Big cats depend on 'Fur Ball' success- Tampa. FL

Cynthia Smoot

TAMPA - Cougars, bobcats, lions and tigers— more than a hundred are living out their lives at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa.

And one of the newest arrivals is pretty rare, even by big cat standards.

Freckles is a 16-year-old liger, a cross between a lion and a tiger. There's nothing natural about a liger.

Director of Operations, Scott Lope, says they're a hybrid, bred in captivity that would never be found in the wild.

"It does nothing to save the species. So you can talk all about conservation, preservation, but when you're making ligers or white tigers, that's just destroying genetics we can never replace," he explained.

Lope says Freckles was one of three big cats abandoned in a Mississippi backyard when their owner ran out of money.

"They were literally knee deep in mud, in about two-and-a-half feet of mud," Lope said. "The utilities had been turned off, so the former volunteer who was taking care of them was literally hauling in buckets of water."

It wasn't an easy rescue. Freckles and the two tigers were at the bottom of a hill.

"Just us having to push 500-pound cats up this slipper, muddy hill was so dangerous in itself," Lope said. "Had that cage rolled back, it could easily pop open and run over one of us with a 500-pound cat in it."

Now all three cats have settled into life at Big Cat Rescue. Lope says the tigers are doing well, but Freckles needs dental work a mouth full of broken teeth.

"She had been through many different owners, many different lives, and we know that some of them were a lot worse than others," Lope added. "So she probably broke off her teeth trying to break through the wire, trying to get free."

Freckles, Alex and Cookie will be the headliners at this year's 10th annual Fur Ball to benefit Big Cat Rescue. It's the sanctuary's biggest fundraiser of the year and comes this year in the midst of a recession that's also effecting them.

"Our grocery bill is huge and it keeps getting bigger. These guys eat so much and they eat expensive stuff," Lope said. "A lot of chicken, a lot of steak, then all their supplements that go on top of that...it's a lot of money."

The Big Cat Rescue's Fur Ball is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 9 from 6:30 p.m.-midnight at the A La Carte Event Pavillion. For ticket information, log onto www.bigcatrescue.org/furball.htm .

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/hillsborough/big_cat_rescue_fur_ball_092509

Chance to pet a real tiger at Courtland Center- Burton, Michigan

By Karen Petzold kpetzold@nbc25.net
Friday, September 25, 2009 at 12:31 p.m.

When entering the Courtland Center Mall in Burton, the last thing you'd expect to see is wildlife, but that's exactly what you'll see this weekend.

G.W. Exotic Animal Park, of Oklahoma, have brought some of their furry friends to MidMichigan with the hope of spreading awareness and raising funds for their cause as the nation's largest big cat rescue center. Visitors can help the cause by purchasing a stuffed toy tiger to take home, simply making a donation, or for the small price of $25 two people can spend time up close and personal with a real baby tiger or lion.

In addition to the once in a lifetime chance to play and pet a tiger or lion, at 6pm each day there is a Vegas style magic show that contains an anti-drug and alcohol message.

G.W. Exotic Animals will be at Courtland Center in Burton through this Sunday.

http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/story.aspx?id=354959

Birthday Celebration for Namaste, the White Bengal Tiger- Hilo, HI

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 10:51 AM HST

How many birthday parties have you attended where a white Bengal Tiger is the guest of honor?

The Panaewa Rainforest Zoo will celebrate the 11th birthday of Namaste, a white Bengal Tiger, on Saturday, Sept. 26. The event starts at 9 a.m. with his traditional "ice cake," featuring 11 bone candles. At 10:30 a.m, the tiger will receive a birthday present of a huge pillow mouse stuffed with "Meowie Wowie" catnip.

The Hawaii County Band will then perform, followed by free cake and ice cream to be served at noon. The free birthday cake for humans is first come, first serve, so get there early to grind on some cake.

A special turkey dinner will be given to Namaste at 3:30 p.m., winding up the day's festivities. There will be live music all day; keiki games, crafts, a petting zoo from 1:30-2:30 p.m., face painting and more will be offered during the event.

Funds raised will be used by Friends of the Zoo for the acquisition and care of zoo animals and for zoo improvements. The Panaewa Zoo's hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Admission is free. For more info, call 959-9233 or visit http://www.hilozoo.com.

http://www.bigislandweekly.com/articles/2009/09/23/read/lifestyle/lifestyle04.txt

Raja, El Paso Zoo's Malayan tiger, euthanized- El Paso, TX

By Jay Koester / El Paso Times
Posted: 09/22/2009 03:03:00 PM MDT

Raja, the El Paso Zoo's 16-year-old Malayan tiger, was euthanized today when a cancerous mass was found in his abdomen.

"Most days at the Zoo are a celebration of life and its astonishing diversity, but today the zoo has lost a valuable and beloved member of our family," Zoo Director Steve Marshall said in a news release.

As Raja was examined Monday under anesthesia a large mass was found in his abdomen. Surgery was planned for today to attempt to remove the mass, but veterinarians found the cancerous mass could not be removed and was beginning to spread.

"We had to make the right decision for Raja," Zoo veterinarian Dr. Victoria Milne said. "It was obvious that this process was not going to resolve with surgery and was only going to progress and make him feel very ill, very quickly. At least we were able to cut that suffering short."

At 16 years old, Raja was geriatric for tigers, officials said. Problems like kidney failure, arthritis, and cancer increase in frequency with old age in cats, as in people and other animals.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_13393909?source=most_emailed

Tiger, tiger learning bright- Australia

By Lisa Mayoh
From: The Sunday Telegraph

HE'S cute, cuddly, loves a bottle and - when full-grown - could rip your face off with a single swipe.

But that's a distant prospect, when three-month-old Kinwah the tiger cub achieves his full 160kg predatory capacity.

The cub was born at South Coast's Mogo Zoo. He's been hand-reared by zoo owner Sally Padey since he was two weeks old, after it was realised he had a problem with his hip joint. Mrs Padey said raising mischievous Kinwah was like having a child - one that was currently experiencing the ``terrible twos''.

"It's time consuming, and it's like having a child," she said.

"Now he's out jumping in the backyard in the middle of my parsley, pulling out my plants and really in that terrible-two stage."

Mrs Padey, who lives at the zoo among the 200 animals, keeps Kinwah in her own backyard with german shepherd dogs Hassle and Rumble, who are like his family.

Kinwah eats meat, mice and milk and still has a bottle "for comfort".

"He's very cute; he's going extremely well and growing up so quickly," Mrs Padey said.

(Mogo Zoo is a small privately owned zoo in Mogo on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia.)

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/tiger-tiger-learning-bright/story-e6freuy9-1225777003896

Black Pine's runaway tiger dies of cancer- Albion, IN

India, a Bengal tiger that escaped Black Pine in December, was 19.

Becky Manley
The Journal Gazette

India, the Bengal tiger that caused a commotion when she escaped from Black Pine Animal Park in Noble County last December, has died.

Park officials and volunteers became concerned for the cat about two weeks ago when she began shunning her daily allotment of about 10 pounds of meat.

During exploratory surgery Thursday, a Kendallville veterinarian confirmed the worst.

"She was full of cancer," said Lori Gagen, Black Pine's executive director.

Gagen and other park staff members present during the surgery made the difficult decision to euthanize the 19-year-old tiger.

"Her lack of appetite was really the only symptom we had over the last two weeks," Gagen said.

India, known for her sweet temperament, was the focus of a large-scale search in December involving the Noble County Sheriff's Department, Albion Police Department, Albion firefighters, Indiana conservation officers and Indiana State Police. The search was launched after a man told Albion police he had spotted a tiger along a county road.

After hours spent in the fields and woods near the spot where India was seen, searchers gave up as the light faded and fog set in. The cat later returned to the park.

Now buried at the park, India is the park's fourth large animal to die within about a year. The other animals were black bears Mr. Bear and Isaac, both retired circus performers, and a cougar named Cody who came to the park after state officials found him malnourished in a man's basement.

The animals were among those Gagen called "the originals" who found refuge at the park about the time it opened in 1995. As the animals aged, Gagen said the park's staff and volunteers knew the time would come when they would likely endure multiple deaths.

"This period of time was fully expected to happen," Gagen said.

Gagen posted news about India's death on the park's Facebook page and, by early-afternoon Friday, about 20 people had posted messages.

"There's been a great outpouring of sadness and appreciation that the park gave her a good life," Gagen said.

As a result of the deaths, the park's leopards and tigers currently housed in temporary enclosures will be moved to more spacious permanent habitats. A black bear and a lion remain in temporary enclosures, Gagen said.

The temporary enclosures prompted the park's board to decide recently it might not take new animals because it relies on volunteers and donated materials, Gagen said.

The park recently turned away seven animals seeking homes after an Indiana zoo closed, Gagen said.

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20090919/LOCAL/309199996/0/FRONTPAGE#

Call to control tigers in captivity- Vietnam

Two tigers are being raised at the Dai Nam Zoo in southern Binh Duong Province. Some people who live near zoos and endangered animal reserves in the province are worried about their safety.

Call to control tigers in captivity

(15-09-2009)

BINH DUONG — Local people who live near zoos and endangered animal reserves in southern Binh Duong Province are worried about their safety after a worker was killed and another injured last Thursday, when a tiger jumped a fence at the Dai Nam Zoo.

There are currently four establishments in Binh Duong that are licensed to raise tigers on a trial basis since 2007, including Dai Nam tourism site, Thai Binh Duong Beer Company, Thanh Canh tourism site and Huynh Phi Ngoc farm.

However, these farms have raised tigers based on knowledge and methods that have been appropriated from other countries standards, due to the lack of regulations.

Director of Dai Nam Zoo, Duong Thanh Phi, said the tigers in his zoo were raised on a trial basis in a semi-natural environment, which was used in Singapore to help tourists understand how the tigers behave in a natural environment.

The zoo submitted the project to local authorities for appraisal in June and were waiting for the appraisal results, he said.

However, the accident proved that the zoo's project failed to ensure safety.

"We live in fear everyday, particularly when we hear the roar of the tigers raised near our house. It is unreasonable to raise endangered animals like tigers in a residential area," said Nguyen Thi Chien, who lives next to the beer company's farm.

"The raising of wild animals has also caused environmental pollution and I have complained to local authorities many times but received no reply," she said.

Standards

Deputy head of the Binh Duong Forest Management Department, Tran Van Nguyen, admitted that so far there had yet to be any legal standards set for how to properly raise and keep wild animals. In particular, there have been no regulations made for the cages that house the fierce animals.

"Examinations were made at tiger raising farms, but it was difficult to decide whether these farms met safety requirements or not due to the lack of specific standards," he added."The cage at the Dai Nam Zoo was 2.5m high and was protected by a five metre electric fence. However, such cages were not appraised by any agencies for its safety," he said.

The only current regulation concerning the breeding and keeping of wild animals is based on Decree No 82/2006/ND-CP, issued in 2006, which allows zoos or farms to raise the wild animals on a trial basis.

The decree, which manages the import, export, re-export and re-import, transit, breeding, growing and artificial transplantation of rare and precious wild life and plant species within the Vietnamese territory, was made after Viet Nam joined the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora.

Under the convention, the raising of tigers by these farms was aimed at preserving endangered animals for scientific research or for tourism purposes, but not for commercial profits, he added.

"It is now high time for authorised agencies to build safety regulations and standards to help better manage endangered animals to avoid such accidents from happening again," Nguyen said.

Wild animal farms and reserves in other countries have applied several measures to ensure the safety for tourists such as building tempered glass walls, five-metre electric fences and a trench to separate the animals from observers, said Deputy Director of the Forest Management Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Do Trong Kim.

"Currently, the State does not encourage the breeding of wild animals and has yet to establish regulations over the technical construction of cages. Endangered animal raising farms must have their own management plans to prevent their animals from escaping," he said.

After the accident, Director General of the Dai Nam Joint Stock Company and owner of the Dai Nam Zoo, Huynh Uy Dung, said another five metre fence would be built before the zoo was reopened to tourists.

He said the tiger that escaped was now isolated and would no longer be showcased for tourists. —VNS

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=02SOC150909

No roaring success: Binh Duong's lax tiger pens- Vietnam

Due to a recent case in which a tiger in Dai Nam tourism park, Binh Duong Province, attacked and killed a zoo worker on September 13, SGGP reporters visited tiger breeding sites in the province to investigate conditions.

We went to the breeding site of Pacific Beer Co. in Noi Hoa Hamlet 1, Binh An Commune, Di An District, where 31 tigers and tigresses are kept.

The first thing that struck us was that the tigers are kept in unsafe breeding facilities, which stand next to crowded residential zones instead of in isolation.

Local residents said that the news of a tiger in Dai Nam's zoo attacking and killing a worker had made them anxious for the safety of their families, as a tiger had once before escaped its cage and ran into a local resident's house.

The owner of the house that had once been "visited" by a tiger, Le Thanh Thieu of Noi Hoa 1, narrated that some three years ago, the animal, weighing between 50 and 60 kilos, jumped over the breeding site's fence and landed into his yard. He and other members of the family ran for their lives and into the house.

Thieu said, " We stood trembling behind the locked the door while the tiger kept wandering around the house until a security guard from the company rushed to my home and tried to lure him back to the cage."

He added, "A few years ago, when the tigers were just brought here, the company didn't bother about building the fence for their breeding site, but grew bushes of Roses of Sharon as a substitute. The fences were built only after the escape of the tiger. Indeed, the local authorities forced the company to do so."

Although living in a house surrounded by very high fences, Nguyen Thi Chien, another local resident, always feels fearful when hearing the tigers roaring from their cages. She said, "During the rut, the tigers roar all day and all night, particularly between 4am and 5am, I wake up and can never get back to sleep again."

Aside from living in fear, local people have also been affected by the environmental pollution due to the disgusting odor from the breeding site.

According to the Binh Duong Province Forest Protection Agency, three businesses are currently allowed to rear tigers, as part of pilot conservation projects in the province: they are Thai Binh Duong Beer Co. in Di An District, Thanh Canh Tourist Zone in Thuan An District and Dai Nam Tourism Area in Thu Dau Mot District.

The agency said that after the tiger's attack on the zoo worker, they could do nothing, but report the case to higher authorities.

At present, there are no official regulations on wildlife breeding nor standards for assessment whether or not tiger breeding facilities are safe.

Owners of the three breeding sites said that they had several times submitted their pilot breeding projects to authorities, but "they were rejected because they fail to meet standards."

The question is raised as to how non-existent standards have been used by authorities to determine the businesses' projects.

The nonsensical problem has not yet been solved.

At present, although the businesses have been allowed keep the tigers under pilot projects for some two years now, no one can say whether or not the breeding facilities or conditions for the tigers meet minimum standards.

And local residents living near tiger breeding sites are still apprehensive of dangers due to the fact that some day in the future, the tigers may jump over substandard walls and roar in their homes.

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Special_report/2009/9/74207/

White tiger cub dies at Indore zoo- India

September 17th, 2009 SindhToday

Bhopal, Sep 17 (IANS) One of the three white tiger cubs In Indore zoo which fell ill when authorities allegedly released it prematurely for viewing in a bid to attract more tourists, died Thursday.

Three white tiger cubs had fallen ill at the zoo during the last week of August allegedly due to the authorities' decision to prematurely release them into an enclosure, wildlife experts said.

"All the three cubs, born at the zoo in March, were suffering from diarrhoea and dehydration for the past few days. The problem has been caused due to the premature release of the cubs in the enclosure for the tourists," a zoo employee told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

However, zoo superintendent B.L. Sharma said that the health problem with the cubs had arisen due to constantly changing weather which is causing various diseases like malaria and dengue even among human beings, and animals are as susceptible.

"Adding to it, the cub Samridhi who has died was weak since birth," he said adding that all efforts were being made to safeguard the health of the other two white tiger cubs.

The cubs were suffering from bacterial gastro-enteritis.

http://www.sindhtoday.net/news/1/51343.htm

Tigers for Tomorrow to hold event- Attala, AL

Published September 18, 2009

Tigers for Tomorrow is gearing up for its first "Hot Rod Roar" on Oct. 3 to help out some new residents.

The event is being held at Dreamfield Productions, and the show is open to anything with wheels.

The event is to help raise money for two newcomers to the Tigers for Tomorrow Exotic Animal Preserve.

Sue Steffens, TFT president, said the event to is to raise money to build two new enclosures for 10-week old lion cub, Chloe, and 12-week old tiger cub, Tish.

Steffens said many may think this isn't the time to take on additional animals, but TFT couldn't refuse them.

"Thankfully, the cubs will not cost TFT any additional funds for an enclosure as they are planned to live just inside the preserve's front entrance where a pack of young timber wolves now reside," Steffens said. "TFT is planning on moving the wolves to an acre-plus habitat."

The two new cubs will make TFT their permanent home.

"They'll stay here for the rest of their lives," Steffens said. "The cubs have already made their first trip to the doctor for a checkup and been spayed."

Steffens said beginning Oct. 7, the cubs will be out in their temporary enclosure at TFT.

"Everyone is invited to come out to the preserve to watch the cubs grow," Steffens said. "It's going to not only be great fun to watch them tumble and play, but also a great educational opportunity to watch them grow."

The Hot Rod Roar will run from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., and the top 10 will be announced at 2 p.m.

For more information on Tigers for Tomorrow, call 524-4150 or log onto tigersfortomorrow.org.

http://times-journal.com/story.lasso?ewcd=bd21f1fe4d5a1b72&-session=FPTJ:42F944EB166a12A12CMlnJ68AA39

Real Tiger Joins Moss Hill Family- Rockwell, NC

By Parul Joshi
Reporter
Published: September 18, 2009

Some students welcomed a tiger into their school family today. Moss Hill Elementary in Kinston adopted "Ares" a Bengal tiger cub from Tiger World. That's a nonprofit tiger rescue in Rockwell. Today Tiger World brought the 9-week-old cub to school so the students could see the animal they've committed to take care of. Each classroom will raise $5.00 a month for the year to take care of Ares.

Guidance Counselor Laura Grosso says, "One of our character education words is involved, so we thought that it would be a really great way for the kids to become involved with saving endangered species and learning more about what we can do as a whole to conserve our world."
Moss Hill Elementary's mascot is the tiger, so adopting a real tiger was fitting.

http://www2.wnct.com/nct/news/local/article/real_tiger_joins_moss_hill_family/53298/

The Tale of the Tiger show at King Richard's Faire showcases several different varieties of big cats- Myrtle Beach, SC

September 15, 10:48 PM

The big cat show, or the Tale of the Tiger, is one of the star events at every King Richard's Faire and this year celebrates its 25 year touring to Carver.

Cats of various species and ages command the stage before the 400 pound gorilla of the cat world, the liger, takes the stage.

Trained or not, the 900 pound liger (the mating of a male and a female) is simply awe inspiring. It's difficult to imagine a carnivore that large, then to see it drink from a baby's bottle with the delicacy of a tamed Siamese cat.

The show is put on by T.I.G.E.R.S. (The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species) and the R.S.F. (Rare Species Fund), based out of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They train and raise big cats as well as working with international agencies to preserve big cats from extinction.

In addition to seeking support they also take on interns at their camp teaching others how to care for these beautiful animals.

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-9773-Providence-Parks-Examiner~y2009m9d15-The-Tale-of-the-Tiger-show-at-King-Richards-Faire-showcases-several-different-varieties-of-big-cats

Zhengzhou Zoo full of tiger and lion cubs- China

Dongfang Jinbao News
Updated: 2009-09-08

Hundreds of people are flocking to the zoo in Zhengzhou, Henan province, to see seven lion cubs and five tiger cubs born in the past six months.

The oldest of the cubs is five months old while the youngest is three months old.

This is the first time that so many tigers and lions were born at the zoo in such a short span of time.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2009-09/08/content_8667291.htm

Ailing Ben on last legs- India

JAYESH THAKER
Sunday , September 6 , 2009

Jamshedpur, Sept. 5: Ben may no longer remain a prized possession of Tata Steel Zoological Park.

The ailing tiger is counting its last days inside a small cage at the veterinary clinic of the zoo, helplessly licking his multiple injury marks.

Already afflicted with a tumour in the belly, the tiger has recently developed serious complications in the kidney and liver. Ben has lost both lower canines and a couple of molar teeth, besides having deformed claws. The tiger is also suffering from swelling in the lymph glands and bed sore.

Worried zoo officials have approached foresters for suggestions about the line of treatment for the 17-plus striped animal.

Ben and his mate Shyamali were brought to Tata Zoo from Karanpindari Rescue Centre in Bilaspur on March 14, 1996. The latter delivered two cubs — Shanti and Basanti — in December 1999.

Basanti was later gifted to the Ranchi zoo. Shyamali, too, has grown old. She's over 16-year-old and has lost breeding capacity.

"The healing capacity of the tiger has diminished due to old age. Ben is no longer fit to be displayed in the zoo. Besides the tumour in the belly, he has other serious complications. We are hoping for the best but the health of the tiger is deteriorating," said the zoo veterinary doctor M. Palit.

A.T. Mishra, the divisional forest officer of East Singhbhum, said they have approached the Orissa Veterinary College for necessary guidance.

"Experts from the college are expected to visit the city to examine the ailing tiger and suggest a line of treatment. I am also going to speak to zoo officials today," he added.

Palit, who has been treating Ben for over two months now, said they were in constant touch with the college. "We shifted the tiger to the cage as it would have developed maggots if kept in the enclosure. Though we are doing our best to treat Ben, we are not very optimistic about his survival. Ben may not last the year," he told The Telegraph.

Besides routine dressing of wounds, a vitamin B complex injection is administered every second day to the tiger once known for its gracious walk and huge roar.

Doses of electoral powder and Glucon-D are also a routine affair. "We have stopped giving antibiotics to Ben as it would aggravate the wounds," Palit added.

According to him, the tiger's diet has been drastically reduced. "Ben used to devour a 10-kg buffalo daily but now the consumption ability has come down to 2-3kg," he said.

Shedding light on the life span of tigers, Palit said that tigers in the wild live for 14-15 years and those in captivity for 16 years.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090906/jsp/jharkhand/story_11456942.jsp

Tiger killing and theft plotted in jail- Indonesia

Jon Afrizal
The Jakarta Post
Wed, 09/02/2009 10:11 PM

Jambi Police are still searching for two men accused of masterminding the killing and theft of a Sumatran tiger from its cage at the Taman Rimba Jambi Zoo on Aug. 22, following the arrest of a suspect.

Syamsuddin alias Udin Bolu, who was arrested last week, said Iwan and Mukmin were the brains behind the crime.

"We planned the theft and killing when we were serving our jail sentences. The plan was discussed between May and June this year," said Udin, who has been in prison six times for various criminal cases.

Udin said he accepted Iwan's request for assistance due to their childhood friendship and to pay back Iwan's donation aid. For his role, Udin was promised to receive Rp 18 million, Rp 8 million of which was transferred in advance.

Udin said Iwan was only taking orders from a businessman living in the South Sumatra capital of Palembang.

The thieves stole the skin and flesh of a 25-year-old tiger called Sheila, the remaining tiger at the zoo, after feeding it with poisoned bait.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/09/02/tiger-killing-and-theft-plotted-jail.html

Tiger discovered in Mosta- Malta

by SCOTT GRECH
9/2/2009

It is not everyday that one comes across a Bengal tiger in one of the smallest and densest countries in Europe, but this is precisely what was discovered on Monday in a warehouse in Mosta, where a tiger cub is being kept.

Animal Welfare director Mario Spiteri said that a raid was carried out at the warehouse after the office received a number of anonymous calls regarding the sightings of a tiger on the roof of the warehouse in Mosta.

The Bengal tiger, a threatened species, is the most numerous of tiger sub-species. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), there are 2,000 Bengal tigers in the wild today.

Apart from the Animal Welfare department, the police's Administrative Law Enforcement and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority's Environment Protection Department also took part in the raid.

"The department is normally very sceptical about such telephone calls regarding exotic animals, for most of them are usually a hoax. All the same, much to our great surprise, this particular investigation turned out to be true".

"However, we opted not to confiscate the tiger for now because it was obvious that the tiger's owner takes a great deal of care in looking after the animal. It has a big enough area in which to roam in, the room is air-conditioned and the animal is fed chickens so it gets its daily requirement of lean protein. Furthermore, we have no indications as yet that it has ever bothered the owner's neighbours or anyone from the surrounding area," said Mr Spiteri.

Mr Spiteri remarked that although the jungle is the ideal habitat, the tiger would not feel uncomfortable living in such conditions if it has been accustomed to do so since birth.

"Abroad, there are a significant number of people who hold such species in captivity, which is why the Bengal tiger, to take a case in point, is in grave danger of becoming extinct. Female tigers are more prone to being held in captivity, for the owners often do their utmost in trying to obtain the male tiger's sperm, with the intention that their female tiger will later have cubs. These cubs are then sold at an excessively high price to other interested parties," explained Mr Spiteri.

Hunters normally kill tigers not only for their skin, but also for body parts used to make various traditional East Asian medicines. Moreover, the hunting for Chinese medicine and fur is the biggest cause of the decline of the tigers.

However, Mr Spiteri said that the owner's intentions so far have not been revealed.

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=93472

Beardsley Zoo has a new female tiger- Bridgeport, CT

Naka is the new female Amur tiger at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, where she joins Booskin, a male adult.

Wednesday, 02 September 2009 16:39

A new tiger is calling Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo her home.

Naka (pronounced "Nuh-'KAH"), a 4-year-old female Amur — or Siberian — tiger, recently arrived in Bridgeport from the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, N.Y.

Naka joins the zoo's new male tiger, Booskin, who arrived in December 2008. Their presence at the zoo is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Special Survival Plan (SSP).

"We are lucky to add Naka to our zoo family -- both for the enjoyment of our visitors, and to help save this precious species," said Zoo Director Gregg Dancho.

Naka is "petite" in comparison to her male counterpart, Booskin. Naka weighs about 275 pounds compared to 400 pounds for Booskin.

Plans are in place to breed Naka and Booskin in the next year. Female Amurs give birth to two to three cubs, which may stay with their mom for up to two years.

The Amur is a critically endangered subspecies of tiger. Only about 44 of these great cats survive in northern Asia, and they suffer from habitat loss and poaching.

The SSP Program was started in 1981 to help ensure the survival of selected wildlife species.

The Beardsley Zoo is open daily, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It has 300 animals, representing primarily North and South American species.

http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35741:beardsley-zoo-has-a-new-female-tiger&catid=129:easton-local&Itemid=1478

Tigers attract more to Noah's Ark- Wraxall, UK

02 September 2009

Some wild antics from some of Noah's Ark Zoo Farm's most popular animals have helped the Wraxall attraction reach its highest visitor numbers.

August visitor figures are up by 55 per cent and keepers believe the arrival of the zoo's Bengal tigers in July have helped make the attraction more popular.

Female cat, Kushkja, has been seen stalking visitors in the long grass or playing with her rope ball and male, Tanvir, has kept people entertained while splashing around in his swimming pool.

Tiger keeper Emma Godsell said: "During the daily tiger keeper talks Tanvir is encouraged to go into the pool but had been a bit of a scaredy cat.

"Since he has taken the plunge we can't get him out of there as he loves it so much.

http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/content/twm/news/story.aspx?brand=Westonmercury&category=newsNorthSomerset&tBrand=westonmercury&tCategory=znews&itemid=WeED02%20Sep%202009%2012%3A12%3A41%3A383

Possible Tiger On The Loose Near Uniontown- Uniontown, PA

Posted: 2:39 pm EDT September 2, 2009
Updated: 2:49 pm EDT September 2, 2009

UNIONTOWN, Pa. -- State police and community members are on the lookout for a big cat near Uniontown.

Initial reports from Fayette County 911 said there was a tiger on the loose near Route 119, but authorities aren't releasing details, only describing the animal as a big, golden-colored cat.

Dr. Shepard's Wildlife Sanctuary was first assumed to have lost the tiger, but officials with the business said it does not belong to them.

However, an expert from the sanctuary did say the cat could be a cougar.

State troopers have been instructed to dart the tiger if it is found.

Officials continue to look for the cat and ask for any information regarding anyone who may have an unaccounted for tiger. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

http://www.wpxi.com/news/20689655/detail.html

Lope is an expert on lions, tigers, panthers- Tampa, FL

By WALT BELCHER wbelcher@tampatrib.com

Published: September 2, 2009

Are big black panthers on the prowl in upstate New York?

Are dangerous leopards or jaguars on the loose?

Cue the spooky music. Roll the grainy video of cat-like creatures.

Tonight's episode of "Monster Quest" at 8 p.m. on the History channel explores sightings of large dark feline critters near a state park 18 miles north of New York City.

A team of trackers, scientists and technicians use surveillance equipment in an attempt to find out whether anything is lurking in the woods, or if it's a hoax, or if overactive imaginations are at work.

One expert that "Monster Quest" turns to for this episode is Scott Lope, director of operations at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa.

Lope says the evidence he was asked to evaluate was inconclusive. "Some of the footage looked like just big domestic cats," he says.

However it's not impossible for exotic animals to be on the loose in the United States because so many people have them as pets, he notes.

"You would be surprised how many people in Hillsborough County have permits for exotic animals."

Lope, 41, has worked for Big Cat Rescue for 16 years. He has become the go-to guy for commentary on lions, tigers, leopards, panthers and other wild animals.

In addition to numerous appearances on Animal Planet and History, he has been featured on Discovery Channel, ABC's "20/20," CNN and Jack Hanna's animal shows.

He has been the feline and dangerous captive wildlife expert on two seasons of "Untamed & Uncut" and three seasons of "Monster Quest." He has appeared on Nickelodeon's "Animal Atlas" and Animal Planet's "Misadventure."

Lope also is featured in "Lion Feeding Frenzy," one of the most popular specials on Animal Planet and Discovery. He goes inside a transparent box placed in the middle of a pack of lions to observe what happens when lions fight for food in the wild.

Lope, who is from Pennsylvania, joined the Air Force right out of high school. After serving in the Gulf War, he was stationed at MacDill Air Force Base and has made Tampa his home for nearly 20 years; He first joined the nonprofit Big Cat Rescue preserve as a volunteer.

"I was going into the medical profession but I found my life's calling here," he says.

He now oversees the daily operation of a sanctuary that is home to 150 animals and is devoted to helping the big cats, some of which have been abused, or abandoned, or retired from performing.

He says that his appearances on television help educate people about these animals and the dangers of keeping exotic cats as pets.

http://tboextra.com/content/2009/sep/02/na-lope-is-an-expert-on-lions-tigers-panthers/tboextra/

Tigers are 'brainier' than lions

As the King of the Jungle, the lion may have the brawn, but it is the tiger that has the brains, claim scientists.

By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent
Published: 12:31PM BST 02 Sep 2009

Researchers have discovered that the tiger has a far bigger brain than its big cat rival, even though it is often seen as lower down the food chain.

A team of zoologists at Oxford University compared the brain cavity in the skulls of both animals and found tigers are 16 per cent bigger than lions, leopards and jaguars.

In evolutionary terms, brain size has usually been linked to intelligence.

Academics have always thought that social species, such as lions, should have larger brains than solitary species, such as tigers, because of the need to handle a more complex social life within groups or prides.

"What we had not expected is that the tiger has clearly much bigger relative brain size than do the other three species, which all have similar relative brain sizes," said Dr Nobby Yamaguchi, the author of the study at Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit.

"When we compare the two biggest species, on average, the lion has a bigger skull than the tiger based on the greatest length of the skull.

"However, the tiger has bigger cranial volume than the lion. It is truly amazing that tiny female Balinese tiger skulls have cranial volumes as large as those of huge male southern African lion skulls.

"Unfortunately we have no other evidence to suggest that tigers are more intelligent than lions."

The team studied the skulls of 370 lions, 225 tigers, 32 jaguars, and 42 leopards from museums around the world for the research that was published in Biological Journal of the Linnean Society.

They investigated the relationship between the skull size – the longest length between the front and back parts of the skull – and the volume inside the cats' respective craniums.

They concluded that the tigers have a relatively bigger brain (around 16 per cent larger) than lions, given their very similar average body sizes.

Lions, leopards and jaguars have almost identically sized brains to lions which makes tigers the odd one out as they shared a common ancestor around 3.7 million years ago.

Now the researchers want to find out which parts of the tiger's mind are bigger than lions to try to determine why it needs so much brain power.

Dr Yamaguchi said despite the disparity in brain size, the lion remained at the top of the food chain.

"Because lions are in groups they just beat up solitary animals like tigers - but then maybe tigers are intelligent enough to stay out of their way."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/6126082/Tigers-are-brainier-than-lions.html

Tiger Training Conservationist and Keynote Speaker, Dan Stockdale, Named One...

Conservationist, Keynote Speaker and Motivational Speaker Dan Stockdale on stage with the amazing wild tiger.

Sep 02, 2009 10:00 ET

NASHVILLE, TN--(Marketwire - September 2, 2009) - Dan Stockdale, has been named one of America's "25 Hottest Speakers" by Speaker Magazine; the official publication of the National Speakers Association representing motivational speakers. Dan, also known as Tiger Guy is CEO and founder of the non-profit Conservation Alliance for Tigers and recognized by meeting planners in the meetings industry as a keynote speaker, author, consultant, and conservationist.

Stockdale, Tiger Guy is well-known for his TV appearances and keynote presentations for association and corporate meetings where he speaks as a motivational speaker. He also delivers killer keynotes with live tigers on stage. "I am honored to be selected as one of the 25 hottest motivational speakers" said Stockdale who was selected for his platform performance. "However, the real honor is to serve alongside CEOs, my speaking peers, and those who make a difference in both the boardroom and the wild." A green speaker Stockdale is selected by meeting planners in the meetings industry who seek a unique keynote speaker who interweaves corporate conservation and environmental conservation.

"Whether working with business 'tigers' in the cutthroat environment of the boardroom, or wildlife conservation in the harsh jungle, Dan delivers. Human resource managers around the globe are realizing they must invest in human capital -- advancing thriving leaders through leadership training; cultivating growth through sales training; and harvesting loyalty through customer service trainingteamwork training." It really is a jungle out there. and

Stockdale is CEO of the non-profit Conservation Alliance for Tigers (CATs) and Adventures in Leadership in Nashville, Tennessee. He serves as a news contributor for CNN, Fox, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Microsoft, American Management Association, and many more. He is the author of "Taming Tigers." Stockdale is a motivational speaker who consults with organizations on leadership, sales growth, customer service, and teamwork; teaching leaders to thrive in today's business jungle.

Dan holds a bachelors degree in psychology from Kent State (1992), a master's degree in corporate communication from Austin Peay (2008), and is an MBA candidate at Vanderbilt (2011). You can find out more about Dan Stockdale at www.TigerGuy.com.

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Adventures-In-Leadership-Inc-1039129.html

Wildlife Waystation works to evacuate exotic animals from Little Tujunga Canyon- CA

September 1, 2009 | 6:28 pm

Yesterday we learned about the farm animals who were shuttled away to safety because of the Station fire, but what of the exotic creatures at the Wildlife Waystation in Little Tujunga Canyon? The 160-acre facility is home to more than 400 animals, including tigers, lions, bears and chimpanzees.

Our colleague Robert Lopez from the L.A. Now blog wrote yesterday that volunteers arrived with pickup trucks to help evacuate the animals. Waystation spokesman Jerry Brown said that an 18-wheel Budweiser truck even came to the rescue.

Moving the hundreds of animals that call the Waystation home is no simple task, as anyone who's ever had to load even one nervous animal into a car or livestock trailer will understand. The process continues today, with trucks leaving the sanctuary on a regular basis. At present, Brown says, "this is still very, very much an evacuation," although the sanctuary has received an enormous amount of assistance from others in the animal-rescue community.

Today, Times photographer Al Seib took the photo above of chimpanzees as they were loaded into cages to make their way to the L.A. Zoo; Brown said today that the zoo has provided safe harbor for nearly 50 chimps, as well as other animals like exotic reptiles. (Well, mostly safe; two female chimps escaped while being unloaded at the zoo, necessitating a different kind of evacuation -- that of zoo visitors. One chimp wandered to another exhibit at the zoo and was tranquilized and recaptured within about 20 minutes; the other was found in nearby Griffith Park about an hour after she escaped.)

Meanwhile, back at the sanctuary, more animals continue to pace in their cages as they wait for transport out of the path of the fires. "They're going to a number of locations," Brown said, including Pierce College in addition to the zoo.

A message on the sanctuary's website reads, "The Wildlife Waystation is currently weathering the storm. All of our animals are safe. Although the fire is dangerously close, we are fully staffed and prepared to care for our more than 400 animals and our sanctuary built more than 33 years ago. Emergency crews have worked around the clock to preserve our safety. Thank you for your concern and interest."

The website seems much calmer than the tweets being posted and reposted on Twitter, where the requests sent by dozens of concerned parties appear more dire: "SPREAD THE WORD--WILDLIFE WAYSTATION NEEDS HELP EVACUATING ANIMALS! 14831 Little Tujunga Canyon Rd Sylmar, 91342."

Contrary to the frantic Tweeting, Brown stresses that the Waystation currently has all the personnel, trucks and trailers it needs to evacuate -- the most pressing needs now are funds and the giant-sized transport crates needed to move the remaining big cats.

Anyone able to provide the hard-to-come-by large cages the sanctuary needs to continue its evacuation is encouraged to call (818) 899-5201. The cages must be able to hold a lion or tiger approximately 400 pounds, and smaller ones are no longer needed for the evacuation effort.

Mostly, according to Brown, the sanctuary -- a nonprofit that operates largely on donations -- needs funds in order to weather this storm. "This thing is costing a fortune," he says. The sanctuary's website is configured to accept secure donations; for a full list of ways you can help Southern California's wildfire victims (both human and animal), check out The Times' How to Help page.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/09/animals-waystation-fires.html

Zoo euthanizes tiger Holly- Amarillo, TX

The Amarillo Zoo's Bengal tiger, Holly, started having seizures last week and had to be euthanized over the weekend, zoo officials said Monday.

By Karen Smith Welch
karen.welch@amarillo.com
Publication Date: 09/01/09

A Bengal tiger acquired to signify bold changes for the Amarillo Zoo died last weekend after suffering steadily worsening seizures.

Consulting veterinarian Dr. Merton Pearson euthanized the 225-pound tiger, Holly, on Saturday after it was determined her condition would continue to decline, Zoo Curator Rhonda Votino said.
"It was a very difficult decision, but her quality of life had deteriorated to a point where we felt it was the most humane alternative," Votino said.

The seizures began about a week ago, causing zoo staff to take the tiger off exhibit for monitoring, Votino said.

Holly didn't recover well from being anesthetized for a physical examination, and seizure medication did not stem the episodes, Votino said.

"The seizures just got worse and worse," she said.

Preliminary findings of a necropsy included discovery of a possible thyroid tumor, Votino said.

However, the seizures are suspected to have originated with a problem in Holly's brain, Votino said.

At 19, the aging tiger had been treated for many months for arthritis. But Holly still lived a long life, by exotic cat standards, Votino said.

Tigers live 10 to 15 years in the wild and 15 to 20 years in captivity, she said.

"Once in awhile, you'll get a big cat that will live into its 20s, but that doesn't happen very often."

Holly came to the Amarillo Zoo about six years ago, on loan at first, from a nonprofit group hoping to establish a zoo in Lubbock, said city Parks and Recreation Director Larry Offerdahl.

"Really, Holly showed that the Amarillo Zoo was starting to transform itself with a new master plan," Offerdahl said.

"Since 2004, we've added eight new exhibits to the zoo."

Holly became a favorite among zoo-goers, helping to increase attendance, he said.

"She was a very special cat," Offerdahl said. "I would go over there and call her name out, and she would actually come up to the fence and purr like a big cat."

Offerdahl said city parks and zoo staff will take 30 to 60 days to determine how to fill Holly's space.

A different type of cat could be placed there while a long-range plan to build a larger tiger exhibit in another location is pursued, he said.

Votino said people wanting to send condolences can send them to the Amarillo Zoo, P.O. Box 1971, Amarillo, TX, 79105.

http://www.amarillo.com/stories/090109/new_news2.shtml

Tigress Trucha Dies- Big Cat Rescue, Tampa, FL

Tigress Trucha Dies

Trucha, a tiger who resided at Big Cat Rescue, has died.

Trucha, along with three other tigers, Modnic, TJ and Bella, were rescued by Big Cat Rescue from Savage Kingdom, a notorious breeding facility that was shut down by the USDA in 2006.

These last four tigers desperately needed a home, and if one could not be found for them they faced euthanization. On May 18th 2007, Big Cat Rescue transported them to their new home at BCR.

Trucha suffered years of abuse and neglect at Savage Kingdom, but fortunately her final years were spent at BCR, where she was treated with the respect, dignity, and care all animals deserve.

Rest In Peace and Freedom Beautiful Girl.

For more about Trucha, visit:
http://www.bigcatrescue.org/cats/captive/tigerstrucha.htm

'Tango in the Jungle' set to raise funds for Miller Park Zoo- Bloomington, IL

Besar is one of two male Sumatran tigers at Miller Park Zoo. The goal of the upcoming Zoo-Do fundraiser is to raise enough money to create a second enclosure so the zoo can acquire a breeding pair of the tigers to help ensure the survival of the species.

By Scott Richardson | srichardson@pantagraph.com |
Posted: Sunday, August 30, 2009 12:00 am

BLOOMINGTON -- Zoos do more than offer personal encounters with animals most people don't see anywhere else. The upcoming Zoo-Do fundraiser at Miller Park Zoo will help expand a local program that's part of a worldwide effort to save critically endangered species.

Money collected during the Sept. 12 evening of food, music, and auctions will go toward establishing the Bloomington zoo as a breeding site for Sumatran tigers. At present, fewer than 400 of the animals live on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, which gives the subspecies its name. Despite game preserves and strict regulations, illegal poaching reduces their number by about 10 percent each year.

Currently, Miller Park Zoo has two male Sumatran tigers, long-time resident Besar and Rojo, a new arrival from Akron, Ohio.

Acting animal collection manager Wendy Klessig said the goal for Zoo-Do is to raise $50,000 to create a new enclosure for gibbons in the zoo's oldest building, the Katthoefer Animal Building built in 1914. Moving the gibbons will make room for a second Sumatran tiger enclosure so a male can be separated from the female and her offspring when the time comes.

The second enclosure is required to enroll in the Sumatran tiger species survival plan. The remodeling is the second phase of Operation Roar. The first phase added an on-site animal hospital at a cost of $400,000. Estimates put the price tag for the rest of the work at $500,000 to $700,000.

The zoo houses a variety of breeding animals that are part of species survival plans that Klessig described as a kind of "dating service" operated among participating zoos. The goal is to provide a wide gene pool to enhance animal health.

Captive breeding helps ensure survival of a species. Ultimately, the endangered animals housed in zoos could provide animals for release back into their native ranges. Under the Species Survival Plans, zoos like Miller Park agree to provide homes to specimens of more than 100 species struggling to survive as a result of habitat destruction and disease.

Last winter, the zoo received a breeding pair of endangered Red Ruffed Lemurs. Native to Madagascar, their numbers in the wild are suffering from habitat loss. The zoo also has a breeding pair of red pandas.

The zoo also takes part in population management programs to house, rather than breed, other endangered species. They include the agoutti, three-banded armadillo, scarlet ibis, Laughing kookaburra, Amur leopard, pygmy marmoset, North American river otter, Burrowing owl, California Sea lion, two-toed sloth, Galapagos tortoises, among others.

Miller Park Zoo is home to other rare animals, too, such: as the a sun bear; callimico, a species of small monkey; Pallas cats; Panamanian golden frogs; radiated tortoise; cotton-top tamarin, and red wolves.

Though his bags are hardly unpacked, the zoo's new superintendent, Jay Tetzloff, said he's committed to broadening programs to aid critically endangered species put in place by recently retired superintendent John Tobias.

Before arriving in the Twin Cities, Tetzloff, 38, was curator at Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, S.D., where he took part in breeding programs involving snow leopards and black rhinos. The rhino program produced a baby rhino three years ago.

"The purpose of zoos, all these zoos working together, is to really conserve endangered species," said Tetzloff, who also has worked with Sumatran tigers during his 22-year zoo career. "It's a back-up plan. Should Sumatran tigers go extinct in the future, hopefully they'll be enough to reintroduce them in the wild down the road."

Some research suggests as few as eight mature female Sumatrans capable of giving birth may remain in their native land.

"They are almost jaw-dropping facts. They almost scare you when they hear them," Tetzloff said. "There are lots of species my kids will never see. ...Zoos are incredibly important for conservation as well as recreation."

This comes at a time when visits to the zoo are on the rise. Attendance during the first quarter of the fiscal year ending July 31 57,407, up 10 percent from the same period a year earlier, said Susie Ohley, spokesman for the Miller Park Zoological Society, the primary sponsor of Zoo-Do.

She credited the upswing to several factors, including: mild summer weather; higher fuel costs and the recession that encouraged Central Illinois residents to explore attractions closer to home; and a variety of new zoo attractions, including the chance to take part in twice-daily feedings of free-flight birds.

Zoo-Do: Tango in the Jungle
What: A fundraiser to expand Miller Park Zoo's commitment to species survival programs involving critically endangered Sumatran tigers.

When: 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 12

Where: Miller Park Zoo, Bloomington

Highlights: Zoo exhibits, hors d'oeuvres, beverages, music, dancing, body-painting and more. Auction items include a specially designed pendant by Bremer Jewelry and three paintings done by zoo staff using non-toxic paint on the paws of endangered species. They include Besar, a Sumatran tiger, an Amur Leopard and Pallas cats. Guests also will bid on a chance to assist renowned animal expert Jack Hanna when he appears at the Bloomington Center of Performing Arts on Jan. 16.

Tickets: $60 each.

More information: (309) 862-0007 or www.pantagraph.com/zoodo

http://www.pantagraph.com/entertainment/article_a549cfcc-9400-11de-96aa-001cc4c002e0.html#2