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ANOTHER EMERGENCY RESCUE! SAFE HAVEN ACCEPTS TWO AFRICAN LIONS
In the midst of work on our new tiger enclosures (see below), Safe Haven has responded once again to rescue two big cats in dire need. We are adjusting our expansion plans in order to accept a pair of African lions that will be transferred from another sanctuary. In short, we are expanding our original expansion plans!
Our new 10-year-old African lions, Ifaw and Kuvo, have a long, difficult history. Ifaw was originally rescued from a roadside exhibitor in Iowa in 2001. In a heroic effort coordinated by The Wildcat Sanctuary in Minnesota, two lions and three tigers were removed from the most deplorable conditions of abuse and neglect that the rescuers had ever seen. At that time, Ifaw was placed in a sanctuary in Texas, which had also accepted Kuvo, the only lion in a group of leopards, tigers and cougars left to die in South Dakota.
Unfortunately, the Texas sanctuary has now fallen on hard times and is giving up 280 of its 400 animals, including tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, wolf hybrids, and about 200 primates. The Wildcat Sanctuary, Wildcat Haven, and Safe Haven are accepting a total of six big cats.
Kuvo and Ifaw, who are accustomed to living together, will be housed in the new enclosure originally intended for Siberian tiger Choi-Hu. Until another new enclosure can be built, Choi-Hu will remain a while longer in her temporary enclosure, where she has been living happily since November 2009.
As a result of this latest unexpected rescue, Safe Haven again is raising funds for the construction of a new enclosure. Please visit our Donations page to contribute to this $30,000 project. Whether you donate online or by mail, you will be able to earmark your donation for “Lion rescue.”
TIGER RESCUE AND ENCLOSURE CONSTRUCTION
Read about the rescue of Choi-Hu and Timber on their new page. Also see our Expansion Project page for a report on the construction of Timber's new enclosure, and additional reports in Mark Robison's blog at the Reno-Gazette Journal.
Timber (left) took up residence at Safe Haven on March 9. He was one of two Siberian tigers rescued from a private residence in the Seattle area.Timber has joined Choi-Hu, whom we placed on November 20.
We are about three-fourths of the way to our $20,000 goal for Timber's enclosure. Choi-Hu will remain in her temporary enclosure a while longer, as our next new enclosure has been "re-purposed" to accept African lions Ifaw and Kuvo.
We extend our deepest thanks to the Wild Felid Advocacy Center, whose supporters have raised $3,000 for Safe Haven's tiger rescue. We have received grants from the On Shore Foundation, Newmont Mining, Black Rock City LLC, NV Energy, and Barrick Mining/Turquoise Ridge, as well as numerous private donations..
On July 12 Newmont Mining brought 60volunteers to Safe Haven to work on the enclosure construction. We are seeking other businesses, organizations, and individuals that may be able to contribute a day of volunteering. If you can help, please contact our director, Lynda Sugasa, by phone (775-538-7093) or e-mail.
Additional thanks to Newmont Midas for donating a new Tsurumi Sump Pump. This will enable us to drain the tigers' pools quickly and easily for cleaning. We thank Christopher Johnson, Mark Ward, Sue Hawkins, Frank Reinsch, and Tracy Openlander for making this gift possible.
Whether you send a donation online or by check, you will be able to earmark your donation for "Tiger rescue." Please visit our Donations page for more information
JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT SAFE HAVEN
Safe Haven Rescue Zoo currently has job openings for interns in animal care and education/outreach. For details, please see the job listing posted by the American Association of Zoo Keepers.