Rescue Update
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Nova - Red Fox
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Tajah & Meeka - Tigers
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Cancun Tigers
“Nova” – Red Fox, rescued 9/09. Nova was found as a 6-weeks old kit in a Nebraska back yard in March, 2009. He was taken to a rehab facility in that state, where it was determined that he had severe eye dysfunction, and was blind in both eyes. There, he made friends with a young female fox, but when it came time for her to be released into the wild, Nova couldn’t go with her because, because being blind, he would not be able to survive in the wild. He had received treatments to alleviate the pain and infection that had plagued his eyes from birth. When called to take Nova, TWAS was happy to give him a home so he wouldn’t have to be put down.
Shortly after Nova came to the Sanctuary, his eyes got worse, with one of them beginning to rupture. We immediately took him to a veterinary eye specialist, where it was determined that his best shot to be free from chronic infection and pain was to remove his eyes. After a three hour surgery, in which he did remarkably well, little Nova is now on the road to recovery. Once he gets completely healed, we’ll slowly introduce him to our other foxes, “Ringo” and “Starkey,” where he can live together with them in safety and peace.
Here’s an endearing story about Nova that you’ll love hearing… In his current enclosure close to where the keeper’s quarters are, Nova’s “ground” consists of wood chips, piled about 3 inches thick on top of concrete. Recently we saw him pushing his meat to the edge of the enclosure, and then pushing wood chips on top of the meat till it was completely covered. Nova then moved back from the mound concealing his meat, and pounced on it with vigor – just the way foxes in the wild pounce on mice moving underneath the snow in wintertime. Joyfully, his instincts are intact, and he was making dinner for himself the exact same way that wild foxes do!
Nova’s story is a perfect example of why everyone at The Wild Animal Sanctuary loves their work…this little Fox has had so many hardships in his life, and yet he remains well socialized and resilient. It is truly our great joy to be able to give him – at long last – the kind of life he deserves with others of his own kind.
“Tajah” and “Meeka” – Tigers, rescued 9/09. Confiscated from a man who kept this mother and daughter illegally in northern Minnesota, 8-year-old “Tajah” and her 9-month-old cub “Meekah” had been declawed on all four paws with bolt cutters by the owner. This was not the first time animals had been confiscated from this man for abusive treatment. When another man was interested in purchasing land in the area and heard a prospective neighbor had tigers, he turned the owner of the animals in after seeing the situation.
Tajah and Meeka were confiscated by the county animal control and taken to a holding facility until a place could be found who would take them. The Wild Animal Sanctuary was contacted about the two tigers, and we went immediately to rescue them and bring them back to a better life. Both tiger ladies are living in the main tiger roundhouse during their rehabilitation and transition period. They are at last getting a superb diet, and with all the TLC they’re getting, they are learning that they can trust humans again.
“Cancun Tigers” – These eight Tigers
If cats have nine lives, then eight Tigers in Cancun are at the end of theirs! The Tigers’ story began dismally, and has gotten worse since Hurricane Wilma raced across the Yucatan four summers ago.
Pepe’s Restaurant in Cancun featured exotic animals like Tigers and Jaguars displayed in concrete and steel cages where diners could view them. Then Wilma hit and Cancun – and Pepe’s – was decimated. Some of the animals perished, some escaped, and some were found just barely alive in rickety jail-like cells.
After the storm, Pepe returned, but had no money to rebuild, nor care for the animals. He allowed them to sit in their decaying environment. Since 2005, the Tigers have barely survived, drinking stagnant water, and eating small amounts of food Pepe provides.
Medical care? There is none! The declining health of the animals is compounded by obvious neglect. One Tiger moves by dragging her rear legs behind her, often sitting in her own feces and urine.
Since fall of 2008, The Wild Animal Sanctuary has worked with Last Chance for Animals (CA) and Gente por la Defensa Animal (Mexico), to secure the Tigers’ release.
TWAS and its animal welfare partners worked with the Mexican government to rescue and relocate the Tigers to their 320-acre facility in Colorado, where they’ll receive exceptional diets, loving rehabilitation, spacious living habitats, and the urgent medical care they need. Mexican officials recently revoked Pepe’s permits and determined the rescue date in early September. TWAS and its partners put the logistics in motion to rescue the animals, including hiring a cargo jet to transport them back to Colorado.
On September 3rd, 2009, however, Mexican officials aborted the rescue. Now the Tigers are in even more danger – Pepe could move them, kill them, or leave them alone to die a slow, agonizing death!
TWAS, LCA and GEPDA immediately mounted a campaign to convince the Mexican government to reinstate the rescue, asking people to contact US and Mexican Officials to bring swift resolution to the desperate plight of the Cancun Tigers. The web site containing the Cancun Tigers’ story, and whom to contact to encourage the rescue to continue is: www.SaveTheCancunTigers.com.
On Tuesday, September 15th, 2009, officials from the Mexican Wildlife Department (PROFEPA) met with representatives from Gente Por la Defensa Animal (GEPDA), Last Chance for Animals (LCA) and The Wild Animal Sanctuary (TWAS) to discuss the current status of the rescue mission to save the Tigers in Cancun. PROFEPA stated that they had received a significant amount of input from the public – both in Mexico and in the US – concerning their sudden cancellation of the rescue mission. They wanted to explain the reason behind their withdrawal.
Officials stated they were concerned that the animals’ owner may try to get an injunction to stop the rescue, or that he would being other legal actions to repeal the revocation of his wildlife permits, or that even possibly request the court to give him time to improve the conditions of his facility. With these issues in mind, officials decided to drastically alter the original rescue plan. Their current proposal is to remove the animals from Cancun and transport them to temporary holding facilities near Mexico City, where they would be kept until such time that all legal proceedings have been concluded. They feel this plan would avoid prematurely moving the Tigers to the United States.
Representatives from GEPDA, LCA and TWAS expressed great concern over the revised plan, as the animals will have to be rescued regardless, and opting to transport the animals half way across Mexico in rental trucks would put the animals at great risk of injury, illness, trauma or distress. And holding them in temporary cages for many months, in multiple facilities around Mexico City, while court cases drag on would only compound their suffering.
The representatives added that the animals would be far better served if officials would go back to the original rescue plan. Doing so would allow the animals to be immediately rescued and transported to their final home (The Wild Animal Sanctuary) without being subjected to arduous road trips (they would be flown by Jet Aircraft to Colorado), and would save the animals from spending months – or possibly years – in temporary cages that would likely not be any better than the ones they currently live in. The meeting ended with PROFEPA rejecting GEPDA, LCA & TWAS’ request to reinstate the original humane rescue paln, which was a great disappointment. PROFEPA’s disregard for the ultimate welfare of the animals was clearly visible, as their new plan was noticeably driven by their desire to minimally satisfy the public’s demand to help – while lessening the burden on their department.
As long as the eight Tigers remain in Mexico – in their Cancun cages or holding facilities in Mexico City – we will continue to work for their release and rescue to TWAS in Colorado. Remember to add your voice to the chorus of caring people who want to free these animals – go to: www.SaveTheCancunTigers.com.
