bigcat speciali
Well-Known Member
Here is a quote from Terry Moore that was found of very recent regarding Cat Survival Trust.
"Terry Moore • an hour ago −
What a very sad uninformed comment. Those in glass houses
should not throw stones.
As a life associate of BIAZA, I have never received any
approach from this organisation about our methods. We were members of EAZA for
a while but only received a request for our annual fee...no other communication.
I even had to subscribe separately for their in house publication! Many of
these ‘governing bodies’ act like dictators and around the world many are
failing to renew their memberships as a result. Some pay their staff very
attractive salaries and have huge expense accounts! Interesting how paying a
fee to some of these ‘governing bodies’ results in overlooking things like the
euthanasia of young animals at the end of the season to save running costs and
the breeding of more for the following years visitors to see. Interesting also
how some stud books will permit the euthanasia of critically endangered animals,
rather than place them in collections not ‘in the club’.
As to comments about contact with animals – there are indeed
a number of collections worldwide (including zoos who are members of these governing
bodies who allow contact with domestic and wild animals in their collections.
Some use this as a means of generating revenue!
There are many well known zoos that hand rear and allow staff to take
animals home for this purpose. We have not hand reared a cat here for over 30
years. All young are mother reared or very occasionally reared by foster
animals.
Most zoos are indeed very well run and had they not had
examples of wild animals on display, those visiting would not have been
inspired to support work in the wild indeed, many zoos carry out excellent
scientific work in the wild. However, how many organisations are run exclusively
by volunteers. The Cat Survival Trust has run here for over 37 years and never
paid a single salary. Indeed each year I personally put my own money into the
trust and only last Friday transferred another £10,000 plus of personal money to
help further our work.
The Animal Planet series only covers a very small section of
our work. Our investigations into the effects of world finance, corporate
actions and climate change on the environment and the fragile chain of fauna
and flora with particular reference to wild cats is not covered by this series.
Our purchase of 10,000 acres of habitat is also not covered.
Many organisation directors, including those that criticise
zoos, draw large salaries and expenses instead of using this cash to tackle
problems. Strange how a namesake of one of directors of one these organisations
who had a private cat collection was finally put in jail for using his wildlife
investigation trips abroad as a cover for gun running.....and so on and so on.
Sadly there are many examples in the zoo world of misuse of public funds.
Some years ago, a very good plan to hold a telethon for the
benefit of wildlife fell apart as a result of in-house bickering over how the
funds should be allocated. I do not need to mention names...they know who they
are.
Over the years, we have taken in many surplus unwanted cats
and yes even returned them where catastrophic breeding results have needed them
back. In 1992, we researched, raised funds and purchased 10,000 acres of
natural habitat in north east Argentina with 5 species of cat in residence. As
cats like humans are at the terminal end of the food chain, we protected
5,000,000 trees, billions of insects and plants, hundreds of thousands of birds,
mammals, primates, reptiles and fish. In addition, this forest stores water
during the dry season (each tree holds its own weight in water during the rainy
seasons) which contributes to water needed by the wildlife in the reserve and farmland
further downstream producing food which is exported worldwide (including the
UK) during March, April and May. It protects many of the original genetic stock
of food bearing plants from which hybrids are produced to be used in farms and
has over 50 plants which have been used as natural medicines (with no side
effects) for generations of local people. This forest also helps to create and
control a microclimate for the local area. How many other zoological
organisations have achieved similar work? Those who are members of the charity
will be aware of the support we provide by way of equipment to other
organisations working in the field to enhance and enable projects to progress.
We are not open to the public. A handful of members do visit
each week to learn more of our work. There are many rescue organisations
registered under the DWA Act like the Cat Survival Trust. This is for
organisations not open to the general public.
We work with government departments and often take in cats
and other animals which have been confiscated by the authorities.
Yes, our accounts are behind following the crash of the
computer used for the accounts. However, the re-entry of the data has almost been
completed and we will once again be up to date.
As to future proposal for introduction/reintroduction of
cats to the wild...much work has to be completed, including proposed DNA
research and survey work in the wild before this can be achieved. Most cats
used for this work may have to be sourced from cats held in captivity in the
areas where this work is planned.
Sadly, there is much work to be carried out and most of the
organisations working in this field are doing excellent work. Sadly there are
also some working in the field drawing high salaries and expenses instead of
using funds to promote and support those in need of help instead."
