Local News - Wednesday, May 30, 2007 @ 09:00
Port Colborne is currently updating its exotic animal bylaw.
While the word "tiger" was not on the lips of council Monday night, Coun. Bea Kenny did raise the issue of exotic animals during the councillor concerns portion of the meeting.
Standing in council chambers, Kenny said she has received complaints. "Do we have an exotic pet bylaw?" Kenny asked acting chief administrative officer Peter Senese.
Kenny also wanted to know how long it takes for the city to respond to residents' complaints.
Senese said processing complaints depends on the type of complaint received. He would not, however, elaborate on the process, only to say the issue is being addressed.
"Our bylaw enforcement officer is updating the current bylaw," Senese said.
Residents in the Gasline area have raised concerns in recent weeks about a tiger being kept at a property on Highway 3.
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid= 549380&catname=Local%20News&classif=
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Ariz. big cat facility opens to public
By JIM SECKLER/The Daily News
Wednesday, May 30, 2007 4:14 AM PDT
KINGMAN - After several years in transition, an animal sanctuary for wild animals located northwest of Kingman will open Thursday to the public.
The Keepers of the Wild, once located off Highway 93 about 20 miles south of Hoover Dam, moved to a larger 175-acre site just north of the historic Valentine school off state Route 66 about 25 miles northeast of Kingman, Keepers of the Wild spokeswoman Karlie Lewis said.
Keepers of the Wild was founded by Jonathan Kraft who opened the sanctuary for neglected and abused exotic animals in Mohave County eight years ago. The new park is home to more than 150 animals including tigers, lions, leopards, reptiles, wolves, primates and exotic birds.
The sanctuary has rescued neglected animals from abusive trainers or from uneducated pet owners. The facility recently rescued 10 monkeys found after a police raid on a home in Phoenix. The park also includes a gift shop, bird aviary and a wolf habitat, Lewis said.
In three to four months, the installation of added fencing will allow visitors to walk through the sanctuary but for now visitors must go on guided tours through the park. The animals live in a natural spacious habitat with waterfalls, rock formations, vegetation and natural springs, Lewis said.
Residents of Mohave County can enjoy a pre-opening special until June 30. Tickets for county residents are $12 for adults and $8 for children. Keepers of the Wild is a nonprofit organization.
Normal general admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children. County residents must show identification to prove residence. For more information, call 928-769-1800.
Guided tours will run every hour on the hour. The park will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday with the first tour staring at 10 a.m. and the last tour starting at 4 p.m. The park will be closed Monday-Tuesday.
Kraft moved the animals from a three-acre site in Las Vegas in 1999 to a 32-acre site near the White Hills area. The park was moved to its current larger site two years ago.
http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2007/05/30/ news/local/local10.txt
Wednesday, May 30, 2007 4:14 AM PDT
KINGMAN - After several years in transition, an animal sanctuary for wild animals located northwest of Kingman will open Thursday to the public.
The Keepers of the Wild, once located off Highway 93 about 20 miles south of Hoover Dam, moved to a larger 175-acre site just north of the historic Valentine school off state Route 66 about 25 miles northeast of Kingman, Keepers of the Wild spokeswoman Karlie Lewis said.
Keepers of the Wild was founded by Jonathan Kraft who opened the sanctuary for neglected and abused exotic animals in Mohave County eight years ago. The new park is home to more than 150 animals including tigers, lions, leopards, reptiles, wolves, primates and exotic birds.
The sanctuary has rescued neglected animals from abusive trainers or from uneducated pet owners. The facility recently rescued 10 monkeys found after a police raid on a home in Phoenix. The park also includes a gift shop, bird aviary and a wolf habitat, Lewis said.
In three to four months, the installation of added fencing will allow visitors to walk through the sanctuary but for now visitors must go on guided tours through the park. The animals live in a natural spacious habitat with waterfalls, rock formations, vegetation and natural springs, Lewis said.
Residents of Mohave County can enjoy a pre-opening special until June 30. Tickets for county residents are $12 for adults and $8 for children. Keepers of the Wild is a nonprofit organization.
Normal general admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children. County residents must show identification to prove residence. For more information, call 928-769-1800.
Guided tours will run every hour on the hour. The park will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday with the first tour staring at 10 a.m. and the last tour starting at 4 p.m. The park will be closed Monday-Tuesday.
Kraft moved the animals from a three-acre site in Las Vegas in 1999 to a 32-acre site near the White Hills area. The park was moved to its current larger site two years ago.
http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2007/05/30/ news/local/local10.txt
Zoo asks visitors to speak French to Quebec-born tiger
EDMONTON, May 28 /CNW/ - Staff at Edmonton's Valley Zoo are asking French speaking visitors to stop by for a chat with Boris the Siberian tiger.
Born at the Granby Zoo in Quebec, Boris grew up only hearing French, so English is his second language. Since arriving at the zoo in May 2006, staff has continued to notice how much Boris still appreciates hearing his first language.
"When he arrived at the zoo the staff was quick to pick up that he responded to commands in French and was indifferent to anything in English. We are fortunate that one of our zookeepers is fluent in French, so she spent many hours with Boris when he first arrived," said Dean Triechel, Operations Supervisor at the Valley Zoo. "There's no question he finds the sound of French soothing."
Boris was born on August 7, 1999 and is a Species Survival Plan (SSP) animal. The Valley Zoo is involved in four North American SSP programs for the Grevy's zebra; Siberian tiger, snow leopard, and red panda. SSP carefully manages the breeding of a species in order to maintain a healthy and self-sustaining captive population that is both genetically diverse and demographically stable. SSPs are not a substitute for preserving animals in nature but are one strategy for creating healthy, self-sustaining, captive populations that can be reintroduced into restored or secured habitat.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/ May2007/28/c5929.html
Born at the Granby Zoo in Quebec, Boris grew up only hearing French, so English is his second language. Since arriving at the zoo in May 2006, staff has continued to notice how much Boris still appreciates hearing his first language.
"When he arrived at the zoo the staff was quick to pick up that he responded to commands in French and was indifferent to anything in English. We are fortunate that one of our zookeepers is fluent in French, so she spent many hours with Boris when he first arrived," said Dean Triechel, Operations Supervisor at the Valley Zoo. "There's no question he finds the sound of French soothing."
Boris was born on August 7, 1999 and is a Species Survival Plan (SSP) animal. The Valley Zoo is involved in four North American SSP programs for the Grevy's zebra; Siberian tiger, snow leopard, and red panda. SSP carefully manages the breeding of a species in order to maintain a healthy and self-sustaining captive population that is both genetically diverse and demographically stable. SSPs are not a substitute for preserving animals in nature but are one strategy for creating healthy, self-sustaining, captive populations that can be reintroduced into restored or secured habitat.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/ May2007/28/c5929.html
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Iowa: New law puts restrictions on exotic pets
Posted Online: Posted online: May 28, 2007 12:31 AM
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa's exotic pet owners could soon find themselves extinct thanks to a new bill signed by Gov. Chet Culver.
The bill makes it illegal for a person to privately own or possess a dangerous wild animal, and to breed or transport them into Iowa.
Exotic pet-lovers won't have to give up their pets right away because the bill doesn't apply to animals currently owned by Iowans.
However, the bill requires owners to register their dangerous wild animal. The animals must be listed with the state an electronic identification device must be attached or embedded into the animal.
The animals outlawed under the new legislation include wolves, coyotes, primates, lions, tigers, bears, leopards, cheetahs, venomous snakes, pandas, rhinoceroses, elephants and other wild species.
A bill establishes a civil penalty for violating the statute.
Supporters say the bill will keep animals from being turned loose by private owners who no longer can care for them.
Many say ownership of the exotic pets has grown because of Internet sales offering cuddly cubs that grow into an unmanageable situation for many owners who then turn to zoos, animal shelters or sanctuaries for help.
However, many of those facilities are filling up or do not want to take responsibility for unwanted animals, officials say.
Circuses, accredited zoos, fairs, animal sanctuaries, pounds or shelters, and animals certified by the U.S. Agriculture Department are exempted under the bill. Vendors will still be allowed to transport the animals through Iowa.
http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=340216
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa's exotic pet owners could soon find themselves extinct thanks to a new bill signed by Gov. Chet Culver.
The bill makes it illegal for a person to privately own or possess a dangerous wild animal, and to breed or transport them into Iowa.
Exotic pet-lovers won't have to give up their pets right away because the bill doesn't apply to animals currently owned by Iowans.
However, the bill requires owners to register their dangerous wild animal. The animals must be listed with the state an electronic identification device must be attached or embedded into the animal.
The animals outlawed under the new legislation include wolves, coyotes, primates, lions, tigers, bears, leopards, cheetahs, venomous snakes, pandas, rhinoceroses, elephants and other wild species.
A bill establishes a civil penalty for violating the statute.
Supporters say the bill will keep animals from being turned loose by private owners who no longer can care for them.
Many say ownership of the exotic pets has grown because of Internet sales offering cuddly cubs that grow into an unmanageable situation for many owners who then turn to zoos, animal shelters or sanctuaries for help.
However, many of those facilities are filling up or do not want to take responsibility for unwanted animals, officials say.
Circuses, accredited zoos, fairs, animal sanctuaries, pounds or shelters, and animals certified by the U.S. Agriculture Department are exempted under the bill. Vendors will still be allowed to transport the animals through Iowa.
http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=340216
Sumatran tiger killed by mate at Topeka Zoo
Associated Press - May 28, 2007 9:24 AM ET
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - An endangered Sumatran tiger died after being attacked by her companion at the Topeka Zoo over the weekend.
3-year-old Cantik suffered injuries to her jugular vein Saturday when bitten by 6-year-old Raguno. The two had been brought together to breed.
Zoo director Mike Coker says it's hard to predict what caused the attack.
The tigers had been side by side since November.
Coker says the dead tiger was discovered after a zoo visitor expressed concerns to a staff member.
He called the attack unfortunate and said the tigers had been getting along fairly well.
Coker says the zoo plans to replace Cantik, but he doesn't know if the next tiger will be male or female.
http://www.kbsd6.com/Global/story.asp?S=6576579
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - An endangered Sumatran tiger died after being attacked by her companion at the Topeka Zoo over the weekend.
3-year-old Cantik suffered injuries to her jugular vein Saturday when bitten by 6-year-old Raguno. The two had been brought together to breed.
Zoo director Mike Coker says it's hard to predict what caused the attack.
The tigers had been side by side since November.
Coker says the dead tiger was discovered after a zoo visitor expressed concerns to a staff member.
He called the attack unfortunate and said the tigers had been getting along fairly well.
Coker says the zoo plans to replace Cantik, but he doesn't know if the next tiger will be male or female.
http://www.kbsd6.com/Global/story.asp?S=6576579
Four white lions born in French zoo
Monday 28 May 2007 at 14:53
NOTE: white lions are not a species at all but a rare color mutation found in South Africa.
Four white lions were born in a zoo in western France at the weekend, providing a welcome boost for the species whose population is teetering at about 30 worldwide, a zoo official said Wednesday. The male and three female cubs, white as snow and weighing about 1.5 kilos (3.3 pounds), were separated from their mother at birth because she appeared to lack parenting skills. "Nyala, their mother, wasn't taking care of them. It's as if she didn't know what to do," said Bernadette Oury, director of the Jurques zoo in western France where the four were born on Sunday. "They are in full health and we are thrilled," said Oury. The 30-odd white lions in the world today live in captivity in zoos or game reserves, representing all that is left of a species that originated in South Africa.
http://www.carnivoreconservation.org/dotclear/index.php/?2007/ 05/28/1157-four-white-lions-born-in-french-zoo
NOTE: white lions are not a species at all but a rare color mutation found in South Africa.
Four white lions were born in a zoo in western France at the weekend, providing a welcome boost for the species whose population is teetering at about 30 worldwide, a zoo official said Wednesday. The male and three female cubs, white as snow and weighing about 1.5 kilos (3.3 pounds), were separated from their mother at birth because she appeared to lack parenting skills. "Nyala, their mother, wasn't taking care of them. It's as if she didn't know what to do," said Bernadette Oury, director of the Jurques zoo in western France where the four were born on Sunday. "They are in full health and we are thrilled," said Oury. The 30-odd white lions in the world today live in captivity in zoos or game reserves, representing all that is left of a species that originated in South Africa.
http://www.carnivoreconservation.org/dotclear/index.php/?2007/ 05/28/1157-four-white-lions-born-in-french-zoo
Monday, May 28, 2007
Nevada community may say no to performing cheetahs
Tom Meyer
BONANZA STAFF WRITER, tmeyer@tahoebonanza.com
May 27, 2007
The Incline Village General Improvement District Board of Trustees will play arbiter Wednesday evening may put the final kibosh on a fundraiser featuring wild animals as headlining entertainment.
IVGID staff is urging the board to deny an appeal from Pet Network to have a pair of trained cheetahs at next month's Fur Ball.
"This isn't about the entire ball, just about this particular event that we arranged to be there," Pet Network Executive Director Bryan Davis said. "We're in no way trying to make this an overly difficult process, but I just want to explore our options while there's still a possibility."
The annual ball is the nonprofit animal shelter's largest fundraiser. The cheetahs are owned by Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary in Reno and perform regularly.
According to IVGID General Manager Bill Horn, having the cheetahs at the event was all but out of the question. Citing his memorandum to the trustees, Horn said the animals posed a liability problem and violated both district and county codes.
"The Washoe County Health Code states it very clearly," Horn said. "They're welcome to have their event, so long as there are no animals."
Horn was certain the shelter had been told not to include animals in this year's program, though no one at Pet Net recalls receiving the instruction.
"The cheetahs are a minor event in the scheme of things, but it would be disappointing not to have any fur present," Pet Network Board Chairwoman Beverly Keil. "We look forward to a successful event, regardless of the outcome of our appeal."
Staff writer Tom Meyer can be reached at (775) 831-4666 ext. 112 or at tmeyer@tahoebonanza.com.
http://www.tahoebonanza.com/article/20070527/News/105270058
BONANZA STAFF WRITER, tmeyer@tahoebonanza.com
May 27, 2007
The Incline Village General Improvement District Board of Trustees will play arbiter Wednesday evening may put the final kibosh on a fundraiser featuring wild animals as headlining entertainment.
IVGID staff is urging the board to deny an appeal from Pet Network to have a pair of trained cheetahs at next month's Fur Ball.
"This isn't about the entire ball, just about this particular event that we arranged to be there," Pet Network Executive Director Bryan Davis said. "We're in no way trying to make this an overly difficult process, but I just want to explore our options while there's still a possibility."
The annual ball is the nonprofit animal shelter's largest fundraiser. The cheetahs are owned by Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary in Reno and perform regularly.
According to IVGID General Manager Bill Horn, having the cheetahs at the event was all but out of the question. Citing his memorandum to the trustees, Horn said the animals posed a liability problem and violated both district and county codes.
"The Washoe County Health Code states it very clearly," Horn said. "They're welcome to have their event, so long as there are no animals."
Horn was certain the shelter had been told not to include animals in this year's program, though no one at Pet Net recalls receiving the instruction.
"The cheetahs are a minor event in the scheme of things, but it would be disappointing not to have any fur present," Pet Network Board Chairwoman Beverly Keil. "We look forward to a successful event, regardless of the outcome of our appeal."
Staff writer Tom Meyer can be reached at (775) 831-4666 ext. 112 or at tmeyer@tahoebonanza.com.
http://www.tahoebonanza.com/article/20070527/News/105270058
Hungarian zoo gets two new jaguars
Budapest, May 27 (MTI) - An area specially built for two recently obtained jaguars was opened at Szeged (S) Zoo on Sunday.
The one-year-old spotted she-jaguar has come from the zoo of Halle, Germany, and the eight-month-old black male has so far lived in another Hungarian zoo, Robert Veprik, director of the facility said at the opening ceremony.
The director added that a crocodile and a cheetah were also scheduled to join his menagerie in the near future.
http://english.mti.hu/default.asp?menu =1&theme=2&cat=25&newsid=240516
The one-year-old spotted she-jaguar has come from the zoo of Halle, Germany, and the eight-month-old black male has so far lived in another Hungarian zoo, Robert Veprik, director of the facility said at the opening ceremony.
The director added that a crocodile and a cheetah were also scheduled to join his menagerie in the near future.
http://english.mti.hu/default.asp?menu =1&theme=2&cat=25&newsid=240516
Hunt for LSU's new mascot could lead to Texas
Sunday, May 27, 2007
By Jim Kleinpeter
Staff writer
BATON ROUGE -- LSU football coaching searches have nothing on finding a live Bengal tiger mascot.
The field narrows itself down rather quickly for the football coaches. Finding Mike VI, a replacement for recently deceased Mike V, is a wide-open search.
Dr. David Baker, director of laboratory animal medicine at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, and the mascot's chief caretaker, will conduct the search as authorized by LSU President Williams Jenkins and Chancellor Sean O'Keefe. Baker said the journey could take LSU "anywhere there's an airport."
LSU isn't quite ready to send a plane for Mike VI. Baker still is in the midst of formulating the criteria and the search plan, juggling that among his numerous everyday duties. But the process will be as detailed and cautious as any coaching search.
As in a football coach, a good mascot entails the right fit, and that means looking for the right personality.
"These animals are very difficult to work with, very difficult to care for, because you can't just take them out of their enclosure and examine them," Baker said at the press conference to announce Mike V's death. "The better the personality, the easier it is to provide excellent care.
"One of the reasons we were able to provide such good care for Mike V was that he did have such an excellent personality. He had been hand-raised here."
Mike V arrived as a 4-month-old cub in 1990, but Baker said the search could net a cub or an adolescent tiger.
There should be plenty available, and LSU might not have to go far to find one, said Joe Forys, assistant curator of mammals for the Audubon Zoo. Forys said though Bengal tigers are an endangered species (he estimates approximately 4,000 remain in the wild) there are between 10,000 and 15,000 tigers in captivity in the United States.
Forys said because of its liberal laws concerning exotic animal trade, Texas is a likely source.
"It's probably not going to be very hard to find one," Forys said. "You can go to just about any big city in Texas, and if they aren't in the paper you can look online in classifieds and find big cats and various kinds of hoof stock for sale.
"They are continuously bred because there is a market. Tiger cubs can go anywhere from $1,500 to $5-$10,000 apiece, depending on if they were orange or white tigers."
Ginger Guttner, LSU Veterinary School public relations coordinator, said the school is seeking a donor rather than an animal for purchase.
Baker has been unavailable for media interviews because of his workload, but he released some details of the search process through the vet school public relations office.
Guttner said Baker's first step is to determine the criteria of the animal, including age, characteristics and personality. Guttner said Baker wants one that is "inquisitive and playful."
The next step is to sort through the numerous calls and e-mails bearing offers and suggestions and pursue any credible leads. If no suitable candidates can be located, the search will shift to Baker's list of zoos.
Guttner said Baker will first look at pictures and check the lineage, medical history, size, temperament, personality and information on the cat's handlers.
Baker hopes to narrow the choices to from one to three candidates, then personally visit each one before making the final selection.
Forys said the source will probably be a private owner or a non-accredited facility.
"I don't know that they will be able to get one from a zoo," he said. "Zoos deal pretty much with only (accredited) zoos. If we had tigers, (by policy) we could not and would not give one to LSU."
LSU's mascot costs about $15,000 per year to maintain, money provided by the athletic department, Guttner said. Two veterinary school students are assigned to him in two-year internships. The Tiger Athletic Foundation is responsible for maintenance of the $3 million, 15,000-square-foot habitat.
-------------
Jim Kleinpeter can be reached at jkleinpeter@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3405.
http://www.nola.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/ sports-31/118024626781950.xml&coll=1
By Jim Kleinpeter
Staff writer
BATON ROUGE -- LSU football coaching searches have nothing on finding a live Bengal tiger mascot.
The field narrows itself down rather quickly for the football coaches. Finding Mike VI, a replacement for recently deceased Mike V, is a wide-open search.
Dr. David Baker, director of laboratory animal medicine at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, and the mascot's chief caretaker, will conduct the search as authorized by LSU President Williams Jenkins and Chancellor Sean O'Keefe. Baker said the journey could take LSU "anywhere there's an airport."
LSU isn't quite ready to send a plane for Mike VI. Baker still is in the midst of formulating the criteria and the search plan, juggling that among his numerous everyday duties. But the process will be as detailed and cautious as any coaching search.
As in a football coach, a good mascot entails the right fit, and that means looking for the right personality.
"These animals are very difficult to work with, very difficult to care for, because you can't just take them out of their enclosure and examine them," Baker said at the press conference to announce Mike V's death. "The better the personality, the easier it is to provide excellent care.
"One of the reasons we were able to provide such good care for Mike V was that he did have such an excellent personality. He had been hand-raised here."
Mike V arrived as a 4-month-old cub in 1990, but Baker said the search could net a cub or an adolescent tiger.
There should be plenty available, and LSU might not have to go far to find one, said Joe Forys, assistant curator of mammals for the Audubon Zoo. Forys said though Bengal tigers are an endangered species (he estimates approximately 4,000 remain in the wild) there are between 10,000 and 15,000 tigers in captivity in the United States.
Forys said because of its liberal laws concerning exotic animal trade, Texas is a likely source.
"It's probably not going to be very hard to find one," Forys said. "You can go to just about any big city in Texas, and if they aren't in the paper you can look online in classifieds and find big cats and various kinds of hoof stock for sale.
"They are continuously bred because there is a market. Tiger cubs can go anywhere from $1,500 to $5-$10,000 apiece, depending on if they were orange or white tigers."
Ginger Guttner, LSU Veterinary School public relations coordinator, said the school is seeking a donor rather than an animal for purchase.
Baker has been unavailable for media interviews because of his workload, but he released some details of the search process through the vet school public relations office.
Guttner said Baker's first step is to determine the criteria of the animal, including age, characteristics and personality. Guttner said Baker wants one that is "inquisitive and playful."
The next step is to sort through the numerous calls and e-mails bearing offers and suggestions and pursue any credible leads. If no suitable candidates can be located, the search will shift to Baker's list of zoos.
Guttner said Baker will first look at pictures and check the lineage, medical history, size, temperament, personality and information on the cat's handlers.
Baker hopes to narrow the choices to from one to three candidates, then personally visit each one before making the final selection.
Forys said the source will probably be a private owner or a non-accredited facility.
"I don't know that they will be able to get one from a zoo," he said. "Zoos deal pretty much with only (accredited) zoos. If we had tigers, (by policy) we could not and would not give one to LSU."
LSU's mascot costs about $15,000 per year to maintain, money provided by the athletic department, Guttner said. Two veterinary school students are assigned to him in two-year internships. The Tiger Athletic Foundation is responsible for maintenance of the $3 million, 15,000-square-foot habitat.
-------------
Jim Kleinpeter can be reached at jkleinpeter@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3405.
http://www.nola.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/ sports-31/118024626781950.xml&coll=1
Sunday, May 27, 2007
British Columbia: Neighbor wants tiger declared illegal
By Doug Marner
News Leader Pictorial
May 26 2007
A Siberian tiger in the Valley is a little too close for comfort for one woman who lives less than a mile from the massive feline which escaped its cage last week.
RCMP believe at on May 21 someone tampered with the cage at Primate Estates that was holding Susy, a 200-pound tiger, and it was loose on Cowichan Lake Road for about 20 minutes before owner Jamie Bell retrieved the animal.
Corey Bath — who is circulating a petition supporting legislation that would make it illegal to breed, house or import exotic animals for life in a cage — said the escape of the tiger has made her lobby public.
"Everybody thinks I'm just jumping on the bandwagon against them, but this has been going on for some time," said the woman who lives close to Primate Estates on Cowichan Lake Road, about seven kilometres east of Lake Cowichan.
"My concern is the health issue," said Bath, who added she's been quietly trying to get something done about the place for years.
The tiger got out of its cage about 1 a.m. Monday. It cruised through a neighbour's yard before being spotted on the highway.
Bell was able to coax the tiger back into captivity before police were forced to take more drastic action.
Bell said Friday morning there's not much she can do to stop a crazy person from letting the tiger out.
She denies reports a lot of her animals have run off the property, except for some monkeys that got out a few years ago. That happened, she said, because someone let them out.
"The problems have been with people breaking the cages," she said.
But Bath said whether or not someone broke the cage to let the tiger out, the property doesn't have adequate fencing and security to keep the public safe.
"They have a long history of her animals escaping: primates, dog, ponies and horses — and now a tiger getting loose," she said. "Can she guarantee her exotic animals would not spread disease to humans and wildlife? What about the welfare of all those animals?"
Area director Joe Allan said he's not sure what will be done about the animals on Bell's property.
"I don't know anything should be done," he said. "I don't do knee-jerk reactions and I haven't had a chance to look at the facts."
That didn't stop Bath from starting a petition that's already obtained a good number of names.
"I took it to my son's T-ball game (Wednesday) night and 20 people signed it," she said.
Once she gets enough names, Bath said she will be forwarding the petition to Barry Penner, the minister of environment, and Minister of Agriculture Pat Bell.
Jamie Bell said she's received a lot of support from people, most notably in the way of donations to help her improve surveillance and security at Primate Estates. She said security has been substantially improved since the tiger got out.
"We have some volunteers who are going to help patrol the property," she said. "We're really thrilled with the support, but of course I don't know how long the volunteers will be able to help."
Primate Estates also houses 52 primates, mostly monkeys, as well as nine exotic cats and other animals. She is able to feed the animals from donations from Cowichan Valley grocery stores.
"We've got some of the most endangered species in the world here," said Bell. "I think it's important to protect these animals."
On May 11, a three-year-old Bengal tiger killed a woman in 100 Mile House, at an exotic animal farm owned by her fiance.
It's believed the tiger began clawing at her dress as she stood outside its cage and then grabbed her legs.
That tiger was put down last week.
— file from Mike D'Amour
http://www.cowichannewsleader.com/portals-code/list.cgi? paper=9&cat=23&id=992537&more=
News Leader Pictorial
May 26 2007
A Siberian tiger in the Valley is a little too close for comfort for one woman who lives less than a mile from the massive feline which escaped its cage last week.
RCMP believe at on May 21 someone tampered with the cage at Primate Estates that was holding Susy, a 200-pound tiger, and it was loose on Cowichan Lake Road for about 20 minutes before owner Jamie Bell retrieved the animal.
Corey Bath — who is circulating a petition supporting legislation that would make it illegal to breed, house or import exotic animals for life in a cage — said the escape of the tiger has made her lobby public.
"Everybody thinks I'm just jumping on the bandwagon against them, but this has been going on for some time," said the woman who lives close to Primate Estates on Cowichan Lake Road, about seven kilometres east of Lake Cowichan.
"My concern is the health issue," said Bath, who added she's been quietly trying to get something done about the place for years.
The tiger got out of its cage about 1 a.m. Monday. It cruised through a neighbour's yard before being spotted on the highway.
Bell was able to coax the tiger back into captivity before police were forced to take more drastic action.
Bell said Friday morning there's not much she can do to stop a crazy person from letting the tiger out.
She denies reports a lot of her animals have run off the property, except for some monkeys that got out a few years ago. That happened, she said, because someone let them out.
"The problems have been with people breaking the cages," she said.
But Bath said whether or not someone broke the cage to let the tiger out, the property doesn't have adequate fencing and security to keep the public safe.
"They have a long history of her animals escaping: primates, dog, ponies and horses — and now a tiger getting loose," she said. "Can she guarantee her exotic animals would not spread disease to humans and wildlife? What about the welfare of all those animals?"
Area director Joe Allan said he's not sure what will be done about the animals on Bell's property.
"I don't know anything should be done," he said. "I don't do knee-jerk reactions and I haven't had a chance to look at the facts."
That didn't stop Bath from starting a petition that's already obtained a good number of names.
"I took it to my son's T-ball game (Wednesday) night and 20 people signed it," she said.
Once she gets enough names, Bath said she will be forwarding the petition to Barry Penner, the minister of environment, and Minister of Agriculture Pat Bell.
Jamie Bell said she's received a lot of support from people, most notably in the way of donations to help her improve surveillance and security at Primate Estates. She said security has been substantially improved since the tiger got out.
"We have some volunteers who are going to help patrol the property," she said. "We're really thrilled with the support, but of course I don't know how long the volunteers will be able to help."
Primate Estates also houses 52 primates, mostly monkeys, as well as nine exotic cats and other animals. She is able to feed the animals from donations from Cowichan Valley grocery stores.
"We've got some of the most endangered species in the world here," said Bell. "I think it's important to protect these animals."
On May 11, a three-year-old Bengal tiger killed a woman in 100 Mile House, at an exotic animal farm owned by her fiance.
It's believed the tiger began clawing at her dress as she stood outside its cage and then grabbed her legs.
That tiger was put down last week.
— file from Mike D'Amour
http://www.cowichannewsleader.com/portals-code/list.cgi? paper=9&cat=23&id=992537&more=
Sumatran tiger cubs debut at S.D. Zoo's Wild Animal Park
POSTED: 12:48 pm PDT May 26, 2007
ENCINITAS, Calif. -- Three 6-month-old Sumatran tiger cubs are making their public debut this weekend at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park.
Park officials said the trio, named Kemala, Sari and Rojo, spent their first months of life bonding with their mother in a non-public area of the park.
It's the first time a litter of tiger cubs has been born at the park in 14 years.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/13395593/detail.html
ENCINITAS, Calif. -- Three 6-month-old Sumatran tiger cubs are making their public debut this weekend at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park.
Park officials said the trio, named Kemala, Sari and Rojo, spent their first months of life bonding with their mother in a non-public area of the park.
It's the first time a litter of tiger cubs has been born at the park in 14 years.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/13395593/detail.html
Big Cat steps down at Cedar Cove
Big Cat steps down at Cedar Cove
New director vows to carry on founder's vision for feline conservatory
By: Kristen Waggener, kwaggener@miconews.com
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 4:43 PM CDT
Just off a dusty gravel road about two miles east of Louisburg, a man in a highly decorated Vietnam war veteran's cap walks up to a large cage and begins whacking his hand on a thick, wooden slab sitting a few feet above the cement ground.
Only thick, green bars separate William Pottorff and the rest of the world from what he calls some of the most noble, intelligent creatures.
“Get up here,” Pottorff yells through the bars.
He sets his wooden-splintered cane aside and whacks his hand down on the board once more, but the Siberian and
Instead, they sit with their silky orange and black fur glistening in the sun. They're tired and hot, and Pottorff says they don't want to exert the energy to jump up to the ledge.
But they'll move close enough to those green bars for Pottorff to crouch down and give them a belly rub.
It took more than 30 years to get here, but for Pottorff, the work was well worth it.
A LOVE THAT NEVER GOES AWAY
In October, Pottorff's 30 years came to an end. He's packed his things and moved from the 11-acre preserve to
Pottorff's not gone for good, though. He still visits occasionally, walking through the grassy paths to check up on his proverbial children.
“Nobody knows more about these cats than he does,” Fries said.
As Pottorff walks through the observation area, each cat's eyes follow him, from one side to the other. The cats let out low-pitched, rather demure meows for their size and shift their bodies, so they can always have him in their sight. He kisses one of the cats through the bars, while Fries pats another's belly, actions reserved for only the trained volunteers at Cedar Cove.
“They're not pets. There's no such thing as taming a wild animal,” Pottorff said.
The cats are some of 19 big cats at Cedar Cover Feline Conservatory, but Pottorff and Fries are two of just a few that have dedicated time and energy to conserving large felines.
“I can't safely crawl up in those primary enclosures anymore,” Pottorff said. “...I'm a 100 percent disabled veteran and just can't do it anymore.”
That's why Cedar Cove's founder has handed over the reins to Fries, a park volunteer since 2003.
“Larry's my man, now,” Pottorff said.
CONTINUING THE WORK
No matter how much he wants to, Pottorff can no longer be the gatekeeper of the endangered giants, but he can't forget why he started the conservation park, which opened to the public nearly seven years ago. It's all about the cats — their health, their happiness.
And the cats can't forget Pottorff, either.
He can still see the fruits of his life's work. He can still walk the grassy path around the sanctuary like it is his second home. But what's really important is that he can still go up to those dark green bars, whack the wooden ledge and smooch the silky orange and black faces like they are his own children.
“I can't hold enough respect for them,” Pottorff said. “...I can walk out to one of these cats and look at it and in a second tell if I should approach it or not.”
Fries said the park initially started with the mission of educating the public about the endangered status of the big cats, and seeks to alleviate the fear much of the public has.
“Our cats are like ambassador cats,” Fries said.
Long-time volunteer Shelly Tooley said even though it will be hard to not see Pottorff there each day, she's confident the park will continue to grow and thrive under Fries' leadership.
“I was with Billy from the beginning,” Tooley said. “I helped him build the park. It's sad to see him go ... but Larry's going to be good for the park as president.”
Fries said the transition is the perfect time for the park to grow.
“It's a golden opportunity to take the park to the next level and further educate future generations about the plight of the wild animals,” he said.
Included in the plans for Cedar Cove are the completion of a new tiger cub exhibit this summer and working on the habitat enclosure, where the cats can roam.
“I fully intend to carry on Billy's vision,” Fries said.
Just by looking, you can already tell that's true. The cats look at Fries like they look at Pottorff. They count on him to provide their meals and their happiness. And they instinctively nudge up against the dark green bars when he's around to garner some affection.
http://www.kccommunitynews.com/articles/2007/05/23/louisburg_herald/news/b-lh-news-big.cat.steps.down.txt#blogcomments
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Amur tiger at Philly zoo gives birth to 3 cubs
The Associated Press
Saturday, May 26, 2007
PHILADELPHIA: A rare tiger gave birth to three cubs at the Philadelphia Zoo, according to a media report.
A keeper spotted the first cub in the cage Friday and soon saw three nursing successfully. Zoo officials do not know the genders or exact weights of the newborns, but they are estimated to be about 2 pounds (910 grams), The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
The zoo announced last month that Kira, an Amur tiger, was pregnant after mating with a male named Dimitri. There are about 144 Amur tigers captive in North America, and only about 400 left in the wild along the Russian-Chinese border.
Experts caution that a lot can happen in the early life of a tiger cub.
Last year, in Pittsburgh, the runt of a three-cub litter died at five weeks because it had an enlarged heart and a small stomach.
Kira has had 10 cubs in previous litters, but one was stillborn and another died shortly after birth.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/26/ america/NA-GEN-US-Tiger-Cub-Births.php
Saturday, May 26, 2007
PHILADELPHIA: A rare tiger gave birth to three cubs at the Philadelphia Zoo, according to a media report.
A keeper spotted the first cub in the cage Friday and soon saw three nursing successfully. Zoo officials do not know the genders or exact weights of the newborns, but they are estimated to be about 2 pounds (910 grams), The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
The zoo announced last month that Kira, an Amur tiger, was pregnant after mating with a male named Dimitri. There are about 144 Amur tigers captive in North America, and only about 400 left in the wild along the Russian-Chinese border.
Experts caution that a lot can happen in the early life of a tiger cub.
Last year, in Pittsburgh, the runt of a three-cub litter died at five weeks because it had an enlarged heart and a small stomach.
Kira has had 10 cubs in previous litters, but one was stillborn and another died shortly after birth.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/26/ america/NA-GEN-US-Tiger-Cub-Births.php
Lions join St. Louis Zoo as part of Species Survival Program
05/25/2007
Two 17-month-old African lions — a brother and sister — are the newest residents of Big Cat Country at the St. Louis Zoo.
Born at the Basel Zoo in Switzerland, the two young lions are unrelated to any lions in North American zoos and are important to future breeding programs, according to the Zoo. Their move to St. Louis was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Lion Species Survival Program.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/ stlouiscitycounty/story/ACA44BDBFB3E33B 9862572E6000FEEFC?OpenDocument
Two 17-month-old African lions — a brother and sister — are the newest residents of Big Cat Country at the St. Louis Zoo.
Born at the Basel Zoo in Switzerland, the two young lions are unrelated to any lions in North American zoos and are important to future breeding programs, according to the Zoo. Their move to St. Louis was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Lion Species Survival Program.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/ stlouiscitycounty/story/ACA44BDBFB3E33B 9862572E6000FEEFC?OpenDocument
Vote For Big Cat Rescue on Current TV
When you vote for Big Cat Rescue on Current TV you make it possible for us to educate a much broader audience about the plight of big cats in captivity. Thanks for helping.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Dangerous exotic animals as pets in Ohio - special investigation
Posted By: Matt Miller
May 24, 2007 10:37 AM
The bear cub looks cute. Appears cuddly.
But, once fully grown, could easily kill a person with one swing of his paw.
So who would want to own such an exotic animal?
Apparently thousands of people in the Buckeye State, and as our hidden camera investigation will show, a bear is only one of the many kinds of potentially dangerous animals you can legally buy and keep as pets in Ohio
"We are after animals that actually hurt people," Says Tim Harrison of the Outreach for Animals group in Ohio.
Harrison knows all about deadly and unpredictable animals.
The Oakwood, Ohio police officer is the first person called when one of them needs to be caught.
Tim has written books, appeared on animal shows and made numerous public appearances, urging for stricter laws against owning exotic pets – like crocodiles, lions and a bear like the one he says recently attacked an Ohio boy.
"Bit him through the arm all the way through his bone," said Harrison.
"Never even made the news. The bear had to be put down. People get hurt, sometimes killed, and the animal gets killed," said Harrison.
For proof, Harrison refers to the Animal Protection Institute, which since 1995, claims that there have been 237 reported incidents involving attacks on humans or escapes from cages of possible dangerous animals.
Twenty-five of them were from Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.
In just the last four years, Dayton fireman Michael Peterman died after his pet African rhino viper bit him.
Alexandria Hall of North College Hill was killed when her pet Urutu viper struck her on the hand.
And just this past December, Ted Dres of Camp Denison, was found by his girlfriend with his pet Boa constrictor wrapped around him.
Hamilton County Deputy Tony Bono was first to arrive on the scene.
"It was pretty tough. I mean the more I pulled on it, the tighter the snake was pulling," said Deputy Bono. "I even had a broomstick to push against the snake's head, and it wasn't budging."
Along with two other deputies, Bono finally removed the snake. But it was too late.
Dres had died from strangulation.
Dres' sister Tracy Miller says Ted had snakes as pets for as long as she could remember, and was surprised his boa killed him.
"I would never thought that snake would hurt him," said Miller.
"He's had it for 15 years. Wouldn't have imagined that in a million years that snake would have done that to him," said Miller. "That's why they're called animals."
Tim Harrison says that's the biggest issue.
No matter how much you think you know about a dangerous animal, it only takes a small mistake.
"It just takes one time where it's either scared or it's hungry – and it lashes out and gets a hold of you," said Harrison.
"And, by the time it realizes you are not something to eat, you are already gone," said Harrison.
But, Harrison says people excited by the idea of owning an exotic animal don't share his concern.
He says Americans shell out over $12 billion annually to purchase their prized pets.
Pets that can be bought legally right here in Ohio.
We took our hidden camera to Mt. Hope, just 60 miles south of Cleveland, where exotic animal auctions are held throughout the year.
Once inside the auction site, we saw people pushing around monkeys in baby carriages.
A woman feeding one a pie, even sharing the same spoon.
And, as people wander about the llamas, zebras and camels to be auctioned off, our camera found children wandering past dozens of unsupervised cages containing potentially dangerous animals like pythons, scorpions and a growling bobcat.
The auction says the USDA governs them, and all animals must have health permits.
But, Harrison says the real danger comes after the purchase, when the owner becomes too comfortable, and forgets what could happen to their pet in just a split second.
"They turn into animals they are supposed to be," said Harrison. "Even though they have been raised in captivity, once they know your limitations, they can be the boss now. The show is over."
http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx? content_id=4d251001-a1ce-4318-9be4-b1be01486b6d
May 24, 2007 10:37 AM
The bear cub looks cute. Appears cuddly.
But, once fully grown, could easily kill a person with one swing of his paw.
So who would want to own such an exotic animal?
Apparently thousands of people in the Buckeye State, and as our hidden camera investigation will show, a bear is only one of the many kinds of potentially dangerous animals you can legally buy and keep as pets in Ohio
"We are after animals that actually hurt people," Says Tim Harrison of the Outreach for Animals group in Ohio.
Harrison knows all about deadly and unpredictable animals.
The Oakwood, Ohio police officer is the first person called when one of them needs to be caught.
Tim has written books, appeared on animal shows and made numerous public appearances, urging for stricter laws against owning exotic pets – like crocodiles, lions and a bear like the one he says recently attacked an Ohio boy.
"Bit him through the arm all the way through his bone," said Harrison.
"Never even made the news. The bear had to be put down. People get hurt, sometimes killed, and the animal gets killed," said Harrison.
For proof, Harrison refers to the Animal Protection Institute, which since 1995, claims that there have been 237 reported incidents involving attacks on humans or escapes from cages of possible dangerous animals.
Twenty-five of them were from Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.
In just the last four years, Dayton fireman Michael Peterman died after his pet African rhino viper bit him.
Alexandria Hall of North College Hill was killed when her pet Urutu viper struck her on the hand.
And just this past December, Ted Dres of Camp Denison, was found by his girlfriend with his pet Boa constrictor wrapped around him.
Hamilton County Deputy Tony Bono was first to arrive on the scene.
"It was pretty tough. I mean the more I pulled on it, the tighter the snake was pulling," said Deputy Bono. "I even had a broomstick to push against the snake's head, and it wasn't budging."
Along with two other deputies, Bono finally removed the snake. But it was too late.
Dres had died from strangulation.
Dres' sister Tracy Miller says Ted had snakes as pets for as long as she could remember, and was surprised his boa killed him.
"I would never thought that snake would hurt him," said Miller.
"He's had it for 15 years. Wouldn't have imagined that in a million years that snake would have done that to him," said Miller. "That's why they're called animals."
Tim Harrison says that's the biggest issue.
No matter how much you think you know about a dangerous animal, it only takes a small mistake.
"It just takes one time where it's either scared or it's hungry – and it lashes out and gets a hold of you," said Harrison.
"And, by the time it realizes you are not something to eat, you are already gone," said Harrison.
But, Harrison says people excited by the idea of owning an exotic animal don't share his concern.
He says Americans shell out over $12 billion annually to purchase their prized pets.
Pets that can be bought legally right here in Ohio.
We took our hidden camera to Mt. Hope, just 60 miles south of Cleveland, where exotic animal auctions are held throughout the year.
Once inside the auction site, we saw people pushing around monkeys in baby carriages.
A woman feeding one a pie, even sharing the same spoon.
And, as people wander about the llamas, zebras and camels to be auctioned off, our camera found children wandering past dozens of unsupervised cages containing potentially dangerous animals like pythons, scorpions and a growling bobcat.
The auction says the USDA governs them, and all animals must have health permits.
But, Harrison says the real danger comes after the purchase, when the owner becomes too comfortable, and forgets what could happen to their pet in just a split second.
"They turn into animals they are supposed to be," said Harrison. "Even though they have been raised in captivity, once they know your limitations, they can be the boss now. The show is over."
http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx? content_id=4d251001-a1ce-4318-9be4-b1be01486b6d
Looking for exotic animals? Tigers are cheap in Canada
Few rules govern wild animal zoos as species bought and sold on the Internet
May 24, 2007 04:30 AM
Bill Taylor
Feature Writer
In the market for a pet cat? One with a pedigree and a three-figure price tag, rather than a Humane Society hand-me-down?
It could be cheaper to buy a tiger.
"We've seen tigers change hands for as little as $100 in this province," says Rob Laidlaw, director of Zoocheck Canada, set up in 1984 to fight for the well-being of wild animals. "Lions and tigers are a dime a dozen, there are so many around."
A red kangaroo, on the other hand, costs about $3,000 (U.S.), according to the Sydney tabloid Daily Telegraph. The paper sparked outrage across Australia last week with its stories about Tyson, a red kangaroo — "Australia's national icon" – being kept in "abominable" conditions at the Lickety Split Ranch and Zoo outside London, Ont.
Lickety Split, called the "worst zoo in Canada" by the Toronto-based World Society for the Protection of Animals, has closed, at least temporarily. But it's only one of about 45 roadside zoos around Ontario, society spokesperson Melissa Tkachyk says. Provincial regulations governing how they treat their animals are almost non-existent.
Stocking a zoo isn't quite as simple as dropping in at your neighbourhood pet store, Tkachyk and Laidlaw say. But even if your only previous experience with animals has been clicking a computer mouse, that's enough to get you on your way.
"Dead easy," Laidlaw says. "There are Internet sites, trade magazines, lots of people who breed exotic animals in their backyard or basement. You might need to spend some time getting to know who's who but there are a tremendous number of people who exchange these animals, often with no questions asked."
Red kangaroos, the world's largest marsupials, are mostly bred for sale in the United States, the Telegraph says.
Exoticpetsandprimates.com, based in New Orleans, boasts, "If you are looking to buy an exotic animal of any sort, you have come to the right place... from antelopes to zebras."
Another American website says tigers are the "most-purchased cat," followed by cougars, bobcats and lions.
"Tigers are the most popular animal to exhibit and also the most dangerous," Tkachyk says. "You see so many at these roadside zoos. There are places that look as if they have a surplus. You might expect one or two but at some you see lots of tigers."
The Lickety Split website lists two tigers, two lions and a cougar. Zoo personnel wouldn't allow the Toronto Star inside the ramshackle, debris-strewn premises last week. But from the fence, it was possible to see a cougar lying in a small cage.
Once or twice a year, Tkachyk says, there are animal auctions, billed as "odd and unusual," at places such as Waterloo and St. Jacob's. One, held April 21, was at the Ontario Livestock Exchange in Waterloo, organized by Tiger Paw Exotics, of Arthur, Ont., a "family-oriented business" founded in 1990 by Tim Height. Efforts to reach him yesterday were unsuccessful.
Animals listed for sale included zebras, a camel, a ring-tailed lemur, an African crested porcupine and a wallaby. Wallabies, says Laidlaw, "are very common in the trade. There are not so many kangaroos."
Many people seeking a kangaroo don't know how to care for them, Australian Wildlife Protection Council president Maryland Wilson told the Telegraph. "This has been highlighted by the case of Tyson ... His muscles have deteriorated ... he is really just waiting to die."
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/217206
May 24, 2007 04:30 AM
Bill Taylor
Feature Writer
In the market for a pet cat? One with a pedigree and a three-figure price tag, rather than a Humane Society hand-me-down?
It could be cheaper to buy a tiger.
"We've seen tigers change hands for as little as $100 in this province," says Rob Laidlaw, director of Zoocheck Canada, set up in 1984 to fight for the well-being of wild animals. "Lions and tigers are a dime a dozen, there are so many around."
A red kangaroo, on the other hand, costs about $3,000 (U.S.), according to the Sydney tabloid Daily Telegraph. The paper sparked outrage across Australia last week with its stories about Tyson, a red kangaroo — "Australia's national icon" – being kept in "abominable" conditions at the Lickety Split Ranch and Zoo outside London, Ont.
Lickety Split, called the "worst zoo in Canada" by the Toronto-based World Society for the Protection of Animals, has closed, at least temporarily. But it's only one of about 45 roadside zoos around Ontario, society spokesperson Melissa Tkachyk says. Provincial regulations governing how they treat their animals are almost non-existent.
Stocking a zoo isn't quite as simple as dropping in at your neighbourhood pet store, Tkachyk and Laidlaw say. But even if your only previous experience with animals has been clicking a computer mouse, that's enough to get you on your way.
"Dead easy," Laidlaw says. "There are Internet sites, trade magazines, lots of people who breed exotic animals in their backyard or basement. You might need to spend some time getting to know who's who but there are a tremendous number of people who exchange these animals, often with no questions asked."
Red kangaroos, the world's largest marsupials, are mostly bred for sale in the United States, the Telegraph says.
Exoticpetsandprimates.com, based in New Orleans, boasts, "If you are looking to buy an exotic animal of any sort, you have come to the right place... from antelopes to zebras."
Another American website says tigers are the "most-purchased cat," followed by cougars, bobcats and lions.
"Tigers are the most popular animal to exhibit and also the most dangerous," Tkachyk says. "You see so many at these roadside zoos. There are places that look as if they have a surplus. You might expect one or two but at some you see lots of tigers."
The Lickety Split website lists two tigers, two lions and a cougar. Zoo personnel wouldn't allow the Toronto Star inside the ramshackle, debris-strewn premises last week. But from the fence, it was possible to see a cougar lying in a small cage.
Once or twice a year, Tkachyk says, there are animal auctions, billed as "odd and unusual," at places such as Waterloo and St. Jacob's. One, held April 21, was at the Ontario Livestock Exchange in Waterloo, organized by Tiger Paw Exotics, of Arthur, Ont., a "family-oriented business" founded in 1990 by Tim Height. Efforts to reach him yesterday were unsuccessful.
Animals listed for sale included zebras, a camel, a ring-tailed lemur, an African crested porcupine and a wallaby. Wallabies, says Laidlaw, "are very common in the trade. There are not so many kangaroos."
Many people seeking a kangaroo don't know how to care for them, Australian Wildlife Protection Council president Maryland Wilson told the Telegraph. "This has been highlighted by the case of Tyson ... His muscles have deteriorated ... he is really just waiting to die."
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/217206
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Calif. zoo serval dies from AIDS-like disease
By BRETT CROXTON
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 12:08 PM PDT
Much is going on at the Moonridge Animal Park, though from curator Don Richardson’s cool demeanor, one would never know.
A new introduction has been made to the falcon exhibit, a 1-year-old Peregrine falcon from Ventura. The as-of-yet unnamed falcon was rescued after having one of his wings torn off by the fan belt of a car. Zoo officials said the bird may have crawled into the engine compartment for warmth. After being rescued from the car, the bird was taken to Ojai Raptor Center where he was given emergency medical treatment by a veterinarian. After spending almost eight weeks in rehabilitation, the falcon was brought to the Moonridge Zoo, where he is recovering nicely—minus one wing.
In other zoo news, Jumanji, a serval that had been at the zoo since 2004, has died. Jumanji died after being struck with Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia, an AIDS-like disease that causes the body’s cells to start attacking themselves. Though AIHA is not a sexually-transmitted disease like its human counterpart, it behaves in much the same manner, causing bodily deterioration and susceptibility to illness.
According to Richardson, the cause of the disease is in the genes of the animal, and it can onset at any time. Jumanji, 8, was given a blood transfusion from his pen-mate and fellow serval Cinnamon, but died three hours after the transfusion. There are no plans to replace Jumanji, and his absence is not affecting Cinnamon, Richardson said. “There was no real bond (between Cinnamon and Jumanji), so she’s not behaving differently. She’s closer with our male Arctic fox anyway,” he said.
Old Man, one of the zoo’s golden eagles, underwent successful cataract surgery, giving him back eyesight in one eye. The lens in his right eye was removed and he now sees everything upside down, Richardson said, because the lens is the part of the eye that flips the image for the brain.
After tests were completed, it was determined that Old Man’s left eye was beyond repair, and he will be blind in that eye for the remainder of his life. It will take Old Man a few weeks to get acclimated to seeing everything upside down, Richardson added, but once he does, he’ll be back to his normal routines. “We knew he could see when he tried to bite me,” Richardson said.
Even with all this hullabaloo around the zoo, officials found time to raise ticket prices. Admission prices go up to $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and students effective Memorial Day weekend.
http://www.bigbeargrizzly.net/articles/2007/05/23/ sports/recreation/zoofalcon.txt
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 12:08 PM PDT
Much is going on at the Moonridge Animal Park, though from curator Don Richardson’s cool demeanor, one would never know.
A new introduction has been made to the falcon exhibit, a 1-year-old Peregrine falcon from Ventura. The as-of-yet unnamed falcon was rescued after having one of his wings torn off by the fan belt of a car. Zoo officials said the bird may have crawled into the engine compartment for warmth. After being rescued from the car, the bird was taken to Ojai Raptor Center where he was given emergency medical treatment by a veterinarian. After spending almost eight weeks in rehabilitation, the falcon was brought to the Moonridge Zoo, where he is recovering nicely—minus one wing.
In other zoo news, Jumanji, a serval that had been at the zoo since 2004, has died. Jumanji died after being struck with Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia, an AIDS-like disease that causes the body’s cells to start attacking themselves. Though AIHA is not a sexually-transmitted disease like its human counterpart, it behaves in much the same manner, causing bodily deterioration and susceptibility to illness.
According to Richardson, the cause of the disease is in the genes of the animal, and it can onset at any time. Jumanji, 8, was given a blood transfusion from his pen-mate and fellow serval Cinnamon, but died three hours after the transfusion. There are no plans to replace Jumanji, and his absence is not affecting Cinnamon, Richardson said. “There was no real bond (between Cinnamon and Jumanji), so she’s not behaving differently. She’s closer with our male Arctic fox anyway,” he said.
Old Man, one of the zoo’s golden eagles, underwent successful cataract surgery, giving him back eyesight in one eye. The lens in his right eye was removed and he now sees everything upside down, Richardson said, because the lens is the part of the eye that flips the image for the brain.
After tests were completed, it was determined that Old Man’s left eye was beyond repair, and he will be blind in that eye for the remainder of his life. It will take Old Man a few weeks to get acclimated to seeing everything upside down, Richardson added, but once he does, he’ll be back to his normal routines. “We knew he could see when he tried to bite me,” Richardson said.
Even with all this hullabaloo around the zoo, officials found time to raise ticket prices. Admission prices go up to $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and students effective Memorial Day weekend.
http://www.bigbeargrizzly.net/articles/2007/05/23/ sports/recreation/zoofalcon.txt
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Tiger Rescue Videos
The top video on this page is the tiger rescue as filmed by Fox 13 and the movie below it is Jamie’s version of the rescue and bringing them home to Big Cat Rescue.
http://www.bigcatrescue.org/movies/savagekingdom.htm
For the cats,
Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue
an Educational Sanctuary home
to more than 100 big cats
12802 Easy Street
813.493.4564 fax 885.4457
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Family says goodbye to lion
Family says goodbye to lion
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
By Andru McCracken
The mauling death of a woman in
News that 32 year-old Tanya Dumstrey-Soos was killed as she was petting the tiger, swept across the province and has evoked promises from the Minister of Agriculture for new legislation regarding exotic animals. The Froese family have been taking care of their lion cub since January.
“It was a hard call, but it was not worth tainting a bunch of relationships and having a bunch of people mad at you,” said Irene Froese.
She said that her husband Bud’s purchase of the lion was something she fought tooth and nail against.
“Now I’m having a hard time letting go,” she said.
The lion was six months old. Irene said that lions are usually confined to a cage by 3 months, but because of the lion’s temperament and early handling, he was allowed to be out.
“All day long he was out and fine here,” she said. “His full sister was in a cage three months ago and was very nasty.”
“Someone had donated us a bunch of chain link fence and we were getting ready to make him a big run. He was just like another dog in the yard. Not all of them have that kind of temperament and maybe handling had something to do with it too.”
She said that they would feed the lion in his cage.
Irene said that because of his age, he would have been permanently confined to a cage in a month.
About the mauling death of the woman in
Irene said that having the lion on the farm wasn’t like seeing one in captivity.
“It’s neat for people to have these experiences, to see these creatures. They are incredible. You get your face up close to a lion and you say, wow, are you ever awesome,” she said.
http://www.robsonvalleytimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1180&Itemid=46
Tiger turned loose on purpose, police say
Tiger turned loose on purpose, police say
CanWest News Service
Published: Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Police believe somebody tampered with the cage of a 90-kilogram Siberian tiger at a Lake Cowichan wildlife sanctuary, allowing it to run loose on the weekend before being coaxed out of a neighbour's yard and back into captivity.
"The lock was intact but the mechanism from the gate to the post was broken and left on the ground," said Const. Brian Brown of Lake Cowichan RCMP.
"Anybody that would do that, whether an animal activist or whoever, sentenced this cat to death by letting it out into the community. It was not a very well-thought out plan."
Font: ****Jamie Bell, owner of Primate Estates, lured the nine-month-old tiger into a small shed and then into a transport shed. No one was injured.
That death sparked debate about regulations for keeping exotic animals.
Primate Estates, five kilometres outside
"We can build them tiger-proof but it's really hard to human-proof,"
"Don't you think the timing is very strange after this thing up north. Less than a week later on a Saturday night my tiger cage gets broken into. I mean there's an agenda going on here, you know."
Police do not know when the tiger escaped but she was spotted just after 1 p.m. Sunday.
Brown said one of the Bells was with the tiger when police arrived.
"Eventually they lured the tiger into a small shed and then it was loaded into a transport container," and taken back to Primate Estates, said Brown.
Neighbours say the tiger is just the latest exotic animal to run wild down their normally tame streets.
Corey Bath, 32, has three small children. She says the Bells have a longstanding problem with animals escaping their property.
"They can't even keep their dog in the yard," she said.
You can email your letters to letters@tc.canwest.com
Tiger turned loose on purpose, B.C. police say
CanWest News Service
Published: Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Police believe somebody tampered with the cage of a 90-kilogram Siberian tiger at a Lake Cowichan wildlife sanctuary, allowing it to run loose on the weekend before being coaxed out of a neighbour's yard and back into captivity.
"The lock was intact but the mechanism from the gate to the post was broken and left on the ground," said Const. Brian Brown of Lake Cowichan RCMP.
"Anybody that would do that, whether an animal activist or whoever, sentenced this cat to death by letting it out into the community. It was not a very well-thought out plan."
Jamie Bell, owner of Primate Estates, lured the nine-month-old tiger into a small shed and then into a transport shed. No one was injured.
Bell told CHTV she believes someone wanted to release the tiger because of publicity about the recent death of a woman in the B.C. Interior who was mauled by a caged pet tiger.
That death sparked debate about regulations for keeping exotic animals.
Primate Estates, five kilometres outside Lake Cowichan, has 52 primates and nine exotic cats, including a serval, which is like a small cheetah, and a caracal, like a lynx.
"We can build them tiger-proof but it's really hard to human-proof," Bell said of the enclosure.
"Don't you think the timing is very strange after this thing up north. Less than a week later on a Saturday night my tiger cage gets broken into. I mean there's an agenda going on here, you know."
Police do not know when the tiger escaped but she was spotted just after 1 p.m. Sunday.
Brown said one of the Bells was with the tiger when police arrived.
"Eventually they lured the tiger into a small shed and then it was loaded into a transport container," and taken back to Primate Estates, said Brown.
Neighbours say the tiger is just the latest exotic animal to run wild down their normally tame streets.
Corey Bath, 32, has three small children. She says the Bells have a longstanding problem with animals escaping their property.
Bath was 18 when she saw an orangutan running down the street. "I thought it was a bear and then, oh my God,' it was a monkey," she said.
Bath is worried her children, aged two, four and eight, may encounter a fugitive from Primate Estates.
"They can't even keep their dog in the yard," she said.
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story. html?id=0c0c9787-cf2a-4438-9eb2-f2eb5657228c&k=67494
Published: Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Police believe somebody tampered with the cage of a 90-kilogram Siberian tiger at a Lake Cowichan wildlife sanctuary, allowing it to run loose on the weekend before being coaxed out of a neighbour's yard and back into captivity.
"The lock was intact but the mechanism from the gate to the post was broken and left on the ground," said Const. Brian Brown of Lake Cowichan RCMP.
"Anybody that would do that, whether an animal activist or whoever, sentenced this cat to death by letting it out into the community. It was not a very well-thought out plan."
Jamie Bell, owner of Primate Estates, lured the nine-month-old tiger into a small shed and then into a transport shed. No one was injured.
Bell told CHTV she believes someone wanted to release the tiger because of publicity about the recent death of a woman in the B.C. Interior who was mauled by a caged pet tiger.
That death sparked debate about regulations for keeping exotic animals.
Primate Estates, five kilometres outside Lake Cowichan, has 52 primates and nine exotic cats, including a serval, which is like a small cheetah, and a caracal, like a lynx.
"We can build them tiger-proof but it's really hard to human-proof," Bell said of the enclosure.
"Don't you think the timing is very strange after this thing up north. Less than a week later on a Saturday night my tiger cage gets broken into. I mean there's an agenda going on here, you know."
Police do not know when the tiger escaped but she was spotted just after 1 p.m. Sunday.
Brown said one of the Bells was with the tiger when police arrived.
"Eventually they lured the tiger into a small shed and then it was loaded into a transport container," and taken back to Primate Estates, said Brown.
Neighbours say the tiger is just the latest exotic animal to run wild down their normally tame streets.
Corey Bath, 32, has three small children. She says the Bells have a longstanding problem with animals escaping their property.
Bath was 18 when she saw an orangutan running down the street. "I thought it was a bear and then, oh my God,' it was a monkey," she said.
Bath is worried her children, aged two, four and eight, may encounter a fugitive from Primate Estates.
"They can't even keep their dog in the yard," she said.
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story. html?id=0c0c9787-cf2a-4438-9eb2-f2eb5657228c&k=67494
All white lions in captivity descend from same cat
Gulamabbas Mohamedali
Sunday News; Sunday,May 20, 2007 @00:06
A RARE colour mutation of the Kruger subspecies of lion, the Panthera Leo krugeri is occasionally found in wildlife reserves in South Africa and appears as a White Lion. These white lions are not a separate subspecies and they have never been common in the wild. They first came to public attention in the 1970s in Chris Mc Bride's book, The White lions of Timbavati, though regarded as divine by locals.
White lions remain rare in the wild and only occur when two lions carrying the mutant gene are mated. They are deliberately bred for colour in zoos where the greatest population of white lions is found.
Chinchilla or colour inhibitor, is caused by a recessive gene leading to white colour, they are not albino lions.
Because of their colour variation from blonde through near white, they have a disadvantage in nature as they are highly visible and give away to their prey and make them an attractive target for hunters. A white tiger is also produced by the similar gene hence they are selectively bred for zoos.
Genetic defects, reduced fertility and physical defects are results of inbreeding of close relatives for producing a white lion, although this has not yet been recorded in white lions in zoos as it has in white tigers.
According to Linda Tucker, white lions are bred in camps in S.Africa for canned hunts as trophies. Some of these lions have been found to have hind-limb paralysis and serious heart defects, indicating a several level of inbreeding involved in mass production.
They were first recorded in 1928 and in early 1940s. Two cubs, Temba, and Tombi, had a tawny brother called Vela, were seen at Timbavati Private Game reserve, adjacent to Kruger National Park. A white female cub called Phuma was sighted in the Timbavati pride, in 1976.
At the age of two years she was killed by hunters. Temba, Tombi and Vela, who carried the recessive white mutation were taken to the National zoo in Pretoria, S.Africa after Phuma was killed.
In 1996, Temba died after having sired several cubs. In 1981, Tombi had a white cub, but it did not survive. Vela sired a litter, but isn't known of his lineage survival. Some of the white lions in Netherlands (Ouwehands Dierenpark) and a private S.African zoo appear to be from Temba, or possibly Vela, lines. After Temba, Tombi and Vela were removed, a few other white or blonde cubs were born in Timbavati.
In 1993, one female who had lived for several years was killed in a territorial fight. The chinchilla white or blonde mutation seems to have been lost in the wild, since then. An injured tawny lion from Timbavati, Timba was taken to the zoo for medical treatment.
He was believed to have the white genes and was bred to a captive female and then to one of his own daughters. A white lioness called Bella was produced as a result in 1982, which later produced many white cubs. At zoos in China, Germany, Japan, Philadelphia and Toronto are represented by this bloodline. All white lions in captivity can trace ancestry to the Timba-Bella mating.
To increase the genetic diversity of captive white lions and to reduce inbreeding depression, white lions from different strains were brought together by the Zoological Animal Reproductive Centre. All of the white lions come from the Kruger Park subspecies, at present and have not been bred with any other lion subspecies except for Toronto zoo's white lioness which has been bred to a genetic male.
These lions are leucistic and not albino. They have pigment visible in the eyes which may be the normal hazel or golden colour, blue-grey or green-grey, paw pads and lips. Inhibiting the deposition of pigment along the hair shaft, restricting it to the tips, the leucistic trait is due to the chinchilla mutation. Paler the lion, less the pigment is along the hair shaft. As a result white lions range from blonde through to near white.
The males have pale manes and tail tips instead of the usual dark tawny or black.
While at Inkaya Nkalamo, Naoline the manageress called me and told me that one of the lionesses gave birth to one tawny white cub, by then it was only a week old. I sat comfortably preparing myself to carry the new born cub. As I took Tombi in my arms, it tried to climb over my chest. Its claws were very sharp compared to the grown up lions. I fed Tombi with milk in a feeding bottle. I revisited Tombi when she was four months old and was outstanding from the other cubs (see picture).
http://www.dailynews-tsn.com/page.php?id=6918
Sunday News; Sunday,May 20, 2007 @00:06
A RARE colour mutation of the Kruger subspecies of lion, the Panthera Leo krugeri is occasionally found in wildlife reserves in South Africa and appears as a White Lion. These white lions are not a separate subspecies and they have never been common in the wild. They first came to public attention in the 1970s in Chris Mc Bride's book, The White lions of Timbavati, though regarded as divine by locals.
White lions remain rare in the wild and only occur when two lions carrying the mutant gene are mated. They are deliberately bred for colour in zoos where the greatest population of white lions is found.
Chinchilla or colour inhibitor, is caused by a recessive gene leading to white colour, they are not albino lions.
Because of their colour variation from blonde through near white, they have a disadvantage in nature as they are highly visible and give away to their prey and make them an attractive target for hunters. A white tiger is also produced by the similar gene hence they are selectively bred for zoos.
Genetic defects, reduced fertility and physical defects are results of inbreeding of close relatives for producing a white lion, although this has not yet been recorded in white lions in zoos as it has in white tigers.
According to Linda Tucker, white lions are bred in camps in S.Africa for canned hunts as trophies. Some of these lions have been found to have hind-limb paralysis and serious heart defects, indicating a several level of inbreeding involved in mass production.
They were first recorded in 1928 and in early 1940s. Two cubs, Temba, and Tombi, had a tawny brother called Vela, were seen at Timbavati Private Game reserve, adjacent to Kruger National Park. A white female cub called Phuma was sighted in the Timbavati pride, in 1976.
At the age of two years she was killed by hunters. Temba, Tombi and Vela, who carried the recessive white mutation were taken to the National zoo in Pretoria, S.Africa after Phuma was killed.
In 1996, Temba died after having sired several cubs. In 1981, Tombi had a white cub, but it did not survive. Vela sired a litter, but isn't known of his lineage survival. Some of the white lions in Netherlands (Ouwehands Dierenpark) and a private S.African zoo appear to be from Temba, or possibly Vela, lines. After Temba, Tombi and Vela were removed, a few other white or blonde cubs were born in Timbavati.
In 1993, one female who had lived for several years was killed in a territorial fight. The chinchilla white or blonde mutation seems to have been lost in the wild, since then. An injured tawny lion from Timbavati, Timba was taken to the zoo for medical treatment.
He was believed to have the white genes and was bred to a captive female and then to one of his own daughters. A white lioness called Bella was produced as a result in 1982, which later produced many white cubs. At zoos in China, Germany, Japan, Philadelphia and Toronto are represented by this bloodline. All white lions in captivity can trace ancestry to the Timba-Bella mating.
To increase the genetic diversity of captive white lions and to reduce inbreeding depression, white lions from different strains were brought together by the Zoological Animal Reproductive Centre. All of the white lions come from the Kruger Park subspecies, at present and have not been bred with any other lion subspecies except for Toronto zoo's white lioness which has been bred to a genetic male.
These lions are leucistic and not albino. They have pigment visible in the eyes which may be the normal hazel or golden colour, blue-grey or green-grey, paw pads and lips. Inhibiting the deposition of pigment along the hair shaft, restricting it to the tips, the leucistic trait is due to the chinchilla mutation. Paler the lion, less the pigment is along the hair shaft. As a result white lions range from blonde through to near white.
The males have pale manes and tail tips instead of the usual dark tawny or black.
While at Inkaya Nkalamo, Naoline the manageress called me and told me that one of the lionesses gave birth to one tawny white cub, by then it was only a week old. I sat comfortably preparing myself to carry the new born cub. As I took Tombi in my arms, it tried to climb over my chest. Its claws were very sharp compared to the grown up lions. I fed Tombi with milk in a feeding bottle. I revisited Tombi when she was four months old and was outstanding from the other cubs (see picture).
http://www.dailynews-tsn.com/page.php?id=6918
Tunisia: Dog nurses white tiger cubs
According to the Save the Tiger Fund, there are ~5,000 tigers in the wild. There are certainly not 4,000 white tigers in the wild, as this article says, and, of course, the white tiger is not an "endangered species".
(Tunisia) - Like all other rare and endangered non-domesticated animals, baby White Tigers require extremely species-specific nutrition and care. They, require feeding every 2 hours, 24 hours a day for the first 3 weeks of their life.
The mother of these tiger cubs in El-Mahdia, Tunisia refuses to feed them or doesn't have enough milk. Local veterinary authorities came up with the idea of entrusting a dog with the delicate mission. Leaving only one cub to its mother, two cubs were introduced to a local dog. The dog responded and soon took the cubs as her own.
The Bengal Tiger or Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is a subspecies of tiger primarily found in Bangladesh and India and also in Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and in the south of Tibet. It is the most common tiger subspecies, and lives in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, subtropical and tropical rainforests, scrub forests, wet and dry deciduous forests and mangroves. Its fur is orange-brown with black stripes, although there is a mutation that sometimes produces white tigers. It is the national animal of both Bangladesh and India.
There are only 4000 white tigers in their natural habitat and 200 in captivity.
http://www.wltx.com/FYI/story.aspx?storyid=49920
(Tunisia) - Like all other rare and endangered non-domesticated animals, baby White Tigers require extremely species-specific nutrition and care. They, require feeding every 2 hours, 24 hours a day for the first 3 weeks of their life.
The mother of these tiger cubs in El-Mahdia, Tunisia refuses to feed them or doesn't have enough milk. Local veterinary authorities came up with the idea of entrusting a dog with the delicate mission. Leaving only one cub to its mother, two cubs were introduced to a local dog. The dog responded and soon took the cubs as her own.
The Bengal Tiger or Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is a subspecies of tiger primarily found in Bangladesh and India and also in Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and in the south of Tibet. It is the most common tiger subspecies, and lives in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, subtropical and tropical rainforests, scrub forests, wet and dry deciduous forests and mangroves. Its fur is orange-brown with black stripes, although there is a mutation that sometimes produces white tigers. It is the national animal of both Bangladesh and India.
There are only 4000 white tigers in their natural habitat and 200 in captivity.
http://www.wltx.com/FYI/story.aspx?storyid=49920