Big Cat Updates
On today’s update: Big cat challenge, Will Joseph lion go home, Zucari goes home from FunCation, Apache bobcat has been taken to the hospital, Dr. Justin & Jamie are in Brazil researching Jaguars, Burned out pump, photos, and more.
Joseph is being pokey about going home from Vacation. We are now on “Joseph Time” but when he decides to go home then Amanda, Andre, and Arthur will get their turn on Vacation. Keepers have put an extra safety wire up so that as Joseph passes through Zeus’ cage to go home he cannot get to Zeus. This is the nice thing about the cats having multiple sections to their cages, when we need to close them out of one section they still have plenty of room to roam, a den, platform, and pool. When Joseph does decide to go home, he has a pumpkin waiting for him there and keepers will be right along to bring him some more food.
Zucari went home from FunCation, where a pumpkin was waiting for him.
Armani goes on FunCation next.
Jamie Veronica and Dr. Justin are away studying Jaguars in Brazil – see more below.
22 year old Apache Bobcat was acting ‘off’ this morning so keepers did a thorough check of his set of cages and found he had puked in his den so Dr. Wynn was notified. Carole, keepers and interns caught him and brought him into the cat hospital. Dr. Wynn is going to come out to see him. Carole talks about that more in the live video below. We are pretty worried about this old boy. He is really old and has been dealing with age related health issues for a while but he was still enjoying quality of life. We are pretty worried. As already stated, Dr. Wynn is coming to see him and we are hoping hoping hoping this precious old boy pulls through. We just cannot handle more sadness.
Zucari says that re-marking his entire yard after keepers cleaned it up is a lot of work. Those keepers sure fixed up his cages while he was away on FunCation. It will take him days to get everything marked again, just the way he likes it.
Big Cat Challenge
Watch this 30 second video.
If this 30 second video touches your heart, Go to BigCatAct.com to make the Call of the Wild. This is one of the most important things you can do right now to help stop the abuse and exploitation exposed in that 30 second video above. BigCatAct.com is a SECURE SITE to help you make that call.
DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY? The few words you need to say are even right there on that page so you can just read them if you don’t know what to say.
DON’T KNOW WHO MY LAWMAKER IS? You won’t even have to look up the phone number either. All you do is put in your first name, address and zip code and the secure system uses that to locate which lawmaker represents your area. Your information is NOT shared with anyone else. It is used solely for the purr-pose of connecting you to the correct Representative for your area.
DON’T KNOW THE NUMBER The secure system dials your Rep’s office and then even dials your phone so all you have to do is answer the phone and read those few words.
I GET NERVOUS TALKING TO PEOPLE? Representatives rarely answer their own phones. You will most likely be leaving a message on a machine or with an intern taking messages.
You can do this! It is really important and very much worth it. Watch that video again. Is saving big cats and cubs worth being brave for just a couple of minutes to make the phone call?
After you make the call the first time you will see how easy it is and you will be so proud of yourself for doing something that really can help animals.
Call a friend and tell them what you just did and how easy it was to do. Challenge them to do it, too.
Do you want this video file to upload to your Facebook, YouTube, Instagram etc? If so email lawanna.mitchell@bigcatrescue.org and ask for a copy of the video “WouldYouStillDoIt?”
Facebook Live Video Replays
Will Joseph Go Home? Every other Thursday we move cats around. Cats go home from vacation and other cats go on vacation. Most of them are happy to go either direction. But Joseph…. Well Joseph is an absolute slow poke about going to or from vacation. Sometimes it takes him a couple days to go. He does things in his on sweet time. So, let’s see what his mood is today. Will Joseph go home or not? His pumpkin is waiting for him at home. Carole also talks about Apache Bobcat, who has been taken to the cat hospital. Carole also talks about how we burned out a pump for the Vacation pond fountain.
Zucari going home from FunCation – His home cages have been deep cleaned, landscaped, etc so he will have lots of marking to do. You will also see some glimpses of PurrFection ocelot running around.
Getting Zucari ready to go home from FunCation – We entice them into their lockout and then take in a moving crate. The keepers have to go through two doors to do that. We make sure there are always two door between the cats and outside. Here at Big Cat Rescue all cages have a double entrance for safety. There is always a lock on the door and only three people carry keys to the locks. Learn more about our extremely strict safety protocols at ZooCollege.com
REMINDER – If you miss any of our Facebook Live Videos you can find their replays at:
- Wildcat Walkabout – https://www.facebook.com/wildcatwalkabout/
- Big Cat TV – https://www.facebook.com/BigCatRescueTV/
- Big Cat Vets – https://www.facebook.com/bigcatvets/
We have a special Facebook Group for big cat friends who have liked the above Facebook Show pages. Leap on over and join the fun at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bigcatrescue/
BigCatTV.com
Priya the tiger got her very first pumpkin. Watch how much fun she had playing with it and destroying it!! BigCatTV.com
Keeper Corner
Keeper Afton: I spent 5 minutes circling an enclosure to give Des serval meds. I couldn’t find him, and he took the joy of watching me look for him the whole time. Do you see him? Little stinker!!
Keeper Afton: Babycakes got a pumpkin and some extra bedding to get in for the cooler weather.
Since we have not gotten to see Gale’s funny socks lately, thought you’d enjoy this funny post of Afton’s from yesterday: Today is our first cool morning, so I had to sport my new Zabu socks!! Thank you again for everyone being so supportive! These were a gift to Afton. Afton says, “… see Gale is not the only one who can wear cool socks!”
Check out the all cool BCR Socks at: https://big-cat-rescue.myshopify.com/search?page=1&q=socks
Afton also says, ” Although, the cookies were almost too cute to eat, she ate them and loved them!!” If you have not yet liked Afton’s page here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/AftonTaslerBCR/
Lizard, Lizard, when will you learn? You cannot hide from Ginger Serval. (Photo by Keeper MaryLou)
Past Pumpkin Photos
UH OH!! The Great Pumpkin has invaded Sundari’s yard! #NationalPumpkinDay
Question to Viewers: Do you still want to see photos from past years?
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
Studying Big Cats in the Wild
Here at Big Cat Rescue we are firm believers about saving big cats in the wild where they belong. We research various organizations who are working to save wild cats in the wild. If everyone works together to preserve and protect wild habitat endangered species can and will recover their numbers in the wild. Learn more about why breeding wild cats in captivity is actually killing them in the wild. http://bigcatrescue.org/breedingkills/
This week Jamie and Dr. Justin are in Brazil studying wild jaguars. Jamie has been posting really cool photos to her Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pg/bigcatrescuepresident/ Please go like her page and check out all the photos.
Past Halloween Videos
Tigers Destroy Pumpkin – Published on Oct 31, 2014 – Arthur and Andre, the Texas Tiger brothers, give out their 8 patented methods to pumpkin destruction. Happy Halloween from all of us here at Big Cat Rescue!
Do Pumpkins Feel Pain? – Published on Oct 27, 2012 – Halloween Pumpkin Massacre at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa FL. Watch our tigers, lions, leopards and other big cats play with and destroy their annual Halloween treat! Every year we hand out over 100 pumpkins and gourds to the cats at the sanctuary and they just love to play with them and of course “kill” them, it’s great enrichment for the cats and the volunteers!
COUGARS vs PUMPKINS! – Big Cat TV – Published on Oct 31, 2006 – It isn’t easy being a pumpkin in the cougar section of Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Fl. Sadly a lot of our cougars are former pets as big cats DO NOT make good pets. We do what we can to make sure that every day is their “greatest day.”
