Help us bring lions and tigers to Carolina Tiger!
Carolina Tiger plans to rescue 3 lions and 3 tigers from a facility closing in Texas but needs to raise $7500 to cover transport and initial medical care. Help us bring Tarzan, Sheba, Sebastian (lions) and Titan, Bali, and Java home!
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| Bali |
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| Java |
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| Titan |
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| Sebastian and Tarzan |
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ifaw-rescues-tigers-from-texas-107030813.html
IFAW Rescues Tigers From Texas
YARMOUTH PORT, Mass., Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare) is moving three tigers from a closed sanctuary in San Antonio, Texas to Pittsboro, North Carolina. The tigers will be transported on a 36-foot rescue trailer and cover more than 1,300 miles to their new life-long home at the Carolina Tiger Rescue sanctuary.
Unfortunately, due to the economic downturn, WAO, the Wild Animal Orphanage, decided to close their doors. Working together with the USDA, the Texas State Attorney General's Office Charitable Trust Division, and IFAW, the WAO Board signed a resolution to dissolve the sanctuary within sixty days by relocating their 300 animals to other facilities.
"IFAW is standing by to help the animals at WAO to find a secure long-term future," said Dr. Ian Robinson, IFAW Emergency Relief Program Director. "This unfortunate situation points to the larger issue of the exotic pet trade - wild animals belong in the wild."
IFAW has been working on the ground at WAO feeding and caring for the animals during this transitional time. They are planning the moves of healthy animals to other viable sanctuaries across the country. The tiger move is a small part of the overall rescue effort.
"The volunteers and staff of Carolina Tiger Rescue are incredibly excited to meet our newest arrivals," said Kathryn Bertok Curator of Animals at Carolina Tiger Rescue. "We look forward to offering these wonderful animals a grand life filled with lots of love and attention."
Tigers are one of the most critically endangered species on our planet. Experts predict that tigers may be completely extinct in the wild within the next two decades if habitat loss, poaching and trade in tiger body parts continue unabated.
There are twice as many tigers living in captivity in the U.S. than exist in the wild today. Some 5,000-10,000 tigers live in captivity in the U.S., but as few as 3,000 tigers remain in the wild.
Later this month, IFAW will join leaders from the 13 countries where wild tigers still live will gather in St. Petersburg, Russia to adopt a global tiger recovery plan that aims to double the number of wild tigers by 2022 and bring this critically-endangered species back from the brink of extinction.
About IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare)
Founded in 1969, IFAW saves animals in crisis around the world. With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW rescues individual animals, works to prevent cruelty to animals, and advocates for the protection of wildlife and habitats. http://www.ifaw.org/
SOURCE International Fund for Animal Welfare
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Okay, breathe....breathe...breathe.... Is IFAW nuts???? What the heck was Ian Robinson thinking when he said "IFAW is standing by to help the animals at WAO to find a secure long-term future." This unfortunate situation points to the larger issue of the exotic pet trade - wild animals belong in the wild."
Where in the world was he in 2006 when I emailed him about the WAO situation? When he toured the WAO 2006, why did he claim there was nothing wrong at the WAO? Why did he write a letter of support for Ron and Carol Asvestas in August 2010?
And what a hoot! Now he's trying to shift the blame of what happened to the WAO on the "exotic pet trade." The "exotic pet trade" had nothing to do with the WAO closing its doors. And the sad thing is IFAW will NEVER admit publicly that they were the WAO's enablers--sending animals and monies to the WAO under the IFAW banner. And did they ever come out and conduct a follow-up inspection of the WAO on a no-notice basis after sending animals and monies to the WAO?
As to IFAW "has been working on the ground at WAO feeding and caring for the animals during this transitional time," -- I don't think the small handful of people helping on and off at the WAO since September 2010 during its CLOSING time, even qualifies a mention in this press release.
I am very disappointed that IFAW refuses to tell the truth about what transpired at the WAO and their culpability into the demise of the organization. Where is the transparency? Acknowledgement of responsibility? This really puts a black mark on large AR groups that spin 'tiger' tales instead of speaking the honest truth.
Later:
Oh, good grief...now this!
In case this link goes away soon, here was the posting I found on IFAW's homepage (right next to the big orange donate block).
I begged IFAW to do a public fundraising for the WAO animals back in September for ALL of the WAO animals when I submitted a business proposal. Instead, they only chose to help three tigers? What about the three lions going to the same place? I guess they don't quite fit in with the upcoming tiger summit to be held in Russia.
And don't EVEN get me started on the comment made by Dick Green that "In happier times WAO was an exemplary sanctuary, providing much needed life-long homes for the victims of the cruel ‘exotic pet’ trade and other disadvantaged wild animals, which is why we had been supportive of their efforts. IFAW had helped place over 30 animals with WAO since 2001." Has Mr. Green even visited the WAO from 2001 - 2009? If so, how could he have missed all the problems? Out of the 30 animals placed at the WAO, how many are alive today? Hmm?
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