C
Jan 13, 2018 – Dianne C
Jan 14, 2018 – Naomi C
Jan 15, 2018 – Linda M
Jan 16, 2018 – Christina P
Jan 17, 2018 – Sharon C

Big Cat Fact

Leopards can leap more than 20 feet horizontally, and 10 feet vertically.

Photo of Sundari taken by Keeper Afton

News & Articles

ONE: BREAKING NEWS – President Trump has confirmed that he has directed his administration to ban the import of hunting trophies from African elephants and other rare wildlife from Zimbabwe and Zambia. READ MORE

News Article: Breaking news: President Trump confirms he’ll ban elephant trophy imports from Zimbabwe and Zambia

TWO: Russian Officers Confiscate 870 Bear Paws, Tiger Parts At Chinese Border. What can YOU do about it? Ask your member of congress to champion the BigCatAct.com to end the legal smokescreen of private possession that hides illegal trafficking in big cats. READ ARTICLE