WILD CATS NEWS

WEEK 49/2008

Signs of Amur tiger in China give hope

Changchun, China - The discovery of Amur tiger tracks in Changbaishan in north- eastern China has given conservationists hope for a species that is rarely seen in that area.

A walker in the region spotted the tracks and recorded them on his mobile phone. A century ago such a sight would have been fairly common, with hundreds of Amur tigers,on the prowl. It is thought that now only about 20 remain in the area.

"Tiger tracks found in this area show that the tigers are moving deeper into China from the Sino-Russian border," said Fan Zhiyong, director of WWF-China's Species Programme. "Therefore, it is of critical importance that tiger conservation occurs in the whole Changbaishan area."

There are just over 500 Amur tigers in the wild and it is listed as critically endangered on IUCN's red list of endangered species. The main threats to Amur tigers in north-eastern China are habitat degradation, poaching, fragmentation of tiger habitats and a small prey population to feed from.

WWF and its partners have been focusing their efforts to save the Amur tiger on a number of fronts: helping ungulate populations such as wild boar and roe deer - which are the tiger's main prey - to recover by helping communities find alternative livelihood options; stopping poaching by helping local authorities carry out anti-poaching activities; and increasing and connecting protected tiger habitats so tigers can safely move from one area to another.

Thanks to vigorous anti-poaching and other conservation efforts on the Russian side, the tiger population there has become stable over the last decade and is beginning to increase. As such, should the feeding population in Changbaishan be restored and protected in an effectively managed tiger habitat, then those tigers across the border may come to occupy the area.

Conservationists in the Changbaishan area are very eager for this to occur, and the fact that tiger tracks have now been found in the Wangqing Forestry Bureau twice in the last two years is an encouraging sign.

"Although Wangqing Forestry Bureau is a timber management unit, it attaches great importance to wildlife conservation," said Liang Jixiang, head of the Forest Management Department of Wangqing Forestry Bureau. "We are calling for support and help from interested parties and experts at home and abroad to help find ways to make Wangqing a home for tigers."

WWF's Changchun Programme Office has recently developed the Hungchun-Wangqing- Dongning Tiger Conservation Planning tool enable greater coordination of activities across the region and to help maintain these fragile populations of Amur tiger.

"WWF is working with the Chinese government and other partners to achieve the restoration and recovery of tigers to north-east China - the one remaining place in all of China where the recovery of this majestic species is a real possibility," said Dr. Susan Lieberman, director of WWF-International's Species Programme. (www.panda.org/news)

Critically Endangered Amur Leopard Gets Check-up

Scientists have been analysing samples taken from the world's rarest big cat.

Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Biology and Soils (IBS) captured a female Far Eastern leopard, nicknamed "Alyona", in Primorsky Krai , a narrow region of Russia bordered by China and North Korea, last week.

This subspecies has adapted to the cold Russian environment with its long pelt hair, measuring up to 7cm long in winter and has longer legs than the leopards found in humid Africa or south-east Asia. The rosette pattern on its fur is more widely spaced with thicker borders.

"This project has been ongoing for just over two years, and scientific work to capture Amur tigers and Far Eastern leopards in this part of Primorsky Krai has always been distinguished by the participation of world-class specialists and use of the best equipment and methodologies," said Sergei Zubtsov, the head of Inspection Tiger, a Russian federal agency within the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Surviving along the Sino-Russian border, it is estimated that the population of this critically endangered species is between 25 and 40, among which there are approximately 10-15 females left.

Alyona was in good healthy physical condition, between eight to ten years of age and weighing 85lbs (39kg). After taking some blood samples and an electrocardiogram, she was released unharmed.

Both of these tests will reveal to scientists genetic information about the level of inbreeding within this tiny population and any symptoms of disease.

Previous captures of three leopards, two males and one female, in 2006 and 2007 have shown heart murmurs; a possible cause of genetic disorders from inbreeding.

Using camera-trapping and snow-tracking surveys, results indicate that over the past 30 years, population numbers have been stable, but with a high turnover rate.

Alexey Kostyria, PhD, IBS senior scientist and WCS-IBS project manager said, "We are excited by the capture, and are hopeful that ongoing analysis of biomedical information will confirm that this individual is in good health."

"This research is critical for conservation of the Far Eastern leopard, as it will help us to determine the risks posed by inbreeding and what we can do to mitigate them."

To increase genetic diversity, scientists are considering translocating foreign leopards to try to increase the gene pool.

One successful case occurred with Florida panthers, whereby animals from Texas were merged into the population to increase the remaining numbers. Originally at a low of ten, Florida panthers now number approximately 100.

Over the last century, Amur leopards have been hunted by poachers for their pelts and medicinal qualities and had their habitat destroyed by logging.

Their prey, Sika deer, wild board and hares are also hunted by locals. Forest produce are also a much needed source of income in southwest Primorye.

Local farmers who burn their fields to promote better growth of vegetation, often cannot control the fires, resulting in them spreading to the nearby forests, destroying the habitat.

WEEK 48

CHIMP RAISES TWO WHITE TIGER CUBS

When hurricane Hannah separated two white baby tigers from their mother, Anjana the chimp came to the rescue. Anjana, at 'TIGERS' sanctuary in South Carolina, became surrogate mom and playmate to the cubs, even helping with bottle feeding. But here's the truly amazing part... Anjana does this all the time, having raised leopard and lion cubs.

Enjoy the pics :)

WEEK 47

JOE BODEMANN FILM ANIMAL PARK

The "Filmtierpark Eschede" near Celle is the residence of famous animals from film and TV. They live here on 120,000 square meters of cultivated forestland. The training centre for new animal film and TV stars is also located here.

World-famous film animal coach Joe Bodemann puts on daily shows, in which visitors can learn how e.g. lions, tigers, bears, horses and dogs are prepared for their film parts. You can even touch some of the film animals! The Jungle Cafe of the Joe Bodemann centre is the place where tired visitors can retreat and regain their strength.

Opening times: year-round, daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WEEK 45

Wendy Collinson who's keeping us posted with the latest news about the African wild dogs in the Venetia-Limpopo Reserve, spotted two cheetahs "in love" and two mothers with cubs. Good news since there has been spotted very few cheetahs in this region for a long time. Read here what she has to say:

We were very lucky to see a male and a female cheetah spending some quality time together on Venetia recently. Adult Cheetahs of opposite sexes do not spend time together for any reason other than for making baby cheetahs, so we were quite excited by this development. With at least 3 litters having been born this year, the cheetahs in the area seem to be thriving.

We are trying to catch a cheetah to fit a GPS collar in order to track their movements, and thought this might be the perfect opportunity, and moved our trap to close to where the spotty couple were courting. Sadly, they were far more interested in each other and the trap remained empty. We are trying a new method of trapping, whereby we use scent from a female cheetah to bait the trap. Cheetah males are typically very interested in females, and females do not appreciate other females entering their range, so we are hoping this will attract them in and that curiosity may catch the cat. In this instance though, it seems they were far more interested in each other than in the scent of an unknown cheetah, and they moved on. We are keeping going though and will keep you posted.

WEEK 44

In the Spotlight- Illegal trade & cruelty at Thai Tiger Temple

The tiger is the worlds biggest cat and one of the most powerful predators on earth. Tigers capture the imagination and few would pass up the opportunity to get up close and personal with these stunningly beautiful cats. CWIs latest investigation reveals the ugly side of our fascination with tigers at one of Thailands premier tourist destinations.

The Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi has cashed in on the allure of tigers for years. Some 300 tourists visit the facility each day. Boosted by the worldwide broadcast of two documentaries on Animal Planet, numbers reach almost 900 on busy days. But the up close and personal experience the Temple offers, turns out to be a great deal too close for comfort. Following a two year investigation, CWI published a damming report that revealed disturbing evidence of animal abuse and illegal tiger trafficking.

A Cruel Show
Approximately 15 tigers live at the Temple at any one time. Poor housing, husbandry and cruel handling are systemic throughout the facility. Far from being allowed to roam free, tigers are confined for 20 hours a day away from public view in small, barren concrete cages that fall well short of minimum requirements. Staff routinely beat adults and cubs with poles and rods. As a result, the tigers suffer a catalogue of behavioural and physical problems, including lameness, skeletal deformities and stereotypic behaviour, such as pacing and self-mutilation. These complaints are further exacerbated by malnutrition and poor veterinary care.

Interacting closely with tigers is the chief attraction that draws the crowds. Each day between 1pm and 4pm about ten tigers are chained up in the Temples Tiger Canyon, where paying visitors, including young children, can touch, sit or lie on the animals' front or back. For a further fee staff will take a photograph. The tigers are propped up with large concrete bowls to oblige them to adopt and maintain appealing poses. Tigers are also brutally yanked into position by their tail and sometimes punched, kicked or beaten to make them compliant. Temple staff tower over the animals to control them and even quirt urine into the tigers faces. In the wild, tigers use urine as a territorial and aggressive signal. At close quarters this is extremely intimidating.

Illegal Trade
Our second concern relates to illegal breeding at the Temple, which says to breed tigers for conservation. Although it doesnt have a license, at least ten cubs were born. With no information about the tigers subspecies, most if not all offspring are likely to be hybrids. For this reason alone the Temples tigers are unsuitable for inclusion in a recognised conservation breeding programmes. Circumstances in which the release of captive-bred tigers to the wild can contribute to tiger conservation are virtually non-existent. Moreover, the release of tigers that are used to humans is dangerous and potentially fatal for the tigers, humans and livestock.

The Temple claims to have rescued its initial tigers, but a Thai wildlife trader told CWI that he sold them to the Temple. CWI also obtained evidence that the Temple is involved in the clandestine exchange of tigers with a tiger farm in Laos. It is mostly older animals that were sent to Laos in exchange for young cubs and no one knows what happens to them there. Some of the new arrivals are given the same names as tigers that had been exported to obscure the fact that tigers are being moved and to create the impression that the Temple provides life-long care. These actions contravene both local and international laws under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).

CWIs report also raises grave concerns about visitor safety. Cases of fatal attacks on humans by trained and apparently mild-mannered captive wild cats abound. The Temple explicitly renounces any responsibility for injuries and asks visitors to sign a disclaimer at the entrance. However, Temple staff fail to prevent contact even when the tigers are aggressive. When asked why tourists dont get bitten, the Abbot replied: They want to bite. One day they will bite. His prediction came true in September and he is currently in hospital.

Results so far
CWI has appealed to Thailands Department of National Parks to confiscate the tigers and transfer them to a sanctuary, where they can be cared for appropriately. We have identified a suitable facility in Thailand and are offering our full support.

In response to our report, Animal Planet immediately withdrew both of its programmes on the Temple from its networks. We oppose such horrific action against animals, especially any endangered species, says the Managing Director of Animal Planet Europe, Philip Luff, and wish to ensure that our viewers are not misled into believing the temple remains a haven for the tigers. CWI is also contacting travel companies who send clients to the Tiger Temple. Many have already taken the Temple off their books. With Thai authorities dragging their heels, this should go a long way towards drying up the tide of visitors to the Temple.

We do not need more captive tigers, but more tigers in the wild. Tigers can be saved most effectively by protecting their habitat and prey through uncompromising law enforcement and by eradicating demand. Tigers will not survive another decade of losses like the last. With so few of these animals left, we must act decisively to eliminate all threats to wild tigers. This includes bringing an end to tiger trade.

ACTION ALERT! Download the report or factsheets - .

Forward the report or factsheets to tour operators and friends or families travelling to Thailand.

(with thanks to zoocrew.eu)

Wildlife Heritage Foundation
W H F is a UK based charity working hard to ensure that the big cat species of the world are protected from extinction.

Based in Kent UK we are an active partner in the European Endangered Species Breeding Programmes (EEP), as well as setting up education programmes for the people that share the habitats of these wonderful cats. The WHF is also raising awareness and funding for big cat projects around the world.

Laurence Tressler visited Kent for the Big Cat foto shoot experience and did send us some photos. He enjoyed being so close to the cats, being able to take photos with the lens through the first fence, and he said the cats looked so well and healthy.

The hunter or the hunted?
Please help us protect Nandi and other Leopards!

Dear supporter,

She waits in the tall grass. Every muscle in her lean body contracted. The herd of grazing Impala are blissfully unaware of her presence... her camouflage as always highly effective. Later, after one of them has sated her appetite and that of her hungry cubs, the family falls asleep peacefully in the cool shade of a tree.

Meet Nandi. A 7-year old Leopard from the southern African savannah. True to her nature, she hunts for survival. But has she now become the hunted?

Yes. The survival of Nandi and her species is threatened by various human and environmental factors like hunting and loss of habitat. The Endangered Wildlife Trust and our partners are doing everything in our power to conserve Leopards and other Threatened species and the habitats on which they depend.

As one of the Big Five, Leopards are a prestigious target for hunters and poachers. And with the horrific practice of canned hunting - the killing of animals for trophies in a confined area - Leopards like Nandi stand a real chance of ending up mounted above a fireplace. Some farmers, in an effort to protect their livestock, set traps or poisoned carcasses to kill Leopards on their farms. Loss and degradation of natural habitat, with a declining prey base also present major threats to the survival of these large cats.

THE SITUATION IS SERIOUS, BUT NOT HOPELESS! The EWT's Carnivore Conservation Group and partners like the newly formed South African Leopard Forum (SALF) are working hard to gather accurate data on Leopard distribution, populations and the status of the species, so that together we can develop and implement ongoing effective Leopard conservation plans.

BUT WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOUR HELP! Your donation will enable us to give Nandi and her offspring many more hunting trips throughout Africa and will keep the ancient fabric that weaves man and the environment intact! You can help us to secure the long-term future of Leopards in the wild and ensure that our children's children can have the life-altering experience of seeing one of our most iconic predators in its natural habitat.

Simply go to our website and pledge your financial support by completing the online donation form. All donations will go towards supporting the EWT's conservation activities.

PLUS: If you donate R200 or more, you'll stand the chance to win a beautiful framed Leopard photograph by Villiers Steyn - a worthy addition to any nature-lover's collection...

The future of Nandi and other Leopards is in our hands. Please help us to guarantee them a spot in our future!

Dr Nick King

CEO: EWT

Read the WCM travel report of the Botswana and South Africa Elephant, Leopard and Wild dog Study Tour 2008!

It was great to be out with wildlife researchers again and to share their passion and knowledge. During this trip we've had so many great sightings again: elephants, wild dogs, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, rhino, jackals, giraffes, etc. etc.

Leopard savaging a crocodile caught on camera

The astonishing spectacle of a leopard savaging a crocodile has been captured for the first time on camera. A series of incredible pictures taken at a South African game reserve document the first known time that a leopard has taken on and defeated one of the fearsome reptiles.

The photographs were taken by Hal Brindley, an American wildlife photographer, who was supposed to be taking pictures of hippos from his car in the Kruger National Park.

The giant cat raced out of cover provided by scrub and bushes to surprise the crocodile, which was swimming nearby.

A terrible and bloody struggle ensued. Eventually, onlookers were amazed to see the leopard drag the crocodile from the water as the reptile fought back.

With the crocodile snapping its powerful jaws furiously, the two animals somersaulted and grappled. Despite the crocodile's huge weight and strength, the leopard had the upper hand catching its prey by the throat.

Eventually the big cat was able to sit on top of the reptile and suffocate it.

In the past, there have been reports of crocodiles killing leopards, but this is believed to the first time that the reverse scenario has been observed.

Mr Brindley said: 'I asked many rangers in South Africa if they had ever heard of anything like this and they all said no.

'It just doesn't make sense. The meat you get out of a crocodile is just not worth the risk it takes a predator to acquire. The whole scene happened in the course of about 5 minutes. Then the leopard was gone.

'I drove away, elated in disbelief. It may have been the most amazing thing I've ever seen.'

Ellie Rose, a reptile keeper at London Zoo, said: 'Normally, crocodiles are well able to defend themselves against attack. I can't think of any examples of this happening before.'

  

LAURIE MARKER VISITS THE NETHERLANDS

 

Cheetah expert Dr. Laurie Marker from Cheetah Conservation Fund Namibia was in Holland in May 2008 to give a lecture about her work and the importance to save the endangered cheetah. The Dutch foundation SPOTS (working in Holland for the cheeta) invited Laurie to come over. She also visited two Dutch zoos with cheetahs in their collection.

 

Babette de Jonge (WCM) presented a dvd to Laurie Marker with on it the song "Cheetah Cry"; song with videoclip. Laurie and the audience were very enthusiastic about the song. We are now trying to find a way to promote the song. We keep you informed of course.

 

CHEETAH CRY DETAILS

 

Idea by: Babette de Jonge/Wild Cats Magazine

Words by: Babette de Jonge and Laurence Tressler

Music by: Laurence Tressler

 

Song performed by the Suspects featuring Nikki.

 

C: Suspectsongs 2007     

 

CANNED HUNTING!  

 

Every year thousands of people visit facilities where they can interact with lion cubs.

Every day, a captive bred lion is killed in a canned hunt.

The truth is that these lions are the product of factory farming. The cubs are taken from their mothers so that she can produce another litter in six months time, as opposed to two years time, if she had the opportunity to raise her own offspring.

These factory farmed cubs are often kept in unsuitable cages with little regard for their social requirements.

For a fee you can play and have your photograph taken with them.

What happens to these human imprinted animals when they have outgrown their usefulness?

Because they are human imprinted and have been deprived of growing up in a natural social group they cannot be rehabilitated or sold to game reserves.

Do these lion cubs benefit from this forced interaction?

How can they!

What possible enjoyment can they derive from being pawed, picked up and being posed all day long, day after day, until they have grown too big?

Are these animals part of breeding programmes that will save lions from extinction?

NO!

These inbred, human imprinted and psychologically damaged animals have absolutely no conservation value.

They cannot be rehabilitated into the wild.

They cannot be used to supplement dwindling wild populations.

They can be used as canon fodder in the canned hunting industry.

Every reputable animal welfare organization in the world considers the practice of using lion cubs for human playthings as cruelty.

Lion cubs are by their very nature not gentle animals.

Lion cubs used for petting opportunities are normally trained not to scratch or bite.

How do you think a naturally boisterous animal is trained not to behave naturally?

These cubs are sometimes even drugged!

What about your safety?

Every year many people are injured while interacting with wild animals in petting parks.

Why do you think that they want you to sign an indemnity or have signs stating that you play with these animals at your own risk?

Do they warn you about the possibility of being infected with parasites carried by these animals, some of which can be deadly?

Next time you are presented with the opportunity of playing with a lion cub, first ask;

Where are the cub's mothers?

Why aren't they being raised by their mother?

Where do the cubs come from?

(Often, operators rent lion cubs from bigger breeding farms)

What happens to them when they grow too big?

If they are rehabilitated

Where have they been rehabilitated and is there supporting documentation?

Once they have been rehabilitated, do they have the opportunity to live out their natural lives, or is their rehabilitation just to facilitate their death at the hands of hunters?

If they are sold to game reserves

Which game reserves (by name)?

If they are part of a breeding program

For what purpose?

What happens to surplus animals?

The operators of facilities with lion cubs often have all the answers, but if you start asking these questions you will at some point be faced with a hostile response.

At the end of the day it is up to you how you spend your money.

We urge you to practice responsible tourism.

If you are compelled to play with a lion cub that has been stolen from its mother and is subject to stressful and unnecessary handling day after day, please do so with the knowledge that this is probably why it has been bred and what will happen to it!

www.wmsp.co.uk

 

WILD CATS MAGAZINE WOULD LOVE TO WISH ALL TRUE VISITORS OF THIS WEBSITE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY 2008 IN GOOD HEALTH AND WITH LOTS OF (WILD) CATS!

 

 

Three lion cubs in zoo Planckendael 

On 13th of September 2007 there were born three Indian lioncubs in zoo Planckendael (Belgium). Two male and one female, Itar, Iblis and Ishara. WCM went to this zoo to watch these cute cubs and here's for you a few photos to see for yourself how beautiful they are. They look very healthy and playful, as well as their mum. Watch and enjoy!     

 

 

TIGER STUDY TOUR TO INDIA

We have just returned from a absolutely wonderful trip to the jungle of India (Bandavhgarh and Panna) where our wish came true to see some tigers in the wild. The full story will follow shortly on this website (both in Dutch and English).

In India we had to realise again how bad the situation is for the tigers in the wild. We have to try and do something about it. Please go to http://www.PetitionOnline.com/vivek707/ and give the Indian tigers your support!

In this way I'd like to give a big thank you to Shekhar, Lynn, Susan and Catharine for making this trip extra special. It was absolutely fantastic to travel with you! We keep in touch! 



 

KOLIPAKA SRINIVAS SHEKHAR

 

Shekhar is our new friend and great guide on our trip to Bandavhgarh and Panna. He is a wildlife biologist specializing in studying wild cats. Indian jungles support the highest diversity of wild cats in the world and Shekhar's field locations include the cloud forest of Indo-burma region, Upper Himalaya, Central Indian dry forests, moist forests of the Eastern ghats and the rain forests of Western ghats. He is involved in research to establish ways to monitor populations of wild cats on a long term project in the Panna Tiger Reserve Region. His work in central India helped understand the ( current status and threats for the species survival) of the rare Indian caracal and the rusty spotted cat in Central India. He is associated with the IUCN Cat Specialist Group and a host of national and international researchers in conducting research in India. Soon his first book will be released. We keep you informed about his work on this website.

 

JENNIFER BUXTON

A great lady and paintress we met on our trip to India is Jennifer Buxton. This lady visits the tigers of Bandavhgarh and Panna twice a year and knows everything about them. Her paintings of the tigers are being sold and the money goes to the children and schools in Panna. As you can see on the photo her work is great! In the near future more news about this lady who absolutely loves tigers (and other cats) just like we do! 



 

Wildlife presenter Simon King raises funds for Toki the cheetah.

Enjoy a year in wildlife with the new Simon King Calendar

Television presenter and wildlife cameraman Simon King has produced this fantastic 2008 calendar.

With an overall size of 42x44cms it is sure to be an eye catching addition to any wall.

For each calendar sold, 50p will be donated to Tusk Trust ( www.tusk.org , www.justgiving.com/tokipage ) which looks after the wellbeing of Toki the cheetah.

For more details log on to www.simonkingwildlife.com 



 

Wildlife Survival Sanctuary

On this website you could already read about this sanctuary in Spring Hill, Florida. Always good to know more about how the animals are being kept and what's really important to keep a wild animal happy and healthy. Herewith some answers to a few of my questions by Brigitte Ivory, the person of WSS I'm usually in touch with.

How many animals do you have in your sanctuary at his moment and can you give little information about the cages?

We have the following animals at our sanctuary: Three leopards, three tigers, one cougar, three Africa Servals, one bobcat/Bengal cat mix. Five emus and two Ostrich, one potbelly pig and one white tail deer. Our cages are over-sized and as natural as possible. Our leopards have huge oak trees to climb into just like in the wild. Our tigers have a huge habitat with grass and trees and swimming pools. Our cougar has a big natural cage with tons of trees and shade and lots of platforms to climb on top of and a concrete, cave-like den box to hide in (two as a matter of fact).

What's your opinion about entertaining them? (enrichment).

Enrichment is a MUST! No matter how big the cage, the animals get bored. We do lots of enrichment at our place, scent enrichment, food enrichment and lots of toys and platforms to climb on if the animals are climbers.

Do you share my opinion that the bigger and the more natural environments the better for the wild cats?

Yes, absolutely! But, we also have to understand that some places rescue animals and have little money and are still doing the best they can. However, we also don’t believe in places that keep on taking on animals and put them in small cages when they really don’t have any money. It’s really tough and we don’t want to judge anyone. The main thing is to look at if people are doing the right thing. A lot of places take in just cubs and have “breeding accidents” and that is not right. If you are claiming to be a rescue, you should be taking in older animals that really need a place to stay, not just cubs and certainly not have “breeding accidents”.

Here is a link to one of the web sites of a French volunteer we had, go to page 7 to see our tigers at play: http://animoureuse.skyrock.com/7.html

 



 

Wild cats in the magazine

 

Good news is that lots of Dutch cat magazines are publishing my articles about wild cats. It is important to keep the wild cats in the news as most species are endangered. On this website I will also pay attention to all 36 species and also to my favourite domestic cat, the Sacred Birman. Not many articles are translated in English yet but I'm working on that too!

 

 

 



 
 

 

 

 

A tribute to Hilda van Eck

 

This piece of art (tiger of leather) is made by my late aunt Hilda van Eck from Australia. I'm sad to say she died on June 29th and this is to celebrate her life and to keep on reminding her as the wonderful woman she was with her love for art and love for the animals and nature, like the tiger!

 



 
 

 

CHINESE ZOO FEED TIGERS WITH LIVING ANIMALS

Sky News shocked people by showing how living cows and chicken were released in the enclosure with tigers. This happens in the Harbin zoo where visitors can donate a chicken for GBP 2,50 or a cow for GBP 100,- and they could see how the tigers eat these animals before actually killing it. Chinese people who witnessed this were laughing and applauding and it made me sick to see this.
Everybody knows how the Chinese treat animals. They breed tigers to put them on the menu just like they always do with cats and dogs. It's about the time some organisations fighting for the rights of animals (WASP or IFAW) will go to China and start fighting for the rights of these poor animals there. It's not like we still live in the Middle Ages.      

 

See Movie:

http://www.nu.nl/news/1086234/122/Chinees_natuurpark_voert_levende_dieren_aan_tijgers.html

 

PETITION:


Write to the Chinese embassy to give your opinion and let's hope they will listen to us. They don't need bad pr at the moment of the coming Olympics and besides it feels good to tell these barbares the truth!

 http:/www.chinaembassy.uk

 

 



 

 

 

Song for the cheeta

Soon the song "Cheetahs cry" will be recorded. I wrote the lyrics to this song and my friend Laurence Tressler took care of the music and singing. Terry Grimley will make a great videoclip to promote the song. Keep reading this website for more information.
NO thanks to the well known singers who we asked to lend a hand in name of the cheetah.

 
WHITE LION CUBS

At the West Midland Safari and Leisure park at Bewdley in Worcestershire a group of 10 white lions are on view. Four white cubs are born in august 2006 and in February this year two more white cubs were born. A rare and beautiful sight.

White lions are not albino but a rare species of lion only to be found in a 200 square mile area called Timbavati in the lowveld of Northern Province, South Africa's bush country. For more information about the white lion family, visit www.wmsp.co.uk  .

In the Netherlands white lions can be watched in the Ouwehand Zoo in Rhenen and also in the Olmen Zoo in Belgium. Hopefully some white cubs will be born there in the near future too.

 
Rabid cheetah bites BBC presenter!!

BBC presenter Simon King, best known for the Big Cat Diary programmes, was

attacked by a rabid cheetah while filming in Kenya, it has emerged.

Full story and photos at

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6470825.stm

Other news

-> A 37 year old woman K. Aerts from Belgium died of her wounds caused by a cheetah pair in a Belgian Zoo. The woman took the keys and entered the cage of 2 cheetahs on her own. Nobody will ever know why the handraised cheetahs decided to attack this woman, who had a big heart for animals and cheetahs in particular.

--> a "new" cat has been discovered on Borneo: the Borneo clouded leopard. Through DNA tests was concluded that this clouded was a different one than the Asian clouded leopard. The Borneo leopard has more in common with bigger cats like the lion and the jaguar as for teeth etc.

--> Chinese breed tigers to have them on the menu in exclusive restaurants. About the time we will have the chinese on our menu!

--> Also in China they rescued three tiger cubs from their mother who wasn't interested in feeding them. Luckily a female pig was willing to mother the cubs like they were her own. Let's not hope both tigers and pigs will be on the Chinese menu then!

 

 
I would like to wish all readers of this site and people interested in the wild cats a happy and healthy 2007! The cheetah on the enclosed photo dives into a great and adventurous new year, like I do. For me personally this means a tiger study tour to India with a new love, during which we will hopefully see our beloved tiger in the wild. More about this will follow on this site in the section "travel reports".

Illegal trade in animals on Dutch websites; more than 600 exotic animals or products from this animals, like skins of the leopard and the lynx, a tiger head and skulls of many threatened species, were for sale on auction sites, chatrooms and mailinglists. Unbelievable that this trade exists in a "civilized" country as Holland. We hope the people behind the illegal trade will be guilty as charged!!

Persian Leopard twins born in the Amersfoort Zoo
Persian Leopard twins born in the Amersfoort Zoo on May 2nd of this year. Come and watch them run and play; an enjoyable site to see brother Datis and sister Saïs so active and full of energy.
 

 
Lots of children of schools in Etten-Leur were united on the 4th of October (day of the animal) and did lend a helping hand to the foundation SPOTS to show the world that the cheetah has to be saved NOW. This happened on the 4th of October, on the day of the animals.

 

   

Chantal Vergouw (Spots) and Babette de Jonge (WCM) talking to Madeline Bell.
MADELINE BELL BENEFIT CONCERT FOR THE CHEETAH
POSTPONED.
 
 
The charity concert of Madeline Bell and her musicians, that was going to take place on September 17th in Etten-leur, had to be postponed. Madeline, spokeswoman of the Dutch foundation SPOTS, who's a popular singer and always has sold out concerts, wanted to raise money for the threatened cheetah. Remarkable that on a special night like this, people decided to save money for the next holiday or car instead of helping the fastest mammal on earth: the cheetah. They will get a second chance, so grab it!!
 
 
 
 www.stichtingspots.nl

 
PATCH, one of the ill-treated cheetah cubs in Ethiopia (the one with the wounded eye) has died. His brother Scout's been left behind alone but SPOTS will keep on trying to help this cheetah by raising enough funds. Patch and Scout had to fight each other to entertain people for money. SInce cheetahs aren't agressive and don't fight easily they were beaten long and hard by their former owner, so that they would try and fight just to keep the brute man happy.
 

 
NEW LAW: No wild animals allowed in the circus anymore! The sooner the better if you ask me.
 
NEW LAW: Poachers in India who are being caught on their illegal "mission" better not try and run as it's allowed to shoot them. Good!
 
Photos and more detailed information you can find on the Dutch News page.