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'''Big Cat Rescue''' is an [[animal sanctuary]] near [[Tampa, Florida]], United States, devoted to rescuing and housing exotic [[Felidae|felines]], rehabilitating injured or orphaned native wild cats, and ending the private trade and ownership of exotic cats via educational outreach and legislation. The center is home to more than 100 [[big cats]],<ref name=Ecotourists>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=R4D8OWQf34QC&pg=PT54 |last= Brodowsky |first= Pamela |title= Ecotourists Save the World: The Environmental Volunteer's Guide to More Than 300 International Adventures to Conserve, Preserve, and Rehabilitate Wildlife and Habitats |isbn= 0399535764}}</ref> representing 11 species,{{fact|date=October 2015}} including [[tiger]]s, [[lion]]s, [[leopard]]s, [[cougar]]s, [[bobcat]]s, and [[lynx]]es.<ref name=Ecotourists/>
'''Big Cat Rescue''' is an [[animal sanctuary]] near [[Tampa, Florida]], United States, devoted to rescuing and housing exotic [[Felidae|felines]], rehabilitating injured or orphaned native wild cats, and ending the private trade and ownership of exotic cats via educational outreach and legislation. As of August 2015, the center is home to 19 big cats and 67 small cats.<ref>{{Cite web|title = USDA - APHIS - ANIMAL CARE - SEARCH|url = https://acissearch.aphis.usda.gov/LPASearch/faces/CustomerSearch.jspx|website = acissearch.aphis.usda.gov|accessdate = 2015-10-21}}</ref>


The sanctuary is located on {{convert|67|acre}} in the [[Citrus Park, Florida|Citrus Park]] area of North Tampa.<ref name=cred>{{cite web |url= http://bigcatrescue.org/about/credentials/ |title= Credentials |publisher= Big Cat Rescue |accessdate= October 20, 2015}}</ref> In 2014, Big Cat Rescue received over 27,000 visitors.<ref name=Finances>{{cite web |url= http://bigcatrescue.org/about/finances/ |publisher= Big Cat Rescue |title= Finances |accessdate= October 20, 2015}}</ref> Big Cat Rescue began operating in 1992, and bills itself as "the largest accredited sanctuary in the world dedicated entirely to abused and abandoned big cats." It is a registered [[501(c)(3)]] nonprofit, accredited by the [[Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries]] and is a member of [[World Animal Protection]].<ref name=cred/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.sanctuaryfederation.org/gfas/gfas-sanctuaries/#northamerica |title= Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries |accessdate= October 20, 2015}}</ref>
The sanctuary is located on {{convert|67|acre}} in the [[Citrus Park, Florida|Citrus Park]] area of North Tampa.<ref name=cred>{{cite web |url= http://bigcatrescue.org/about/credentials/ |title= Credentials |publisher= Big Cat Rescue |accessdate= October 20, 2015}}</ref> In 2014, Big Cat Rescue received over 27,000 visitors.<ref name=Finances>{{cite web |url= http://bigcatrescue.org/about/finances/ |publisher= Big Cat Rescue |title= Finances |accessdate= October 20, 2015}}</ref> Big Cat Rescue began operating in 1992, and bills itself as "the largest accredited sanctuary in the world dedicated entirely to abused and abandoned big cats." It is a registered [[501(c)(3)]] nonprofit, accredited by the [[Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries]] and is a member of [[World Animal Protection]].<ref name=cred/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.sanctuaryfederation.org/gfas/gfas-sanctuaries/#northamerica |title= Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries |accessdate= October 20, 2015}}</ref>

Revision as of 11:33, 21 October 2015

Big Cat Rescue is an animal sanctuary near Tampa, Florida, United States, devoted to rescuing and housing exotic felines, rehabilitating injured or orphaned native wild cats, and ending the private trade and ownership of exotic cats via educational outreach and legislation. As of August 2015, the center is home to 19 big cats and 67 small cats.[1]

The sanctuary is located on 67 acres (27 ha) in the Citrus Park area of North Tampa.[2] In 2014, Big Cat Rescue received over 27,000 visitors.[3] Big Cat Rescue began operating in 1992, and bills itself as "the largest accredited sanctuary in the world dedicated entirely to abused and abandoned big cats." It is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and is a member of World Animal Protection.[2][4]

History

Big Cat Rescue started on November 4, 1992.[2] Previously the sanctuary was a conservation organization known as Wildlife on Easy Street, which featured a bed and breakfast experience that allowed guests to spend the night with a young wild cat in their cabin.[5][6] According to the sanctuary, this part of its history was a misguided effort to aid captive conservation and animal welfare of privately-owned animals.[7] Big Cat Rescue became a nonprofit in 1995.[3]

In 2013, following a 2011 lawsuit, Joe Schreibvogel, aka "Joe Exotic", whose family runs the GW Exotic Animal Park, was ordered to pay Big Cat Rescue $1 million for using confusingly similar trademarked materials.[8]

An investigation by Tampa television station WTSP in 2011 discovered numerous concerns about the way Big Cat Rescue operated, including lack of transparency, animal law violations resulting in USDA citations, inadequate fencing that could potentially result in animal escapes, and describing animals taken in by the sanctuary as being rescued from poor conditions while in reality they were kept and raised properly and in a loving home.[9] The story included criticism from Joe Schreibvogel, who at the time was suing Big Cat Rescue.[9]

Conservation and rescues

One of the main goals of Big Cat Rescue is to end ownership and trade of exotic felines in the private sector entirely.[10] The center is part of the International Tiger Coalition, which is dedicated to stopping the trade of tiger parts.[11]

Southwest Airlines has donated flights for rescues, including three cougar kittens from Idaho, whose mother was killed by a hunter.[12]

References

  1. ^ "USDA - APHIS - ANIMAL CARE - SEARCH". acissearch.aphis.usda.gov. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  2. ^ a b c "Credentials". Big Cat Rescue. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Finances". Big Cat Rescue. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  4. ^ "Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries". Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  5. ^ Janson, Mary Lou; Foster, Lee (April 12, 1998). "Strange Bedfellows At Tampa's Wildlife On Easy Street". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  6. ^ LaPeter Anton, Leonora (November 11, 2007). "The Big Cat Fight". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  7. ^ "History & Evolution of Big Cat Rescue". Big Cat Rescue. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  8. ^ Knittle, Andrew (March 4, 2013). "'Joe Exotic' Ordered to Pay Florida Animal Sanctuary $1 million". The Oklahoman. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  9. ^ a b Deeson, Mike (September 30, 2011). "10 News Investigators Raise Questions About Big Cat Rescue". WTSP. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  10. ^ "Why Regulations Don't Work". Big Cat Rescue. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  11. ^ "International Tiger Coalition". Big Cat Rescue. May 23, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  12. ^ "Little Cat Rescue". Tampa Bay Times. October 29, 2005. Retrieved October 20, 2015.

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