Big Cat Health Updates

Josie Cougar isn’t eating well. We think the new tigers across the road from her are making her nervous. We’ll keep a close eye on her.

Priya Tiger was eating and taking her meds on Saturday and Sunday morning, but by Sunday evening she’s refusing to do anything but pace. All of the other new rescues are eating fine now.

Found my get-up-and-go!

Suann Mesna says: Credit: Duchess – she’s the star here

Fishing Cats in Sri Lanka

In June 2016 Big Cat Rescue donated towards an ongoing in situ project by the Fishing Cat Working Group in support of a project in Sri Lanka. The conservation status of fishing cats according to the IUCN Red List Category & criteria is Endangered. Despite being an endangered species, fishing cats in Sri Lanka, and in most parts of Asia, are a poorly studied species. In Sri Lanka they are most commonly seen inhabiting marshes and other wetlands, including in urban areas. However, with rapid urban development taking place, these wetlands are being filled. Therefore, it is now crucial to understand the ecology and behavior of fishing cats in these urban wetlands, and integrate the conservation of these wetland habitats into urban development plans, as green areas.

In 2006, a pilot study was conducted to confirm and establish the presence of fishing cats in Colombo’s urban wetlands. The study was conducted over a year, during which fishing cats were caught on camera, in several of these wetlands. However, the study had to be concluded due to security issues in Colombo and suburbs, as this was during the last stages of the country’s civil war. In 2013, four years after the war ended, Colombo saw rapid development and many of the urban wetlands were cleared or filled with complete disregard for the importance of these habitats, and their biodiversity. It was therefore decided to reconfirm the presence of cats in the wetlands, and understand if the cats still reside within these wetlands or if they had been pushed out of these habitats due to development practices. You can read more about the project here: http://www.fishing-cat.wild-cat.org

See the final report on the project here: fishing-cat-enclosure-and-rehab-center-in-sri-lanka-final-report

Find out more about the work you help fund in the wild here: http://bigcatrescue.org/insitu/

Karma’s note to the interns yesterday

Tonight after midnight:

Momma Sassy
Melinda
Mikey
Nico
Niki

Please weigh them and record their most current weights. If any of them fall below 2 lbs, they cannot go in. I will need them in crates in the Kitten Cabana by 7:30. Lisa, I understand this is your day off. I can pick Sassy up at the house, just please have her ready in a crate.

Himalayan house, I will need one of you to pick up and take home the kittens in the Modglin house so they can enjoy the Cabana for the day.

Here’s a Gift That’s Easy to Ship

Mouse Pad – Photo Collage

Thank you Susann Mesna for TJ Tiger’s “stinky face” video clip.

Facebook Live Winner

Catherine Tomins for naming three of our newest rescue first.

Letter from MK Davis

Dear Carole, BCR staff, and volunteers,

As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to thank you for sharing the cats, your knowledge, and how we all can make a difference by making others aware of the issues the cats (and other animals) face and the steps needed to help bring about change.

I am an early education teacher (pre-k, 4 year-olds) and our school (private) only allows the children to see certain websites and Big Cat Rescue Photos and Facts page and explore.org is now on the approved website list (also BCR videos from youtube). I tell my kids information from the update page. They are very excited about the new arrives.

Over the summer the teacher in the 1 year-old class was injured in a car accident and I volunteered to take her class. The weekly theme for the first week I was in their class was Circus and Zoo Animals – I thought I was going to have a stroke. So I go to the director and told her I refused to teach children it was okay to abuse animals. I gave her your website address regarding circuses and . . . I am happy to say no circus animals pictures were shown. I showed the kids pictures from BCR and explore.org and the only circus pictures were of Cirque du Soleil. Now when the toddlers see me in the hall or I stop by their classroom I am greeted with roars and chuffs. Their “chuffing” looks like they are hyperventilating but, I love that after several months they still remember how a tiger chuffs.

I would like to share a poem I wrote about Hoover and a variation of the Twelve Days of Christmas (BCR style):

Reflections of a Tiger’s Journey

I have been abused.
I have been starved.
I have witnessed death.
I have feared my own death.
I have been rescued.
I have feared being returned to the circus.
I have been on a long journey.
I have entered a “new world”.
I have been fed good food.
I have learned how to swim.
I have sung in the rain.
I have been overwhelmed.
I have been on vacation.
I have napped in the grass.
I have a forever home.
I am a survivor!
I am Hoover Tiger!

12 Days of A Big Cat Rescue Christmas

On the first day of Christmas Big Cat Rescue showed to us
One grumpy lion roaring at us.

On the second day of Christmas Big Cat Rescue showed to us
Two Canada Lynx, and
One grumpy lion roaring at us.

On the third day of Christmas Big Cat Rescue showed to us
Three Texas Tigers,
Two Canada Lynx, and

One grumpy lion roaring at us.
On the fourth day of Christmas Big Cat Rescue showed to us
Four Keepers Searching,
Three Texas Tigers,
Two Canada Lynx, and