• About BCR
  • News
  • News @ BCR
  • Rescues
  • Issues
  • Cat Laws
Friday, March 5, 2021
  • 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 News World

Wildlife keeper loses his job for letting girl pose with tiger in

BCR by BCR
February 18, 2013
in News World
0
0
SHARES
2
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email
Wildlife keeper loses his job for letting girl pose with tiger in
cage

Last Updated: 2:51am GMT 28/02/2008

By Tom Peterkin

You might also like

Cub Petting Shame

Rules

GoFree

A WILDLIFE keeper has lost his job at an animal sanctuary for
allowing children to pose for pictures stroking a tiger inside its
cage.

The action was taken against Norman Elder, 44, after pictures of a
young girl petting the 15-year-old Sumatran tiger called Sonya
appeared on the social networking website Bebo.

His website, Wildlife Northern Ireland, had carried a picture showing
a young girl bending down and scratching the head of the tiger as Mr
Elder looked on. By yesterday the image had been removed.

Mr Elder had been running the Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre
on behalf of the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals for two years. He also took care of wolves, snakes, lizards
and dangerous dogs at the centre.

But he was removed from the facility in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, this
week after the charity called in police.

Stephen Philpott, of the USPCA, said he was shocked by pictures of
visitors inside the tiger enclosure and said he had no option but to
act after it was brought to his attention.

Mr Philpott said: “The premises in question are under the charge of
the USPCA and we feel that people were exposed to an unacceptable
level of risk because of what happened.

“We decided that we could not let it go on any longer which is why we
took the action that we did to regain control of the site.” Last
night Mr Elder – who is licensed to keep dangerous wild animals –
insisted he had done nothing wrong in letting people be photographed
with Sonya.

He said: “There is no law against it and at the time I thought that
the tiger was behaving well enough for someone to go into the
enclosure with her.

“A tiger is a dangerous animal and there are safety issues involved
which is why I don’t let everyone go in. I don’t accept that I have
done anything wrong.

“Because she was bred in captivity she is not aggressive and the only
danger is if she decides to play because she’s so strong.

“She is unusually docile and doesn’t get stressed from being in a
cage or having contact with humans. She does take to certain people.”

Mr Elder has been looking after Sonya – who he considers to be a pet –
for two years. She was among a number of wild cats rescued by the
USPCA from a house in Omagh. Her enclosure is the former elephant
compound of an old safari park.

Later, the USPCA unearthed the bodies of four headless lions on the
sanctuary site. The elderly lions were put down in April because no
home could be found for them following the closure of the safari park
a few years ago.

“Apparently lions’ heads fetch big money from taxidermists. They are
also used in some traditional African medicines,” said a USPCA
spokesman. “You have to ask if these animals were disposed of
properly.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/28/ntiger128.xml

http://bigcatrescue.org
 
For The Tiger
Dee

http://savethetigers62.blogspot.com/

http://bigcatrescue.org/
http://www.savethetigerfund.org/am/template.cfm?section=Home1
http://www.worldwildlife.org/tigers/


Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.


Tags: News World
Previous Post

Honolulu Zoo reinforces tiger cage

Next Post

Tigers In Trouble

BCR

BCR

Big Cat Rescue is Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade

Related Posts

Cub Petting Shame
Cat Laws

Cub Petting Shame

January 17, 2021
1.4k
Be Safe Out There!
How To Start A Sanctuary

Rules

March 31, 2020
111
Big Cat Rescue does bobcat rehab and release of native, Florida bobcats.
Articles by BCR

GoFree

March 29, 2020
436
Nik Tiger being Xrayed
How To Start A Sanctuary

What is a day like at Big Cat Rescue?

June 30, 2020
61
Cougars at Big Cat Rescue
Memorials

Artemis

January 28, 2020
219
Next Post

Tigers In Trouble

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

Take Action Against Abuse

Shop To Save Big Cats

More From BigCatRescue

  • 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

Sanctuary Cats

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

Big Cat Information

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

Ways to Help

  • Newsletter SignUp
  • Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • View AMP Versioin
No Result
View All Result
  • About BCR
  • News @ BCR
  • Videos
  • Big Cat Facts
  • Cub Facts
  • Sanctuary Cats
  • Shop and Save Cats
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Abuse Issues
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2021 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
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

SAVE & ACCEPT

Add New Playlist