July 13 2017

Big Cat Updates

Coordinator Report for July 12, 2017

All cats took their Panacur today,even the pickys

Interns worked hard in the empty cage by Kali. Raked and top soiled, there is still a bit more to do. They also cleaned up the memorial garden as well.

Cicles got made, enrichment and operant signoffs happened.

All keepers went to work with their operant cats as well.

Last day of Panacur so the cats were happy with treats!

Rained just enough to be hotter in the afternoon.

Coordinator Report for July 11, 2017

Cheetaro did well on getting his fluids today, it took some coercing to get him to sit still, but Kathryn got it done.

The big tiger tunnel was weeded and devined today, Lots of sticks picked up, the rains are really knocking them down.

All the cats took their dewormer without to much fuss.

Sassy cougar is not coming out at feeding time but she does come out about an hour later.

Ares and Orion don’t like to eat at the same time as the Tigers, I think they feel a bit intimidated by all the noise. Please feed the tigers and give them a hour to settle down then take out the boys food. Orion needs to be feed on a stick for the first couple of bites and then he will come out and eat the rest off the stone.

The Interns started the Annual appeal letters today, we will be having those each week as the printer gets them done to address and mail.

 ACTION ALERT

Are YOU Ready for a Cat Fight?

Florida panthers are in a fight for their lives!

On June 30th the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that they would be reviewing the Florida panther’s protective status. This iconic species is currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act but developers, ranchers, and hunters have been pressuring the USFWS to down list or completely remove the panther’s protective status.

This catfight is just beginning and we need you to show your claws! Road kills, habitat loss, and development in panther range continue to be threats. Dozens of applications for developments, mines, and other projects are currently being considered in panther habitat. In fact, the USFWS is in the process of reviewing a development plan that would build a city the size of Washington D.C. in the heart of panther territory! With only about 200 cats in the state, the Florida Panther needs to be protected now more than ever!

Take action today! Tell wildlife officials to keep their paws off the Florida panther’s protective status and to not mess with their recovery goals. This is a battle for one of Florida’s most beloved species and we need you to join the fight!

For more info or to get involved contact Jennifer at education@bigcatrescue.org

 GOOD NEWS! THANK YOU!

Gale has let me know that we now have enough Coolaroo beds.  The last of them will arrive in the next few days than ALL the small cats will have one!!!

A few of you have sent in tuna, A LOT of TUNA, so now the enrichment team has plenty of tuna for the cats’ daily sicles for a while.  I was just completely in awe how quickly you all sent restocked the cats sicle tuna.  THANK YOU!!!

BigCatRescue.biz

Celebrate International Tiger Day on July 29th and help Big Cat Rescue save wild tigers!

Help protect tigers in the wilds of India with the purchase of our custom designed International Tiger Day gear! The profit from the sales of this merchandise will be donated to the Corbett Foundation. These funds will be used to construct fences around open wells in India to protect tigers, leopards, and other wild animals from falling to their deaths or drowning. More info here: http://bigcatrescue.org/international-tiger-day/

The words “I helped save wild tigers – International Tiger Day 2017” form a protective ring around a symbolic circle of swirls that represent the wells. The ring is anchored on opposing sides with Big Cat Rescue and Corbett Foundation logos. In the center of the well our beloved TJ the tiger is memorialized as the guardian of his wild brothers and sisters.

International Tiger Day Update

Last year we funded 45 or so wells for $5000. This year we plan to fund twice as many. We have set up a number of shirts etc designed for Internationl Tiger Day and the proceeds will go toward this important project.

• See those products at Tigers911.com
• Learn more about the project:  BigCatRescue.org/international-tiger-day/
• See photos and get more info at:  BigCatRescue.org/July-12-2017/

The Corbett Foundation just put out a 15 minute video about the various ways they are trying to preserve the tiger habitat and reduce conflict with inhabitants. The part about the wells starts below:

The Corbett Foundation #TCF expanded it’s conservation initiatives to the Central Indian Landscape in 2009. In the over eight years, TCF has successfully implemented a wide range of conservation projects with a strong aspect of local community involvement and participation in and around the tiger reserves of Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Sanjay-Dubri and Pench, and the crucial tiger corridors of Kanha-Pench and Bandhavgarh-Sanjay-Dubri. TCF’s range of activities include ecological research, veterinary and human health interventions, sustainable livelihoods, integrated watershed development, tiger habitat restoration, capacity building and environmental awareness. This 15-min film tries to capture a gist of TCF’s good work in Madhya Pradesh #MP from 2009 to 2017.

Facebook Live Video Replays

Jamie shows the dart guns to the interns, looking for Gale, chatting with Gale. Update in Mickey and Cheetaro.

Rescued kittens play and heal while they wait for their forever homes. Watch more at http://explore.org/bigcatrescue

Afternoon Walkabout also at the end of the video gets some laughs with the Enrichment Team while they make enrichment for the cats.  What a creative team.

 News Articles

ONE:  Largo artist welding very strong cages to move the beasts at Tampa’s Big Cat Rescue

 Gift Cards

Donate Unwanted Gift Cards to Save Big Cats!

You probably have a wallet full of gift cards you are never going to use, or finish using. Donate any unwanted gift cards and they will go directly to helping Big Cat Rescue. Your gift card donations are greatly appreciated!

Donate them here: Nonprofitgiftcard.com/bcr

YouTube.com/DailyBigCat

After Carole does live videos she posts most of them on our secondary YouTube channel at YouTube.com/DailyBigCat.  Sometimes they are posted exactly as they played on Facebook and sometimes she combines smaller ones etc.  Here are the last few she uploaded.

Gift Shop Manager, Honey Wayton, is our resident snake wrangler whenever a snake is found inside a cat’s enclosure. In this presentation she instructs interns and volunteers on how to identify snakes and other poisonous and venomous creatures and what to do if they encounter one.

CatRescue.biz

Big Cat Times Magazine 2017 Summer Edition – Love Big Cat Magazines? Download the latest Big Cat Times here for FREE https://catrescue.myshopify.com/products/big-cat-times-magazine-2017-summer

 Viewer Videos From Explore.org/bigcatrescue

This is one of my favorite sections of Big Cat Updates because these viewers post new videos every day, or almost every day, of the cats here being cats.  They capture fun clips from the cats live streaming web cams so the rest of us, ( and you) can see what we missed.  If you have not checked these out, I highly highly recommend it.

Here is a list of YouTube channels that feature videos of the cats here:

• Jamie Veronica:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsY6X3rUv8UlIUbrxNeu-Aw
• Susann  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUFOZiTvzKRvj-oVbzdByvg
• Ruxandra https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvCsjKptd1gM9BhfDkGQGNg
• Donna P:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcFbhMc8Sqr-8MreWuYr4Bg
• Shawna https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfl9S-vDPJIgjl8QpM6Aypw
• Cathy S https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ynHBFLKj0BVnK5jo2gTnw
• Janie M https://www.youtube.com/user/donutgirl100
• Jaime T: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsY_oF0NhXc5OS8CcTaUi2A/videos

  WANTED – Graphic Artists

Carole is looking for a graphic artist who really gets what we are all about and would would like to help us with some graphics for shirts.  If that is you or if you know someone like that, please have them email Carole at cat@bigcatrescue.org

 Quick Links

As per viewer suggestions, Quick Links now has it’s very own page http://bigcatrescue.org/quick-links/

Bookmarking it will help you find things quickly.  That will come in handy for:

• Helping us answer questions on social media
• Finding answers to some of Carole’s Facebook Live questions

Keeper Corner

Afton’s Enrichment Team Requests:

• Assorted colors tissue paper
• Glue sticks for the large and small glue guns
• Non-toxic children’s paint.

Keeper Marie Schoubert:  How a KING takes a good nap.

BigCatTV.com

New Kitten Toys

 HSUS IL Legislative Recap

Animals Win in Illinois’ Spring Session

The 2017 spring legislative session was a total success. Even though passing a FY 18 state budget dominated statehouse discussions, we were still able to pass every single one of our priority bills while defeating or stripping bills that were detrimental to animal welfare. We also supported several bills that were led by our allies. Here is a breakdown of our successes:

Here are some excerpts for you.

HB 3399: Bobcats (HSUS) – The bobcat bill is known at the capitol as “the bill that never dies.” As many of you know, it’s been a priority for HSUS and our partners to pass comprehensive bobcat protections following the opening of a bobcat season for the first time in four decades. Our original language containing prohibitions on bobcat trapping and the sale of the pelts was met with stiff opposition from not only outdoor hunting groups but the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). After numerous meetings with our sponsor and stakeholders, and the real threat of a veto if the original bill passed, we focused our efforts on new language that still enacts meaningful protections for bobcats.
HB 3399 is a two year agreement that expands the area off limits for bobcat hunting. The new language only allows bobcat hunting in counties south of I-36, counties along the Mississippi River corridor, a few counties along the Illinois River, but every other county north of Interstate 36 is closed. Furthermore, it dramatically reduces the number of permits issued from 500 to 350 for the first year and 375 for the second year. In two years the bill sunsets and future bobcat seasons will be reevaluated as current research on bobcat populations is published. The bill passed 52-1 in the Senate and 104-1 in the House. The bill now heads to the Governor to sign.

SB 641: Feral Cats (BFAS) – This bill was led by Best Friends Animal Society and was the result of findings that originated from the Illinois Feral Cat Task Force that was formed in 2016. The bill allows for local control so counties can use their own funds generated by the intact registration fees for the same purposes as the state, including trap, neuter, vaccinate, return (TNVR) programs, IF they so choose, and for the pets of people on Social Security Disability Benefits. It also exempts Cook County. (Cook County already has a thriving community cat program that has saved tax payers $1.5 million since its inception.). HSUS was in support of the bill. The bill passed 47-3 in the Senate and 73-37 in the House. The bill is now on Governor Rauner’s desk to sign.

HB 2810: Abusive Owner-Animal Control (IACA) – This bill was led by the Illinois Animal Control Association. The bill prohibits animals forfeited under the Act from being returned to an abusive owner or being adopted by another person and given back to the abusive owner. HSUS was in support of the bill and IACA’s bill passed the House unanimously and passed the Senate 38-16. The bill will soon head to the Governor to sign.

Here is the link to whole article:  http://mailchi.mp/humanesociety/hsus-il-legislative-recap?e=c9c98d2aa3