Fabulous News for Cubs!

TRIPADVISOR ANNOUNCES COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE WILDLIFE WELFARE STANDARDS IN TOURISM WITH INDUSTRY-LEADING EDUCATION EFFORT AND BOOKING POLICY CHANGES

TripAdvisor and its Viator brand will discontinue selling tickets for specific tourism experiences where travelers come into physical contact with captive wild animals or endangered species, including but not limited to elephant rides, petting tigers, and swim with dolphin attractions.

Hundreds of Animal Attractions Where Tourists Come into Physical Contact with Captive Wild Animals or Endangered Species Will No Longer Be Bookable on TripAdvisor or Viator

With endorsements from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), TripAdvisor to create a wildlife tourism education portal for travelers in partnership with top accredited trade groups, conservation organizations, academic experts, tourism experts, and animal welfare groups, including the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, ABTA – The Travel Association, Global Wildlife Conservation, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Sustainable Travel International, The TreadRight Foundation, Think Elephants International, Asian Elephant Support, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and World Animal Protection. Read more:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/PressCenter-i7796-c1-Press_Releases.html

Big Cat Updates

Ginger caught a frog.

Nikita Lioness has a scratch on her nose that we are watching.

Jumanji Leopard still needs some med mods. He’s certainly not in any pain, but maybe a little too wobbly, due to the pain meds.

Tonga Serval may have caught a bird. All we found were feathers.

Correction from a few days ago. It was PurrSistence Ocelot, not Nirvana Ocelot, who caught an opossum.

Baby Bobcat Goes Outside

Our rehab baby bobcat, Spirit Feather, goes to her outdoor enclosure. She’s getting big and is hunting her own food. She will be a great candidate for release when she is ready.

Thanks to all of you who have donated to our annual appeal letter (only sent to previous donors) and to our online request here: BigCatRescue.org/rehabfund we have raised $169,132.44 to get our first new bobcat rehab cage almost done and the second one under construction. We can’t use the fabulous new enclosures though, until the first four are done so that the rehab bobcats are not exposed to a lot of human activity in the next phase of construction.

Would you help us reach our goal today at BigCatRescue.org/rehabfund ?

New Big Cats Coming to Florida

We are working on the rescue of 12 exotic cats. I can’t say much more for now, except that the Texas Tigers may get to spend a month on “vacation” starting late today or tomorrow, to make room for more tigers in their home cages, until we can modify “cougar island” for the newcomers. That means cougars have to move again, but we think they will like the new spots we’ve picked out for them just as much.

Jamie’s asking Ares and Orion if this feeding lockout is the same size they would like in their new cage.

Getting ready for Halloween?

#StartWithaSmile at smile.amazon.com/ch/59-3330495 to stock up for Halloween and Amazon donates to Big Cat Rescue, Corp.

Thanks for Voting for the Kittens

After more than 2 months of voting and close to 100,000 votes, Big Cat Rescue is proud to announce that we are the official winners of the PetPartners contest and have been named their 2016 Animaltarian of the Year! We are so thankful for all of your support and votes! The $5000 prize from PetPartners will be used to continue our domestic foster kitten program with the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. THANK YOU!

FROM THE LAW FIRM OF KATS, CATZ, AND MOREKATZ

============================== ================

TO THE MANAGEMENT

Dear Sir/Madam:

Our client, Joseph Lion, has contacted us regarding the filing of a lawsuit for slander and harassment. It seems that there have been some disparaging remarks made (and pictures posted) concerning my client. A small sampling of these remarks follows:

– Joseph moves on Joseph’s time

– We can’t trust Joseph to go on vacation and return on schedule

– Joseph needs an emotional support animal

– Joseph is an expert at ignoring keepers when they want him to come take his meds

– Joseph is a stinker

– Joseph frequently ends up on the “Do A Recheck For Poop” list

He has been called:

– Grumpy Joe

– Grouchy

– Slow-Mo Joe

– The Original Grumpy Cat

It has also come to our attention that bets have been made on how long it will take my client to go through the tunnel to/from the Vacation Rotation enclosure. As a further insult, his turn on vacation has once again been given to the stinky Texas Tigers – despite the fact that the last time he was on vacation he was forced to walk through water (WATER!) to exit the Vacation Rotation because of an excess amount of rain.

This is your only warning. These infractions must stop immediately, or we will be forced to take legal action on my client’s behalf.

Please note: my client is willing to drop the lawsuit if you will agree to provide him with vanilla ice cream every Friday, and a camera in Zabu’s enclosure (just to play with Cameron’s head).

We look forward to your answer.

Sincerely,

Ginger Clawsome , CAL (Cat At Law)

(Sent via Lori D., Secretary to the Cats)

Seen at CITES

Part of the efforts Big Cat Rescue participated in at CITES was in giving away swag to delegates. With our partners, IFAW, EIA, Born Free and others we gave away bottles of NOT Tiger Bone Wine, CITES CoP 17 commemorative pins with tigers on them and tiger striped lanyards. Here are some of the photos of delegates showing their tiger pride by wearing the lanyards.

Big Cat Rescue Wins BOCC Decision 5-0

On Oct 7 we asked local residents to help us stop a dangerous change to our Tampabay Trail that could negatively impact our access. https://bigcatrescue.org/oct-7-2016/ Thanks to your calls, letters and those who attended the Board of County Commissioner’s meeting yesterday, we won 5-0.