Tiger World News

Navy Pier shuts down royal white tigers

tigress62 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:10:21 +0000

Royal white tiger Gita was on display Tuesday in the Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier. The exhibit, with two other royal white tigers, was shut down Tuesday when Navy Pier learned of animal cruelty allegations against the company that owns the tigers. ( José M. Osorio, Chicago Tribune / January 24, 2012 )

TWN Note: For information about white tigers please visit:

http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/2010/02/white-tigers-conserving-misery/

John Kass 9:52 p.m. CST, January 24, 2012

Navy Pier abruptly closed its popular “royal white tigers” — featuring Gita and her cubs — after I showed up Tuesday asking about an interesting fact:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is revoking the white tiger owner’s exhibition license for health and safety violations, including allegedly posing a danger to children.

The tiger show began Jan. 13 and was to run through Feb. 12. Navy Pier officials said they paid $27,000 to the company and had sold $16,500 in tickets so far.

According to court documents, the USDA found that Marcus Cook’s company ZooCats Inc. “willfully violated” the Animal Welfare Act. The USDA has been hunting Cook for years now, alleging a long history of infractions.

“There is evidence that ZooCats trainers did not handle the animals properly, at times, using physical abuse with a cattle prod to train, work or control an animal during an exhibition,” USDA spokesman Dave Sacks told us.

“They failed to provide a proper diet, treat animal illness and injury, and did not keep proper facilities. … The USDA has revoked ZooCats’ animal exhibition license,” Sacks said.

Officials also said the trainers let spectators at previous exhibitions get too close to the tigers — though not at Navy Pier.

All Navy Pier had to do was put Cook’s name into Google. But apparently no one did, and now nobody wants to own up to the white tiger idea. I figured it was some Chicago political appointee who missed Las Vegas and the old Siegfried & Roy tiger shows that came to a rather abrupt end in 2003, particularly for Roy.

Cook denied the USDA’s claims. He blamed USDA bureaucrats, particularly a higher-up, Sarah L. Conant. Cook claimed she’s an animal rights activist with a political agenda aimed at eliminating all traveling zoos, exhibitors and other such entertainments from the American landscape.

USDA officials would not make Conant available for comment, but added that the agency has no political agenda but merely follows the law.

“You’ve got some bureaucrats who want us gone,” Cook told me. “They’re activists with agendas working for the USDA. We treat the animals well. We don’t use cattle prods. We don’t put children in danger. But these animal rights types don’t want exhibitors around. You watch. Soon they’ll tell you that you shouldn’t have a dog because it’s unkind to ‘own’ one.”

My own opinion? Actually, I like the tigers. I like zoos, and I like smaller exhibitions like this one. But then, I’ve always been drawn to such things. I won’t abide cruelty. But like many of you, I’m fascinated by critters.

The impulse to protect beautiful wild things like tigers is important, but traveling zoos and exhibitions aren’t the reason tiger populations have dwindled to almost nothing in the wild. The loss of habitat is a reason. And killing tigers for their body parts — to satisfy the barbaric demands of alternative Asian medicine — is what marks them collectively for death.

At Navy Pier, you could see the tigers up close. The exhibit area was clean and didn’t smell, and the tigers seemed healthy and well-fed. I spent hours there watching them, like the boy I once was, the one who wanted to go to Ontario Veterinary College or become a naturalist.

They were white like the color of old parchment, an off-white, with a slight yellow tinge, and the dark stripes were the color of melted chocolate. They were big and quiet and they had beautiful square heads. What I didn’t want to think about was critics saying that they’re mutants, inbred to maintain that aberrant white coloring.

We were at a distance from the tigers, behind a perimeter fence about 8 or more feet from the enclosure, and there was no way to reach them.

I’m still trying to figure out who’s really at fault here, if anyone. And I feel bad about the tigers leaving and the kids who won’t get a chance to see them.

“They’re cool,” said Bradley Tarjan, 8, of the Northwest Side. He was there with his aunts.

“They’re white. And they’re cool. And they’re so big,” Bradley said. “They’re so cool.”

And now they’re so gone.

“Based on the information we received today, effective immediately we are ending the exhibit and our contractual relationship with Mr. Cook’s company,” said Nick Shields, a spokesman for Navy Pier.

Have there been unscrupulous critter shows and circus cruelty in the past? Of course. But is Cook’s show one of them? I can’t tell. The USDA makes a compelling case, and the anecdotal evidence on top of all that is troubling.

But what worries me is that the crackdown on the white tigers may be used to condemn all zoos and exhibitions as inherently cruel, in part because they hold animals captive for our interest and enjoyment.

I think saving such beautiful predators is more complicated than a slogan.

If humans don’t attach themselves emotionally to the big cats, they will disappear. Their bones will be ground into powder and sold. Their habitat will be plowed and planted.

Already, the white tigers are gone from Navy Pier.

jskass@tribune.com

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-kass-0125-20120125,0,3104247.column

New Petition For Tony: Please Sign!!

tigress62 — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:57:47 +0000

A new petition for Tony was posted on http://www.change.org asking the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to ensure Tony is released to a reputable sanctuary. It’s important to keep Tony’s story active, networked, and to let people know he is still at the truck stop and their support is still needed. Please sign and share – there are easy share options at the petition link for email, Facebook and Twitter.

Twice a judge has ruled in favor of Tony, barring the LDWF from issuing any further permits and at the last hearing, also revoking the current permit. Tony remains at the truck stop despite these rulings. Talk of his possible move to an exotic animal park which is nothing more than a roadside zoo is truly disturbing. LDWF must ensure he is relocated to a humane reputable big cat sanctuary that can provide the proper habitat, diet, medical care and enrichment Tony needs and deserves.

Thank you again for your support and for advocating on behalf of Tony, which also importantly raises awareness for the thousands of other privately owned tigers in the United States who need our voice.

About This Petition

Why This Is Important

Tony, a Siberian-Bengal tiger, has lived his eleven years as a roadside attraction at a truck stop in Louisiana. In two court hearings, May 6th, 2011 and November 2nd, 2011, Judge Caldwell agreed with The Animal Legal Defense Fund (representing Tony) and their argument that the permit that allows his owner to keep Tony was unlawfully issued by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. On May 6th, 2011 Judge Caldwell granted a permanent injunction blocking LDWF from issuing a new permit to Tony’s owner, and on November 2, 2011 he again prohibited the LDWF from issuing any new permits to the truck stop and ordered the current permit revoked,

Despite these two rulings in Tony’s favor, he remains at the truck stop due to appeals and yet another lawsuit filed by his owner, most recently on January 2nd, 2012. http://theadvocate.com/news/1713218-123/another-suit-filed-in-grosse.html

There have been recent reports about Tony’s possible move to an exotic animal park if his owner is forced to give him up. This ”park” is under investigation by the USDA for the deaths of 23 tiger cubs. http://theadvocate.com/home/1608646-125/oklahoma-park-probed-in-tiger.html This, as well as the conditions and practices of this “park” (which include exploiting tiger cubs in hands-on exhibits and photo ops) is of great concern to Tony’s supporters. Tony belongs at a true sanctuary, not another “roadside zoo.”

Please sign this petition asking the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to ensure that Tony is relocated to a reputable humane big cat sanctuary that can provide the home, care and life he needs – and has always deserved.

Petition Letter

LDWF: Ensure Tony The Tiger Is Released To A Reputable Sanctuary

Louisiana Deaprtment of Wildlife Representatives:

I respectfully request that you, as a representative of The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, ensure that Tony, an 11 year-old tiger used as a roadside attraction at Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete, Louisiana, is relocated to a reputable, humane, accredited big cat sanctuary.

On November 2, 2011, Judge R. Michael Caldwell ruled in favor of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and Louisiana taxpayers in their lawsuit to free Tony from the truck stop. Judge Caldwell agreed with ALDF’s argument that the permit that allows Mr. Sandlin to keep Tony was unlawfully issued by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The judge ordered the Department to revoke the current permit and prohibited it from issuing any new permits to the Tiger Truck Stop. Despite this ruling Tony remains at the truck stop due to the appeals and recent lawsuit by his owner.

Reports about Tony’s possible move to an “exotic animal park,” under investigation by the USDA for the deaths of 23 tiger cubs as well as the conditions and practices of this “park” which include exploiting tiger cubs in hands-on exhibits and photo ops are of great concern to myself and supporters of Tony worldwide.

References:

http://theadvocate.com/home/1608646-125/oklahoma-park-probed-in-tiger.html

http://www.insideedition.com/news/7266/inside-edition-investigates-tigers-as-shopping-mall-attractions.aspx

Clearly this facility does not comply with the following sanctuary criteria as defined by The Captive Wildlife Safety Act:

• Must be a non-profit entity that is tax exempt under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
• Cannot engage in commercial trade in big cat species, including their offspring, parts, and products made from them
• Cannot breed big cats
• Cannot allow direct contact between big cats and the public at their facilities
• Must keep records of transactions involving covered cats
• Must allow the Service to inspect their facilities, records, and animals at reasonable hours

Reference:

http://www.fws.gov/le/pdffiles/CWSA_Factsheet.pdf

It is imperative Tony be released to a sanctuary that is humane, reputable and in compliance with the above stipulations. Accredited big cat sanctuaries stand ready to provide Tony with a natural habitat, proper diet, medical care, and enrichment.

Tony represents one of an estimated 5,000 – 10,000 privately owned tigers in the United States whose numbers are greater than tigers left in the wild. Captive tigers can live 15-20 years with quality care. Tony has spent over a decade on display in the unhealthy and unnatural environment of a truck stop.

Please ensure that Tony finally has the life, care and home he needs and deserves by releasing him to an accredited reputable humane big cat sanctuary and not another roadside zoo.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Direct Link To Petition:

http://www.change.org/petitions/ldwf-ensure-tony-the-tiger-is-released-to-a-reputable-sanctuary

Tiger sanctuary in Chatham Co. welcomes visitors

tigress62 — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:47:28 +0000

Rajaji, 14, patrols his enclosure at Carolina Tiger Rescue, which gives weekend tours for visitors such as Rob Allen of Morrisville, right. RajahG lived up to his prickly reputation by trying to spray the tour group. Photos by Corey Lowenstein

BY ANNE BLYTHE – ablythe@newsobserver.com
Published Sun, Jan 08, 2012 04:12 AM
Modified Mon, Jan 09, 2012 03:31 PM

PITTSBORO — Out in rural Chatham County, where it is common to hear cattle lo, horses whinny and even a coyote bay, growls and roars more typical to the wilds of Asia or Africa also rise from a large, secluded property not far from Pittsboro.

There are lions and tigers at the Carolina Tiger Rescue sanctuary and preserve, and there’s a host of avid volunteers ready to show off the big cats and other exotic animals in their midst.

Anita Letkemann, September’s volunteer of the month, leads eager adults and children along gravel and gnarled forest paths on Saturday morning. Her first stop is at a fenced area where a caracal, a slender, long-legged cat with large, Spock-like, black-tufted ears, paces and climbs.

She moves on to a nearby ocelot, or dwarf leopard, as the cats from Central America and the southern United States were sometimes called. Their spotted pelts at one time were a favorite among furriers, who would stitch together 30 to 35 to make one coat.

As Letkemann explains how ocelots are starting to make a comeback in the wilds of Texas, Maria Maschauer, another volunteer, slips into the enclosed area with a bottle of Obsession and peppermint extract. She spritzes the perfume and dabs the extract on an old Christmas tree and waits.

The ocelot makes its way over to the tree, gives it a big sniff and walks away. Not for long, though. Soon the cat has its nose to the ground making a wide circle around the tree, seemingly obsessed with finding the source of the Obsession.

At Carolina Tiger Rescue’s sanctuary and the Conservators’ Center, an exotic animal sanctuary in Caswell County near Mebane, undecorated Christmas trees are a big hit.

The sanctuaries not only encourage people to leave their evergreens for the exotic animals, they stage tours, tree tosses and other events to entice new visitors and generate enthusiasm for saving and protecting wild cats in captivity and in the wild.

Carolina Tiger Rescue evolved two years ago from the Carnivore Preservation Trust, which was started in the early 1980s as a captive breeding program for such species as ocelots, servals and binturongs.

The nonprofit organization ceased its breeding program in 2000 after species survival plans began to include genetic registries to ensure diversity in the captive population. Still, the organization realized there remained a dire need for homes for displaced wildcats and the rescue operation grew from that.

Lives of the tigers

Now the sanctuary, tucked off Hanks Chapel Road in eastern Chatham County, typically has about 70 animals – 19 of which are tigers, each with its own story.

Some started off as entertainers in fancy Mexican hotels and beachfront photo booths before outgrowing their cute cub stage and being shipped to Chatham County.

An African serval named Elvis was left in a crate in the driveway with a note stating his family no longer could care for him. It was signed, “Love Me Tender, Elvis.”

Lucky, a tiger, was rescued after being found in the back seat of a car in Michigan.

Tex, a tiger that lives in the same enclosed area as Jelly Bean, a blue-eyed white tiger whose original owner could not sell him on the Asian market, was rescued from a truck stop.

Rajaji, a very social tiger who came to Chatham County from a small zoo in Wake Forest, pranced back and forth in his enclosed area Saturday morning to the small tour group’s many “oohs” and “aahs.” His arthritic legs did not seem to be hampering his movement.

The old guy has a reputation for spraying audiences.

“If you see him turn around and lift his tail,” Letkemann advised, “move to the left or right.”

And sure enough, Rajaji lived up to his reputation, lifting his tail and sending an aroma in the air that Letkemann likened to buttered popcorn.

Visitors impressed

Keith Gavigan, education director at Carolina Tiger Rescue, is wild about the big cats at the sanctuary.
“They are charismatic, they are the top of the food chain – powerful, beautiful, majestic and super cool,” he said.

And judging from the reaction of the young and old who took the tour, Gavigan is not alone in his thinking.

Annamarie and Larry Nelson, a couple from Sneads Ferry in Onslow County, said the three-hour drive was well worth their time on Saturday morning.

Julianne Smith, 6, and her sister Ella Smith, 5, have kitty cats at home. But the girls were thrilled their dad, Jason Smith, had arranged the outing from Cary.

Julianne was taken by the white tiger and fascinated by the one cat’s obsession with Obsession. Her little sister had difficulty selecting which part of the tour was her favorite.

“I liked all of it,” Ella said.

A roar of success from a preschooler.

http://www.carolinatigerrescue.org/

http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/01/08/1761120/big-cats-and-the-curious.html

Young tigers draw raves as they make public debut

tigress62 — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:06:50 +0000

Marta stays close to her twin Amur tiger cubs, now on exhibit at the Toledo Zoo in Toledo, Ohio. THE BLADE/LORI KING

BY TANYA IRWIN
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Published: 1/6/2012 – Updated: 2 days ago

Two of the Toledo Zoo’s most anticipated young residents got a warm welcome Friday morning from zoo employees, volunteers, and the public as they went on exhibit for the first time.

Viktor and Talya — born Sept. 26 to first-time mother Marta — are Amur tiger cubs, a critically endangered species. The cubs, which weigh about 35 pounds, are expected to reach their mother’s weight of 325 to 350 pounds.

PHOTO GALLERY: Click here to view images

The tiger family is scheduled for daily public viewing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Later, they will be on exhibit from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

However, weather and exhibit conditions, and/or the animals’ continued well-being could require temporarily moving them from public exhibit, said Dr. Randi Meyerson, curator of mammals.

Marta, who was born at the Toledo Zoo in 2003, has been an excellent mother, Dr. Meyerson said. “We are really happy Marta raised them on her own (without a lot of assistance from the zookeepers),” she said. “It’s always nice when cubs are mother-reared.”

Dr. Meyerson and her staff had no contact with Marta and the cubs during the first 24 hours of their lives. They then had very limited contact for the first week, not even coming into physical contact with the young creatures for three weeks, she said.

Most of the cubs’ nutrition is still from nursing but they are eating small amounts of their mother’s ground meat diet.

“The cubs will remain here at least for two years, and Talya could stay longer with her mother,” Dr. Meyerson said. At 2 years old it will be necessary to move Viktor so he doesn’t try to breed with his mother or sister, she added. Talya might be bred, giving the zoo a third generation of cubs.

“The Tiger Species Survival Program does space surveys before any new breeding occurs to make sure possible new homes are available,” she said. The Amur tiger’s life expectancy is about 15 years, she said.
Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, are the largest tiger subspecies. About 143 Amur tigers live in about 53 Association of Zoos & Aquariums-accredited zoos. Originally, eight subspecies existed; three of those subspecies are now extinct. The five remaining subspecies, including the Amur tiger, are critically endangered because of habitat loss and fragmentation as well as poaching of both tigers and their prey.

Art Dorf, a Toledo resident and 15-year-volunteer at the zoo, was among the first to see the cubs on exhibit.

“Talya is definitely more curious,” he said, adding that on Tuesday when the cubs were shown briefly to volunteers, she was pressing her giant paws up against the glass.

Wendi Davis of Carleton, Mich., and her two home-schooled daughters, Lorna, 8 and Shelby, 6, were among the first zoo-goers to see the cubs.

“I’ve seen their pictures on the zoo’s Facebook page,” Mrs. Davis said. “To get to see them in person is pretty exciting.” Her daughters agreed, squealing as they took pictures. “My cat at home does that,” said Lorna, as Viktor prepared to pounce on his sister.

Zoo-goers will be asked to pony up a few more dollars this year to cover increasing costs at the zoo.
For the first time in three years, the zoo is raising its admission prices and introducing a two-tier admission structure that gives Lucas County residents a break.

But next weekend — Jan. 14 to 16 of Martin Luther King, Jr., weekend — admission is free for Lucas County residents.

And Lucas County residents with valid ID will continue to be admitted free every Monday (except holidays when the zoo is closed) between 10 a.m. and noon.

As of Monday, daily admission went up $3 while giving a $2 discount to Lucas County residents.

Lucas County residents will be charged $5 for adults and $3.50 for children in January and February, and in November and December. Other visitors will be charged $7 for adults and $5.50 for children.

From March to October, the Lucas County rate will be $12 for adults and $9 for children and seniors. Other visitors will be charged $14 for adults and $11 for children and seniors.

The zoo’s annual family membership rate also has increased from $71 to $73 for Lucas County families and $79 for others.

The zoo is opens daily at 10 a.m. Closing times vary by the season.

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2012/01/06/Young-tigers-draw-raves-as-they-make-public-debut.html

Killer tiger resurfaces in Kodagu

tigress62 — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:44:00 +0000

TNN | Jan 10, 2012, 01.56AM IST

MADIKERI: The tiger, which attacked and injured three buffaloes on Friday, killed a cow on Saturday night at Netkundh near Birunani in South Kodagu. Chottangada Rohith found the half-eaten carcass of his cow near its shed.

People in South Kodagu are fearful because the tiger, which claimed several livestock in October and November last year, has resurfaced. A forest department team had kept cages to capture it. These men were relieved when the tiger’s pugmark was seen about 500 metres from the Kallalla forest touching Nagarahole on Nov. 9. No incidents were reported after that in Kanoor, Shrimangala, T Shettigeri and Hudikeri villages.

The trouble spot is on the Birunani Kodagu – Kerala border. Shrinivas Naik, the Shrimangala wildlife range forest officer, told TOI a leopard may have attacked the cattle. The incidents happened at Birunani near Brahmagiri wildlife forest range and the animal probably arrived from this forest he said, adding, “We are trying our best to chase the animal back to the forest by bursting crackers in the bushes and trees,” Naik said. The animal can be identified only after veterinarians survey these area, he added.

KA Manu of Birunani villager and Kanoor villager S.P.Mahadevappa told TOI villagers are afraid to move about freely on work and students are tense on their way to school and back. After class, students reach home by about 7pm and they tremble with fear on their way back. Virajpet taluk in-charge deputy conservator of forests Anand said cages would be kept in certain points to capture the animal. He said forest guards in groups will try and capture the tiger.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Killer-tiger-resurfaces-in-Kodagu/articleshow/11429631.cms

Tiger attack in zoo leaves three-year-old boy critical

tigress62 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:57:46 +0000

By METRO WEB REPORTER – 5th January, 2012

A three-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being attacked by a tiger at a travelling zoo in Russia.

The child had been posing for a photograph with the big cat next to a small fence when he was clawed in the head by the tiger, sustaining horrific injuries.

A man nearby tried to stop the attack, which took place in Blagoveshchensk, in the Amur region of Russia.

‘I hit it [the tiger] with a stick, there was a metal thing on it. But it clutched the kid very tight,’ he said.

The young boy was rushed to the Amur Regional Hospital for emergency treatment.

A doctor said: ‘The boy was brought in a bad condition, he had an emergency operation which lasted several hours.

‘He is in intensive care now, in a bad condition. It is hard to give any prognosis so far.’

Sky News reports an official of the Amur Regional Investigative Committee as saying that an investigation is looking into the incident.

‘According to the information we have, the tiger was not inside the cage, it was between the fence and the cage, so it was free,’ he said.

‘It was attached by a chain, but people were allowed behind the fence to take photographs.’

Video: Check out the Russian zoo where the attack occurred

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/886499-tiger-attack-in-zoo-leaves-three-year-old-boy-critical

India’s first anti-poaching tiger force begins work

tigress62 — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:25:28 +0000

By Habib Beary
Bangalore
4 January 2012
Last updated at 07:04 ET

India’s first forest ranger unit charged specifically with preventing tiger poaching has gone into action.

The 54-member force will patrol tiger reserves in national parks straddling the borders of Karnataka, Tamil Nado and Kerala states in the south.

The Special Tiger Protection Force has received training in jungle survival and weapons use.

Tiger numbers have shrunk alarmingly in recent decades. A census last year counted about 1,700 tigers in the wild.

A century ago there were estimated to be 100,000 tigers in India.

Numbers up

“The force is operational,” Karnataka conservation official BK Singh told the BBC. “They will deal with poachers and hunters.”

The Special Tiger Protection Force was formed by the forest and environment ministry on the recommendation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority and Karnataka authorities.

With their special training course completed, the unit has moved into Bandipur and Nagarahole national parks, south of Bangalore.

The forested region has the highest number of tigers in India, according to a census released in March 2011 by the forest and environment ministry.

India’s tiger numbers have shrunk from 100,000 to 1,700 in a little over 100 years Karnataka state, which has six tiger reserves, has about 300 tigers, followed by Madhya Pradesh in the north with 257.

The census indicated that tiger numbers had increased to 1,706 from 1,411 at the last count in 2007.

Officials say conservation efforts by the government and wildlife organisations have helped tiger and elephant populations increase.

But poaching remains a threat, with some 25 tigers killed in Karnataka alone since 2006.

A second tiger force will be set up in the eastern state of Orissa.

Senior National Tiger Conservation Authority official Rajesh Gopal said 13 tiger reserves in seven states across the country had been identified for special measures to protect the big cats.

Tiger expert Ullas Karanth said the new force would go a long way toward saving tigers from poachers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-16410137

Another suit filed in Grosse Tete tiger case

tigress62 — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:46:43 +0000

U.S. permit came first, man argues

BY JOE GYAN JR.
Advocate staff writer
January 04, 2012

11 Comments

The owner of a Grosse Tete truck stop filed suit Tuesday in Baton Rouge against the state of Louisiana and Iberville Parish in a last-ditch effort to continue keeping a 550-pound tiger on display at the facility.

Tiger Truck Stop owner Michael Sandlin argues he and his truck stop have held a federal permit since 1988 to keep tigers at the truck stop, and Tony, a Siberian-Bengal mix, has been kept there lawfully for 10 years.

Sandlin contends the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, a defendant in his lawsuit, lacks statutory and constitutional authority to prohibit ownership of big cats by owners with federal permits.

“I think this is an important lawsuit,’’ Sandlin said. “It will set a precedent for animal owners all over the country.’’

Sandlin’s lawsuit also claims the litigation is important for exotic animals.

“The fact is that the exotic animals in the wild are disappearing at alarming rates because of the illegal activity of criminal poachers. Thus, private ownership and exhibits like Sandlin’s and Tiger Truck Stop’s has become the safe haven for these most precious of our endangered commodities,’’ the lawsuit said.

“Making it more difficult and expensive to assist with preserving these precious species is only furthering the likelihood that private citizens will stop assisting with the fight to prevent the complete extinction of these animals.’’

Animal Legal Defense Fund staff attorney Matthew Liebman said Sandlin’s lawsuit is “baseless and without merit.’’

“We are confident that the state of Louisiana and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries acted well within their legal authority when they decided to protect both the public and big cats like Tony by restricting private ownership of wild animals,’’ he said.

A spokeswoman for the state Attorney General’s Office, Amanda Larkins, said the state’s attorneys were unable to comment on the lawsuit because they were in the process of reviewing it.

Sandlin’s lawsuit comes two months after a state District Court judge ruled Tony is not permitted by state law to remain at the truck stop off Interstate 10.

Judge Mike Caldwell said a state permit can be issued only to an individual, not a corporation, and Tiger Truck Stop is the permit holder, not Sandlin.

Caldwell barred Wildlife and Fisheries from issuing any new permits to keep Tony on display.

Tiger Truck Stop’s state permit expired Dec. 31.

The ruling, which came in a lawsuit that the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed last year against Wildlife and Fisheries, is being appealed by Sandlin, who intervened in the lawsuit.

Caldwell’s judgment is not final until the appeals process runs its course.

If Sandlin’s appeal is ultimately denied, Wildlife and Fisheries has said it would give Sandlin 30 days to move Tony to a sanctuary of Sandlin’s choosing.

In its suit, the Animal Legal Defense Fund cited a 2006 Louisiana law that prohibits the private ownership of large and exotic cats.

The law includes a grandfather exception that allows people to keep exotic cats as pets as long as the animals were legally owned before Aug. 15, 2006, when the law went into effect.

Tony was not legally owned by Tiger Truck Stop before that date because a 1993 Iberville Parish ordinance prohibits anyone from owning wild, exotic or vicious animals for display or exhibition, the Animal Legal Defense Fund said.

Sandlin’s lawsuit said the 2006 state law and the 1993 Iberville Parish ordinance are unconstitutional.

Wildlife and Fisheries has never been given any authority over exotic animals because exotic animals are not indigenous to the state, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit also said the Iberville ordinance does not have an exception for persons with proper permits under federal law.

Sandlin’s lawsuit was assigned to state District Judge Janice Clark.

http://theadvocate.com/home/1713218-125/another-suit-filed-in-grosse.html

Tiger count in south states this month

tigress62 — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:34:15 +0000

Sreenivas Janyala
Posted: Tue Jan 03 2012, 00:03 hrs
Hyderabad:

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) will start conducting its annual estimation of tigers in Kawal and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam tiger reserve (NSTR) along with other tiger reserves in southern states later this month.

For Kawal tiger reserve where at least four to six tigers are known to exist, it is the moment of truth. Tribals, who are opposed to the new tiger reserve because they may be asked to relocate, claim that there are no tigers there, and are protesting and creating hurdles for the tiger reserve. Forest officials say that they will pay special attention to Kawal during the exercise to prove that it is home for a few tigers.

Camera traps and unofficial estimation in the NSTR indicated the presence of new tigers last October. The total tiger population in the reserve is estimated to be 70 to 90, including several cubs.

A two-day training camp for field officers and forest officials of southern states starts at Bandipur on January 4. Known as Phase IV of All India Tiger Estimation, the decision to monitor tiger populations annually, instead of once every four years, was taken in May last year. Phase IV of the All India Tiger Estimation is an exercise in intensive, annual monitoring of source tiger populations in 41 reserves. Hundreds of cameras will be placed for 45 to 60 days at a gap of 1 km to identify and record tigers.

Field officers will also use traditional methods like tracking pugmarks. The latest models of camera traps and estimation methods have been developed by Dr K Ullas Karanth of Wild Conservation Society (India).

Chief Conservator of Forests (Project Tiger) A K Naik says the estimation of tigers will now be conducted specifically in reserves every year. “The practice of census conducted in all wildlife sanctuaries and national parks will be conducted every four years as usual but in tiger zones, estimation will be conducted annually from now,” Naik said. Besides tigers, the condition and health of the habitat and ecosystem, and availability of prey base and prey population will also be taken into account.

The NTCA is providing necessary equipment and has allotted Rs 35 lakh grant this year to conduct the exercise. Besides forest officers, external experts who will monitor the estimation exercise are also being appointed. Imran Siddiqui of Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society has been appointed as outside expert for Andhra Pradesh.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Tiger-count-in-south-states-this-month/894956/

‘Tiger skin old or new, crime is crime’

tigress62 — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:15:19 +0000

Posted On Tuesday, January 03, 2012 at 06:05:17 AM

Ravi Kumar, V Harish and Varun Kumar, all 19 years of age and studying in a college in Mysore, felt they had hit a jackpot when they stumbled upon an old tiger skin. They decided to sell it and fund their amusements. But luck was not in their favour as they ended up in police lock-up.

The moth-eaten, 25-year-old skin was in the attic of Ravi Kumar’s home. After making a contact with a person who said the skin will be purchased by a ‘customer’ for Rs 4.5 lakh, they took it to Madikeri.

However, a police team led by inspector R Satish Kumar stopped the trio, who were going on two bikes, near Abbey Falls in K Nidugani village on October 11. They found the tiger skin wrapped inside a plastic bag and arrested the boys. They were presented in court which sent them to custody.

According to police, the trio confessed that they went to Madikeri to sell the tiger skin, and since the offence attracted three years imprisonment and Rs 25,000 fine, they were immediately arrested. The police say the boys claimed that the tiger skin was in their house and they intended to sell it for Rs 4.5 lakh.

After their bail applications were rejected by the trial and sessions court, the trio approached High Court on Monday.

Their advocate Shankrappa argued that it was a story set up by the police. “The three are teenage students studying in colleges. Their semester exams are approaching. They were not aware of the tiger skin. It is a make-believe story by the police that they were trying to sell it. The boys were on a trip and thought they were helping someone,” Shankrappa said.

When Justice Subhash B Adi asked how come the boys were not aware what they were carrying, the advocate said, “It was in the bag that someone known to them wanted delivered. They did not check it. The police have not charged the owner of the bag. They just caught hold of the boys.”

Shankarappa also said that the tiger skin was 25 years old and not a new one, but Justice Adi was not impressed. “All other offences can be pardoned. But not this one. What if the skin is old? Are you permitted to carry old skins? There is no difference between old and new tiger skin in the eyes of law,” justice Adi said.

The court has asked for the charge sheet against the three boys to be placed before it on Wednesday.

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/10/201201032012010306053487355301ede/%E2%80%98Tiger-skin-old-or-new-crime-is-crime%E2%80%99.html