Author Topic: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats  (Read 20165 times)

Offline Dawn (DiddyDawn)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #34 on: March 23, 2007, 13:24:34 PM »
Dawn, I got copied on the email to you. They seem to care, but I think they are hoping legislation will intervene, but these lions don't have the luxury of time.

Any ideas on how much we need to raise?



I've just had another email saying that someone is prepared to pay for a vet to go over there:

Quote:  "I will be more than happy to use my miles or pay for an airline ticket from South Africa to Vienna.  I could pick up the vet at the airport in Vienna and drive him to Osijek." 

 :)  I'm not holding my breath but this sounds like some headway is getting sorted.......fingers crossed  :hug:

I'm not sure how much needs to be raised but I will find out just in case this falls through.
« Last Edit: March 23, 2007, 13:25:33 PM by Dawn (DiddyDawn) »

Offline Kittybabe (Ruth)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #33 on: March 23, 2007, 13:14:24 PM »
Dawn, I got copied on the email to you. They seem to care, but I think they are hoping legislation will intervene, but these lions don't have the luxury of time.

Any ideas on how much we need to raise?


Offline Mark

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #32 on: March 23, 2007, 12:07:25 PM »
Howletts anf Port Lymne are zoos in kent. You could try googling it. Damian Aspinall runs them now.

I hope Damian is as commited as John was. They do seem a bit of a commercial venture thesedays but I suppose they need the $ to keep up the work. I think the animals are well treated and have space there.
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Offline JackSpratt

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #31 on: March 23, 2007, 11:58:23 AM »
CC, I'm waiting to hear back from someone in Croatia, they are head vet at another zoo, thank you for that contact JS  :hug: ........we contacted so many people but still waiting on replys from some.

No bother. ;D Didn't want thanks, just wanted to point out that posting on here had given you a contact. Good luck sorting out help for these guys.




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Offline Dawn (DiddyDawn)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #30 on: March 23, 2007, 11:37:52 AM »
 :thanks: I will contact them and see what they say.

Offline Canterbury_cats (Sharon)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #29 on: March 23, 2007, 11:20:53 AM »
Hope this helps!
They do have a good record of conservation but not sure about rescue, but worth a try. What about World Society Protection of Animals in London, maybe?


Howletts and Port Lympne Estates Ltd
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Our offices are manned from 9am to 5pm GMT Monday to Friday with voice-mail covering off-peak hours.

This is the general contact emails and tel number you may need to be passed to another department to get any joy.

« Last Edit: March 23, 2007, 11:22:22 AM by canterbury_cats »
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Offline Dawn (DiddyDawn)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #28 on: March 23, 2007, 11:08:31 AM »
I've not heard of them Lyn, have you got a contact address or phone number for them?  I'm going to put a plea out to see if we can raise some funds and I'll forward the email onto Bornfree as well.

CC, I'm waiting to hear back from someone in Croatia, they are head vet at another zoo, thank you for that contact JS  :hug: ........we contacted so many people but still waiting on replys from some.
« Last Edit: March 23, 2007, 11:16:08 AM by Dawn (DiddyDawn) »

ccmacey

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #27 on: March 23, 2007, 11:06:05 AM »
Is there anyone in the country that could help? It would save the plane costs.

ccmacey

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #26 on: March 23, 2007, 11:04:18 AM »
Ok so I agree the PM was a bit out of sorts and dont think it should be made public for the reason it will upset someone.

Dawn I agree with you trying to get all the support you can and thats why you have posted on here and asked for help, and I do hope that you get it.

On the other hand people who dont see how posting this can help should try not to take the situation out of context and lets keep to the origanal reason of getting help.

Offline Dawn (DiddyDawn)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #25 on: March 23, 2007, 11:03:48 AM »
dawn whats the feedback been from born free..they did exactly the same thing with lions from romania and another country and the viewers pledged the money to fund it .

im sure they would do the same again.



Just had an email back from them:

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

I am writing in response to your concerns for the lions at Osijek Zoo in Croatia, which were passed on to me by Ruth Santos.  The condition of these lions is indeed terrible.

 

The lions appear to have nutritional osteodystrophy, a condition seen in many captive lions, brought about by an inadequate diet.  In particular, it is often seen in hand-reared lions who have not been given a suitable milk substitute, and have been weaned onto inadequate food.  If the zoo’s manager was aware of their inadequate diet, then this is indeed a case of cruel treatment of the lions.  However, cases such as this are often down to ignorance of what is needed.

 

The mother doesn't look in good condition either, so if her diet is lacking in vitamins and minerals then it is unsurprising that her cubs are born with health problems.  Getting the lions neutered may be too expensive or not possible if there are no wildlife vets with experience to do the surgery.  However, if they cannot be neutered then the lions should certainly be kept separately and not allowed to mate.

 

It may be that a proper diet could improve the condition of these youngsters and their mother a great deal.  However, they could already have suffered permanent skeletal and nervous damage.  We are unsure as to whether the blindness could be treated, however when our veterinary consultant returns from Ethiopia next week we will gain his professional opinion on this. 

 

Our sanctuaries in South Africa are full now, so unfortuntely we cannot offer these young lions a home, and I cannot think of any other alternative home for them.  For these lions to carry on living in such a barren enclosure, and probably feeling weak and miserable from their poor state of health, then they are not having a life worth living.

 

Unfortunately, as a charity we have very limited resources, which we must use wisely, therefore we simply have not had the spare resources to send a representative to investigate the situation in Osjiek Zoo.  We are currently heavily committed with our investigations and work in Romanian zoos, where there are also many lions in similar barren conditions and also suffering from nutritional osteodystrophy.

 

I am, however, able to provide you with some good news.  As of January 2007, Croatia now has comprehensive animal welfare legislation.  Details of this legislation are available at: http://www.prijatelji-zivotinja.hr/index.en.php?id=470.  Animal Friends Croatia are an animal welfare group currently working within Croatia to alleviate the suffering of animals in conditions such as this.  Hopefully, with the backing of this new legislation, there may be something we can do to help.  I have passed your concerns on to Animal Friends Croatia and will keep you updated on the situation.

 

I do hope the information in this email is of some use to you, and I am sorry that there is not more we can do to help in this dreadful situation.

 
Yours Sincerely and With Best Wishes,

 

Anne Keeley
Zoo Check Researcher

Offline CurlyCatz

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #24 on: March 23, 2007, 11:01:31 AM »
dawn whats the feedback been from born free..they did exactly the same thing with lions from romania and another country and the viewers pledged the money to fund it .

im sure they would do the same again.


Offline Dawn (DiddyDawn)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #23 on: March 23, 2007, 10:58:15 AM »
I have just received this email but they need funds for plane tickets  :(

Hi there
 
We have excellent vets in South Africa and could arrange a short notice for one to fly out to check out the lions, but sadly as a non-profit organisation ourselves we simply do not have the funds now to pay for their plain tickets.  Do you have funds available to do so????  We can supply an expert wildlife veterinarian if you can pay his way?  Pls let us know ASAP.
 
Kind regards
Louise Joubert
SanWild
www.sanwild.org and also www.afritrust.com

Offline JackSpratt

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #22 on: March 23, 2007, 10:56:22 AM »
Excellent. Hope it all went well. :)




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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #21 on: March 23, 2007, 10:49:20 AM »
If you are involved with so many people then why ask for help on the open forum?

Lyn, because someone on this forum had a contact in Croatia and Dawn wouldn't have known had she not posted! (That would be me.) I know he has helped to a degree and set the wheels in motion.

Where has Saffron been helping leopards? They are beautiful creatures too.

« Last Edit: March 24, 2007, 11:48:42 AM by JackSpratt »




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Offline Dawn (DiddyDawn)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #20 on: March 23, 2007, 10:34:01 AM »
And Im sure it would be kinder to pts than leave them out on their own in the wild to be hunted, thats pure evil.

But I do hope its not going to come to that.

From what I've been told, if these lions get the help they need, they will be trying to get them into a sanctuary where they will be safe and looked after.

Offline Dawn (DiddyDawn)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #19 on: March 23, 2007, 10:28:39 AM »
If you are involved with so many people then why ask for help on the open forum?

I asked for help as these lions need help and the sooner we get it to them, the better.  The more people involved the better, and some people may have contacts that I don't, I have actually had a fab contact via my post so hopefully these lions will get the help they need.



« Last Edit: March 23, 2007, 10:45:36 AM by Dawn (DiddyDawn) »

ccmacey

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #18 on: March 23, 2007, 10:24:20 AM »
I would think the more help the better.

There's nothing wrong with trying to get more support.

ccmacey

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #17 on: March 23, 2007, 10:22:58 AM »
And Im sure it would be kinder to pts than leave them out on their own in the wild to be hunted, thats pure evil.

But I do hope its not going to come to that.

Offline Dawn (DiddyDawn)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #16 on: March 23, 2007, 10:19:15 AM »
This is awful I hope something can be done.  :(

I think there may be light at the end of the tunnel.......there are a lot of people across the globe on this case and between us and our contacts, I'm praying something can be done for them.  I will keep you updated if I get any feedback.

ccmacey

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #15 on: March 23, 2007, 10:09:14 AM »
This is awful I hope something can be done.  :(

Offline Dawn (DiddyDawn)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #14 on: March 23, 2007, 10:05:07 AM »
I have pm'd you Lyn.

Offline Dawn (DiddyDawn)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #13 on: March 22, 2007, 20:36:20 PM »
Hi there!

I'm a veterinary student from Croatia involved in lynx research. You made me interested in those lions. What is the exact location of those lions and what more do you know about them? Let's see how we could help them out.

Lynx, I've pm'd you  :thanks:  :hug:
« Last Edit: March 22, 2007, 20:36:49 PM by Dawn (DiddyDawn) »

Offline Gill (sneakiefeline)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2007, 20:19:03 PM »
OK people this thread has been modified and all except Lynn know why. Please lets stick to subject of getting the big cats helped without side issues.

Thanks. ;D

Offline Dawn (DiddyDawn)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2007, 19:23:49 PM »
Hi there!

I'm a veterinary student from Croatia involved in lynx research. You made me interested in those lions. What is the exact location of those lions and what more do you know about them? Let's see how we could help them out.

Lynx, I will send you details of what I know.......hopefully you can help  :thanks:

Offline Kittybabe (Ruth)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #10 on: March 22, 2007, 19:20:33 PM »
They already are. They had heard about this by the time we called them today. They will contact Dawn or me directly.

Offline CurlyCatz

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #9 on: March 22, 2007, 19:16:11 PM »
born free foundation would definately get involved i think.

Offline Christine (Blip)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2007, 19:07:27 PM »
Hi there!

I'm a veterinary student from Croatia involved in lynx research. You made me interested in those lions. What is the exact location of those lions and what more do you know about them? Let's see how we could help them out.

 :welcome: to Purrs Lynx. You sound very well-placed to help...
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Offline Canterbury_cats (Sharon)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2007, 18:43:45 PM »
Try Born Free Foundation UK based but just the thing they would get involved with.

Cannot save the world, but if everyone does something we can have a jolly good job trying too....

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Offline Gill (sneakiefeline)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2007, 18:10:22 PM »
Lynx try Pming Dawn she is usually on site later in the day  ;D

Offline Kittybabe (Ruth)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2007, 17:56:20 PM »
If they are in a zoo at the mo, surely they are safe from hunters???


Lyn what tends to happen in these types of situations is either euthenasia or they get sent off for canned hunting since its seen as "they're going to die anyway"
« Last Edit: March 22, 2007, 20:15:51 PM by Gill (sneakiefeline) »

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2007, 17:54:57 PM »
Hi there!

I'm a veterinary student from Croatia involved in lynx research. You made me interested in those lions. What is the exact location of those lions and what more do you know about them? Let's see how we could help them out.

Offline Dawn (DiddyDawn)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2007, 13:37:48 PM »
Thanks hun  :hug:

Offline Kittybabe (Ruth)

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Re: This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2007, 13:37:08 PM »
Dawn will PM you

Offline Dawn (DiddyDawn)

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This is extremely URGENT - Cats but big cats
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2007, 13:13:03 PM »
I know this is an unusual request but it's desperate........does anyone know of anyone who specialises in large cats meaning Lions  :shy:  I've had an email this morning about a couple of lions in Croatia that really need veterinary help and no one specialises in large cats over there.........if they don't get the help, they will be euthanised  :'(  :'(  They are in a zoo in Croatia, they are malnourished, basically have no life and they also have Rachitis which I think is another name for Rickets and they are also blind.  I've contacted a couple of people I know but they are extremely busy and are rarely in the country so I need a couple of backups  :-:  If the help is available, I think they've got somewhere lined up for these babes to go where they will be safe from hunters etc.

If anyone can help or knows of anyone, can they contact me asap please  :thanks:

 


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