• Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
  • Login
  • Register
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home Articles by BCR

Wild West of Florida

BCR by BCR
November 5, 2009
in Articles by BCR
0 0
0
0
SHARES
4
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Wild West of Florida

 

From the Express on Sunday:

Wild west of Florida

Sunday, January 4, 2009
JACK TEAGUE

 

CANOE ride on an alligator-infested river.

 

It may sound like the title of a really bad horror flick but it’s actually an experience anyone can sample with Canoe Escape, a tour outfit offering a host of excursions in Tampa’s Hillsborough River State Park.

 

Established in 1935, Hillsborough is one of Florida’s oldest parks and its 3,400 acres are home to some incredible vegetation and wildlife. As we arrived we encountered a jungle-like canopy beneath which some unforgettable creatures thrive.

 

Almost immediately I spotted a pair of baby turtles soaking up some rays on a fallen tree; just downriver was a heron trying to snare a couple of fish; dragon” ies buzzed around our heads.

 

There was no doubting the stars of the show, however, and they were currently lurking ominously, out-of-sight beneath the surface of the glistening river.

 

“Alligators have a natural fear of humans, ” our guide said before we set off in our canoes for the two-hour tour.

 

“We’ve been running these trips since 1991 and nobody has died or even been bitten, ” he added reassuringly.

 

There’s always a first time, I thought, as we paddled tentatively out into the river.

 

We tried to ignore the black vultures circling above our heads.

 

A commotion in the water turned out to be a snapping turtle swimming underneath our canoe, a magical moment. A few minutes later the main attraction arrived.

 

Seeing alligators in captivity is one thing; when they’re in the wild and sharing the same stretch of water as you it’s a whole different matter. The park’s alligators vary dramatically in size, from babies little more than 11in in length to fully grown adults more than 8ft long. The one we spotted basking in the sunshine by the riverside was near the top end of the size spectrum. He lazily turned his head towards us and then slid into the water to come and give us a closer look as we all held our breath, before taking up another warm spot further down river.

 

The trip left us all elated but also tired. Canoeing for two hours is physically quite demanding, so don’t expect an easy ride.

 

Inspired by our brush with the natural world we headed to Big Cat Rescue a short drive away in Tampa itself. The city, located midway down Florida’s peninsula on the western coast, has a laid-back feel with great views out across the Gulf of Mexico which we took in as we drove the final few blocks to the rescue centre at the end of an innocuous dirt track off Easy Street.

 

As we got out of the car we were hit by a pungent smell. Far from big cat experts, we all assumed this came from the cast we were about to meet. That was until the adjacent pig farm was pointed out.

 

The independently financed sanctuary is dedicated to caring for mistreated or abandoned wild cats; those rescued from fur-dealers as well as abandoned pets and retired circus animals.

 

Its boast is that it houses the most diverse population of exotic cats anywhere in the world with more than 150 from 23 species, including lions, tigers, cougars and lynx, together with rarer breeds such as snow leopards and white tigers. We wandered around the ample cages, which are spread out along a lake, admiring the magnificent beasts.

 

Some were calm, fixing us with piercing eyes, while others prowled, letting out growls that had us instinctively stepping back.

 

Those species that don’t relish Tampa’s semi-tropical conditions receive special treatment; the snow leopards, for example, have air- conditioned cages.

 

There is a strong educational theme to the centre. Our guide Neil (bizarrely from Nottingham and working in Florida as a volunteer) told us how breeders often make a living by convincing people that cute cubs make good pets and the wild cats are simply abandoned when they get too big.

 

Incredibly, many American states still do not prohibit the sale or private ownership of wild cats.

 

Sadly, some of the most prized beasts were not visible during our tour; as nocturnal animals, they only venture out of the concealed parts of their caves at night.

 

The centre does offer night tours, however, although the prospect of returning after nightfall to wander among 150 of the most deadly beasts on the planet didn’t exactly fill me with enthusiasm. I think I’ll stick to the alligators.

 

GETTING THERE: BA Holidays (0844 493 0758/www.ba.com/Florida) offers a seven-night fly-drive to Tampa from Gatwick from GBP422pp.

The Grand Hyatt in Tampa Bay offers doubles from GBP104pp (two sharing), room only. The Ritz Carlton in Sarasota offers doubles from GBP141pp (two sharing), room only. Bookable through BA Holidays.

Canoe Escape (www.canoeescape.com) offers guided canoe trips from GBP57pp.

Big Cat Rescue (www.bigcat-rescue.org) offers a one-day tour from GBP10pp.

Tampa Bay & Company: 020 7253 0254/

Previous Post

Panther International Adopts Jumanji

Next Post

Felines on the Loose

BCR

BCR

Big Cat Rescue is Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade

Related Posts

Jinx_Leopard_Big Cat Rescue_ BrittanyMira  Wild West of Florida jeg empty
Memorials

Jinx

December 24, 2022
9.9k
SaberToothSleuth  Wild West of Florida jeg empty
Articles by BCR

Saber Tooth Sleuth

December 23, 2022
410
Kekoa rehab bobcat  Wild West of Florida jeg empty
Bobcats-Rehab

Kekoa bobcat

July 23, 2022
1.3k
Mowing and trimming in tiger cage  Wild West of Florida jeg empty
Articles by BCR

Job

June 2, 2022
657
Hutch_Serval_Big Cat Rescue_ BrittanyMira  Wild West of Florida jeg empty
Rescues

Hutch

May 26, 2022
3.7k
Next Post

Felines on the Loose

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Recent Articles

  • Insitu2021 January 17, 2023
  • Smell my beans! Priya tiger at Big Cat Rescue. January 13, 2023
  • Want! Kekoa and Makani rehab bobcats at Big Cat Rescue. January 13, 2023

Recent Comments

  • Deb Quimby on Koda Lioness
  • heather elliott on Sapphire
  • Jason Jenkins on Tiger Facts
  • Claire Pritchett on Koda Lioness
  • Deb Quimby on Jinx

Save Big Cats

Donate to Big Cat Rescue

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

More from Big Cats

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV

Insitu2021

January 17, 2023
Smell my beans! Priya tiger at Big Cat Rescue.  Wild West of Florida jeg empty

Smell my beans! Priya tiger at Big Cat Rescue.

January 13, 2023
Want! Kekoa and Makani rehab bobcats at Big Cat Rescue.  Wild West of Florida jeg empty

Want! Kekoa and Makani rehab bobcats at Big Cat Rescue.

January 13, 2023

© Copyright 2023 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • About BCR
  • Videos
  • Big Cat Facts
  • Cub Facts
  • Our Cat Stories
  • Sanctuary Cats
  • Shop and Save Cats
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Abuse Issues
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2023 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist