Please Join Wildlife Watch in wishing a HAPPY NEW LIFE to 3 AFRICAN
LIONS, 2 MOUNTAIN LIONS, AND 1 BLACK JAGUAR.
Photos are generic as we could not photograph actual cats prior to
going to print
In mid-October, Wildlife Watch raised thousands of dollars and
participated in the animal auction that was held at the closing of the
Catskill Game Farm in Catskill, NY. The Catskill Game Farm was one of
the largest privately held zoos in the world.
As we knew canned hunt operators would be there, we felt it would be
imperative to attend and outbid them on as many animals as we could.
With other animal protectionists feeling similarly, a coalition of
individuals cooperated to save the animals. Our fears were not
unfounded, once there we saw not only canned hunt operators, but
taxidermists, breeders, and slaughterers. The generous donations that so
many people made to Wildlife Watch allowed us to pay for many animals
who otherwise would have faced a bleak future. The list includes: 2
Conures, 1 Goffin Cockatoo, 5 Emus 4 Vervet monkeys, at least 25 Guinea
pigs, 28 Rabbits, 3 Iguanas, 1 Lory Parrot, and others.
Following the auction, we found out that six large cats remained at
the Catskill Game Farm. After weeks of working on negotiating the
release of the cats to a Sanctuary – we were rewarded with a 3-way
signed agreement just ONE DAY before this issue of the C.A.S.H. Courier
was finalized!
The transfer of all the cats to The Wildcat Sanctuary
www.wildcatsanctuary.org
from the Catskill Game Farm is scheduled to take place no later than
December 17th. – just in time for them to have a Merry Christmas. The
Wildcat Sanctuary, in Sandstone MN, has all required government permits,
and more importantly is accredited by TAOS-The Association of
Sanctuaries www.taosanctuaries.org, and the American Sanctuary Association
www.asaanimalsanctuaries.org. In conversations with people about the
climate of Minnesota for tropical animals, we were told that they adjust
to a wide range of temperature and, in fact, suffered horribly in the
heat of the summers in the Catskill Mountains of NY!
