Do you dream of Africa?
Do you see yourself looking over the vast Serengeti plains, searching the horizon for a glimpse of a pride of Lions, or a Leopard lounging in the trees? Do you imagine yourself in India, riding an elephant through the high grass with your eyes peeled for the elusive Tiger? Have you ever thought how great it would be to hike through the rainforest, listening to the tropical birds, ever on the lookout for a Leopard or an Ocelot high in the canopy? Have you ever been to the zoo and wanted to be closer to the exotic cats; so close you could almost touch them? You don't have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to make these dreams come true. The world's largest accredited big cat rescue facility is right here in Tampa, Florida at Big Cat Rescue.
This
45 acre, wildlife sanctuary is home to 140 cats representing 16 species
of wild cat. All in one place you can see Lions, Tigers,
Geoffroy Cats, Jungle Cats, Servals, Caracals, Snow Leopards, Bobcats, Lynx and more. Watch Tigers swimming in the lake or see them run full speed
through their 3 acre cat-a-tat. Get so close to them that you can
almost feel their hot breath on your skin. Take photos that everyone
will think you took in the wild. Spend the afternoon with our Keepers walking
the park to watch them hand out treats to Bearcats, Ocelots and Bobcats draped through
the trees overhead.
Trudge through the bush and spot Caracals, Servals and Jungle Cats in hot
pursuit of lizards and birds.
Take a walk out into the plains and see Lions or the Fishing Cat in waterfall enclosures. See with your own eyes, the only White Servals in the world. See the majestic Snow Leopards emerging from their air conditioned caves into huge enclosures of simulated snow covered ledges. Experience the harmony between lions and tigers who live together in prides. Learn all about these elegant creatures and what you can do to preserve them in the wild.
All
of these cats are endangered or in danger of becoming so and in many cases their numbers have dwindled
to only a few remaining individuals. Visit Big Cat Rescue on line
or in person to see what we are doing to try and set nature back into balance.
You can help by taking a day tour, spending the day with our Keepers, adopting
a cat, joining as a member, watch us feeding the cats, or see how our Keepers
work with the cats, or take a photo safari. All of your donations
are tax deductible and all of the proceeds go directly to the cause.
We are not a zoo and our animals' peace and tranquility come first. The ONLY way to visit is on one of the following guided tours. For more information on each type of tour, please click on the Tour Page before emailing or calling. We are staffed by volunteers and your questions can be more fully and quickly answered by going to our Tour Page.
If you are traveling with pets, you cannot bring them onto the property. Florida law (and common sense) prohibit you from leaving them in your car, even with the A/C running.
Getting Here: Big Cat Rescue is only 10 minutes from Tampa International Airport and 9 miles from Busch Gardens. It is an hour away from Disney and right next door to a huge new mall. You will find lots of things to do in the Tampa Bay area, but will probably join all of our visitors who have said "This was the most fun I have ever had!"
Your Votes Won in Round 1
|
|
Thanks to 1,249 of Hurley's nearest and dearest friends, he won in Round 1 of the Bissell contest. He was competing against 6,298 other great pets to win this round.
In April the top 60 pets from the 12 weeks of voting, will go nose to nose for the $10,000 grand prize.
We will contact you then and ask that you vote for Hurley to win this big prize that he is donating to Big Cat Rescue.
In the meanwhile, we hope that you will rally your troops, join us on facebook and build your social profiles at places like ChatBigCats.com, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook so that we can get the word out quickly in the final round.
HURLEY'S BIO:
Hurley was rescued from animal control in October 2008 by Big Cat Rescue President Jamie Veronica when he was just three months old. He was scheduled to be put to sleep and was adopted just in time. Hurley is a Pit mix the most friendly dog you will ever meet. He is everyone's best friend and loves meeting new people. He grew up going to work at Big Cat Rescue every day with his mom. His job is to bring smiles to all the volunteers at the sanctuary by thanking them with slobbery puppy kisses! See his YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Y0O97owQo
Rescue of Narla the Cougar:
RI Woman Gives Up 13-year-old Pet Cougar
Marilyn Loppi had been searching for a home for her husband’s pet cougar for several months. Thirteen year old Narla, a 90-pound cougar, had been living in a cage in the Loppis’ Rhode Island backyard since she was a kitten. But when Marilyn’s husband Robert passed away in May 2009, Loppi decided she no longer wanted the cat. Robert Loppi had a permit for the cat, which he had gotten from a friend. It was legal in 1997 for private citizens in Rhode Island to own exotic cats, but authorities say they would not issue such a permit now, except to a zoo or other accredited facility.
Unable to find a facility that would accept the cat, Loppi finally contacted Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida, which agreed to take the cougar if Loppi surrendered her exotic pet license. Loppi lured Narla into a carrier with shrimp, and the staff from Big Cat Rescue came early in the morning of January 7th to take her back to Florida. Originally, Animal Control officers and a film crew from Animal Planet were supposed to accompany the rescuers. However, the crew from Big Cat Rescue was afraid Loppi might back out at the last minute, due to the media attention, so they came an hour early and quietly took the cat.
Cougars, also called mountain lions, pumas, catamounts, and panthers, are the largest cats in North America and can weigh up to 200 lbs. They are hunted for sport in many states, and are scarce in the Midwest and eastern United States. In Florida, the panther teeters on the brink of extinction, with only 100 cats remaining. The cats are tawny brown in color, built for running and jumping, and highly elusive in the wild. They are the largest of the purring cats.
At Big Cat Rescue, Narla is one of many cats who were former pets. When their owners no longer want or are able to care for them, the sanctuary offers the cats a comfortable home for the rest of their lives. Narla is currently in a large outdoor habitat, where she enthusiastically greets keepers with the signature cougar chirp.
by Willow Hecht
Photos of the rescue here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigcatrescue/sets/72157623173290048/
You can help provide for her care here: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/donate.htm
CFC Participant? Generous donations through the CFC program have become one of our major sources of funding. Our CFC number is 10766. On behalf of the cats, sincere thanks to the many Federal employees who have helped us provide the best possible home for the cats by donating through this program.
Big Cat Times Magazine! Check out the most recent issue of The Big Cat Times in this online magazine format HERE
January Issue of AdvoCat: The latest edition of the AdvoCat, our monthly E-zine is HERE
Win an Animal Lover's Dream Vacation: If you love animals, you have got to see this fabulous trip HERE
Follow us on Twitter and see what is happening moment by moment at Big Cat Rescue and in the world of lions, tigers, bobcats and other exotic wildcats. @BigCatRescue
Other Ways You Can Help Today
Big Cat Credit Card
You can give more without spending more by turning your everyday spending into meaningful donations with a customized Big Cat Rescue Capital One credit card. Share your passion and donate to Big Cat Rescue with your everyday purchases. We've partnered with Capital One® Card Lab Connect to bring you our newest fundraising program, which helps us earn money doing what you do every day! Just carry one of our custom credit cards (it comes with a competitive rate and no annual fee), and 1% of purchases made with the card will be donated to Big Cat Rescue.
Not only will you be donating to the cats with each purchase you make, you'll be helping to spread the word when people see your wildly unique card, designed specifically for Big Cat Rescue. Three custom cards are currently available featuring Cameron the lion, Cheetaro the leopard, and Shere Khan & China Doll the tigers! What a great way to share the cats' stories every time you pull out your credit card. Tell others too by downloading Credit Card Flyer
Sharing your passion and your support is easy and automatic. Apply today!
https://www.cardlabconnect.com/Big Cat Rescue
 |
 |
 |
Text $5 From Your Phone
To donate $5 that will appear on your cell phone bill, put 20222 in the TO line and the word Tiger in the body of the text message. You will receive a text message back asking to confirm your donation. Or you can type your cell number into the box below to have a $5 donation added to your phone bill.
|
|
A one-time donation of $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Messaging & Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of the “Big Cat Rescue” by the Mobile Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.hmgf.org/t. You can unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP to short code “20222”; Reply HELP to “20222” for help.