Big Cat Updates
Summary: Saving tigers in the wild, Reply to Congressman, Who is it?, Safari Days, Videos, Big cat fact, Different kind of cat, 2018 Calendar, Cat photos, Zabu’s big ball adventure, Cole & Marmalade welcome Daddy home, Call of the Wild – a different look, etc
For those of you asking about Will Bobcat we are keeping his page updated. http://bigcatrescue.org/will/ We also added several photos there, yesterday.
Heads Up – We will soon begin taking donations for annual “Turkeys For Tigers” drive which will be a fund for all the cats to get whole turkeys, half turkeys, or Cornish game hens, depending on the site of the cat.
Keeper Devin Saari’s Coordinator Report for Tuesday, 10/31/2017
Great weather today!
We had a good amount of volunteers today. We were able to get feeding and cleaning done in good time to have lunch at 1:00pm.
Operant and enrichment sign offs were completed today
There was a chicken delivery
The benches from the party house were moved to the parking lot (near leopard print building) for the walk about!
Picky cats all did well today!
The blue bins and trash cans are outside of food prep clean and ready for the walkabout
Big Cat Fact
Leopards can leap more than 20 feet horizontally, and 10 feet vertically.
Photo of Sundari taken by Keeper Afton
Saving Tigers in the Wild
If you remember, back in July 2017 for International Tiger Day we did a special fundraiser to build fences around well to prevent more wild tigers, leopards etc from falling in. Because of all of our wonderful supporters purchasing TJ tiger merchandise, the fundraiser, benefiting the Corbett Foundation, for International Tiger Day was a huge success. Between online sales and our $5,000 match, we were able to donate a grand total of $17,240 to this worthwhile cause. This donation will allow around 215 additional fences to be built on the reserve saving the lives of many big cats in the wild. Thank you! See photos and get more details at http://bigcatrescue.org/july-12-2017/
One specific area the Corbett Foundation is working on is the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Open farm wells, dug by villagers, in the buffer zone of the Tiger Reserve, are proving to be deathtraps for wild animals, with several cases reported of tigers and leopards drowning by accidentally falling into the open wells. The Corbett Foundation has initiated a project to install chain-link fencing around such open farm wells to prevent accidental drownings of tigers, leopards and other wild animals who fall into these deep, unmarked wells.
THANK YOU to Everyone who purr-chased International Tiger Day Gear to support that life-saving project. YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE!!
Have YOU Done It, This Week?
THANK YOU to the viewers who are making the Call of the Wild!! YOU are saving big cats and their babies from a life of exploitation and abuse.
At BigCatAct.com we make is VERY EASY to make that life saving call.
Some people do not follow through with making the call because the system needs their address.
The system is secure.
The reason it asks for your first name, address and zip code is so that the system can locate the Representative that makes laws for YOUR AREA. It needs the address and zip code to find the correct Representative. Representatives will only vote on things that voters in their area TELL THEM is important.
Once the system locates YOUR Representative the system dials that Rep’s phone number and then it dials your phone number and all you need to do is answer the phone and say,
- “Hello. My Name is ……….. and my zip code is …………. Please ask your boss to champion the Big Cat Public Safety Act, H.R. 1818. Thank You!”
Some people do not make the Call of the Wild because they get nervous talking to someone they do not know.
We certainly understand that, however, Reps very rarely answer their own office phones so more than likely you will merely be talking to voice mail or an answering service.
Even though it may feel intimidating to make that first call, if you can please muster up the strength to do it, you will not regret it. Think of the cats your call will be saving or think of the cats who will continue to suffer while they wait for laws to change. Thinking of those things will give you the strength to try to make the Call of the Wild.
The cats NEED YOU to do it. We cannot accomplish this without YOU! Again, Representatives will only vote on things that voters in their area TELL THEM is important.
People often say, “When will the abuse stop?” Well… it will stop when enough people step up to TELL, and keep telling, their lawmakers how they feel.
PLEASE, won’t you just try to make the Call of the Wild?
It is really the PHONE CALLS that get lawmakers’ attention, far more than texts, faxes, emails, or even petitions. Reps know if people have taken the time and effort to make the call the issue must be important.
Feedback Requested
Dear Big Cat Friends,
As you can see from the above screenshot at http://TigerRescue.org that 3,017 Calls of the Wild have been made. Will YOU, in the comments below, help us set a goal. How many Calls of the Wild do YOU THINK we can make before Thanksgiving? How many calls will YOU help us get? Calls made by you and calls you can encourage your friends and family to make.
IDEAS:
- Have a cookie baking party and request each guest make the Call of the Wild while there.
- Have a Phone Call Friday, where you purr-sonally ask all of your co-workers to make the Call of the Wild on lunch break.
- Monkey Bread Monday – make monkey bread (cinnamon rolls) and take to work with you on Monday and anyone who made the Call of the Wild the previous week gets a piece of Monkey Bread.
- Give us more ideas?
My Congressman Sent Me a Letter
Some of you have told you you got a letter back from your Representative after you made the Call of the Wild at BigCatAct.com
If their letter does not say they are co-sponsoring or that they will co-sponsor H.R. 1818, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, I would suggest replying to them with something like:
“I appreciate your response, but it seems like a form letter to me, saying that you aren’t going to actively champion this bill so that it will be heard in the sub committee. That is why I asked you to Co Sponsor the bill. As you know, that shows your fellow members of Congress that you support this no nonsense bill that ends the practice of breeding lions and tigers for backyards and basements. Please show me that you really care about this issue by adding your name to the dozens of Representatives who have already co sponsored the Big Cat Public Safety Act (HR 1818). Thank you.”
Who Is It?
This is so creative. I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!!!
Big cat friend Puffan posted this awesome pumpkin. Can you tell who it is?
THANK YOU, big cat friend, Tracey Flater for submitting this for updates.
Safari Days – Wild Cat Walkabout 2017
Only a few days left for get your Wildcat Walkabout – Safari Days Gear before the big event. We have selected five important “in situ” projects (i.e. work being done out in the wild to preserve species). Each project is devoted to a different species – Tiger, Lion, Cougar, Ocelot and Bobcat. Your PURR-chase of these products are a big help in that effort.
All Ticket Sales Go To Conservation
Read more about the conservation projects YOU are helping to fund by attending our 25th Anniversary Walkabout:
- Tiger Conservation Project
- Lion Conservation Project
- Cougar Conservation Project
- Ocelot Conservation Project
- Bobcat Conservation Project
Facebook Live Video Replays
Evening Walkabout for Snacks and Meds
Different Kind of BIG Cat!
Big cat friend, Laura Scheibel sent this funny photo to Carole yesterday. It’s made from 300 pound hay bales, and is located in Northwood, NH.
Anytime you see something fun like this snap a photo to share with us.
2018 Big Cat Rescue Calendars
AT LAST!! They Are HERE!!!!
13-month glossy color calendar features the big cats who call Big Cat Rescue home. Each month you will enjoy a fabulous big cat image to go wild over! Only a limited number will be printed, so to ensure you receive your 2018 Big Cat Rescue calendar order it today! The calendar is approximately 8.5″ x 11″ when closed, 17″ x 11″ when fully open. http://BigCatRescue.org/calendar
Cat Photos
Tiger Lilly is elusive and shy. Through Operant Conditioning, slowly Tiger Lilly has become a more outgoing bobcat.
Female Bobcat – Date of Birth 4/30/95 – Rescued 6/6/95
Read about Tiegr Lilly at: http://bigcatrescue.org/tiger-lilly/
Past Videos
Feedback Request: During the days leading up to Halloween I posted several past Halloween videos. After receiving quite a few comments and messages about those being enjoyed, how would ALL of YOU feel about “Past Videos” becoming a regular section on Big Cat Updates?
(1 minute 21 seconds) White Tiger loves her ball! – Published on Jun 6, 2013 – ZABU the white tiger loves her boomer ball, check out these cute clips of her playing!
My favorite part is at 00:48 where she has mastered the tiger version of “Dribbling the ball.” What is you favorite spot in this super short funny video?
Cole & Marmalade’s Corner
Welcome Home Cat Daddy!
Published on Oct 12, 2017 – It was PAWSOME to volunteer with BIG cats in South Africa, but it’s always nice to return home, I really missed Cole and Marmalade (and Jess!) … More videos are on the way 😉
