A1 Savannahs has changed hands from Martin and Kathrin Stucki to Martin M. Engster and family. This was a two stage handover. At first, the Stucki’s sold a share in the business and then after a while the remainder of the business was transfered to the Engster family.
A1 Savannahs is probably the most high profile cat breeders in the world. Compared to the typical hobby breeder they are vast. The facilities cover many, many acres in all. They breed Savannah cats of all generations, F1-F5 etc. and servals. Some people like to keep servals as pets or to breed F1 Savannahs from them. The serval is a medium sized wild cat. They raised the world famous Magic (female F1 Savannah), the world’s largest domestic cat, Motzie, another famous Savannah cat (F2) and Titan (F1 male). The famous Savannah cat video: A Beautiful Relationship, shows Magic with Andreas Stucki, the Stucki’s son.
The entire complex is very impressive. It is a real business as opposed to the typical cat breeder who does it for money, yes, but not as a full-blown business.
The Stuckis are great people. Highly professional and great hosts. I stayed at their guest house for ten days on one occasion. A1 Savannahs have a detached house on the premises for guests, usually buyers, who travel from many other countries to see the cats. They supplied F1 Savannahs to the King of Morocco as I recall.
A1 Savannahs is not only a cat breeding facility but the Stuckis also called it a farm because there are lots of other animals. That is the general background.
For me, and this is a personal issue, the new owner, Martin M. Engster is not my sort of person – not at all. Although I have no idea what he is like as a person, I do know, from quick research, that he sells guns and organizes hunting trips, including international hunts.
He runs a business called “Centerline Firearms”. This sort of mentality and activity is the kind I detest, sadly. A know a lot of people like to shoot animals for fun and they like their guns. This is anathema to me. Truthfully, too, I don’t think a person who likes to shoot animals for fun (sport hunting) should be involved in breeding cats. Sorry to state that. It it not meant as a criticism of the Stuckis. It is just that I feel strongly about these things.
There are many people who feel strongly about cat breeding never mind sport hunting. But Martin M. Engster combines the two. Arguably there is no place for cat breeding while there are millions of homeless cats wandering around starving and living miserable lives.
I am sure Martin M. Engster is businesslike. How sensitive is he towards the cats? A person who likes to kill animals cannot, in my opinion, be sensitive towards them. This is not good.
There it is. A sad day for me really. Just another little negative.
Well then I guess almost everyone on this page is asinine because most of us seem to feel the same. I did not go visit the cattery yet because I am not ready yet to buy a kitten. I wanted to go when I was ready to buy a kitten so I could bring the kitten home with me. I did not decide not to go due to change of ownership. The only assumption I made was to assume that the new owners must also love animals. I am very glad this came to light. There is nothing that anyone could say to me to make me believe that a person who trophy hunts and guides safaris for others to kill for fun is a true animal lover. I could NEVER kill an animal for a trophy. If you believe a man who kills wild animals for trophies and makes a living by charging outrageous prices to help others kill animals to hang on their walls can be a loving and caring hybrid cattery owner. It is you who are asinine. A breeder should love and care about the breed and preservation of the breed and anyone who felt this way would not do what he does or post a picture of himself proudly showing a wild African cat that he murdered for fun. If you choose to believe that he is so wonderful, that is your right but many on this board feel very different. There is nothing you can say to change my mind or to justify his actions in the eyes of true animal lovers everywhere.
And the word is “copyright”. If you’re going to have an opinion, at least be educated about it.
You just proved my point. You made an assumption that an animal hunter cannot also be an animal lover. That, my friend, is an OPINION. You said you were going to fly out and visit the cattery…and that when it was sold you have yet to, as of this date, visit the cattery. Had you visited the cattery, I would have no problem whatsoever with whatever opinion you could have formed while researching your purchase. But you didn’t. You formed your judgement because you apparently have an issue with people who hunt for sport. Thats fine, and you obviously have the right to take issue with that particular hobby, but to assert that one who hunts wild animals for sport cannot possibly love a domesticated animal raised for companionship is just asinine.
Apparently, you did not comprehend what I said. I have no problem with a breeder making a profit if they are breeding for the right reason, betterment of the breed, preservation and so on. As I said. I am a business owner and a business needs to make a profit to flourish and to grow. I am just saying that the care and love that a breeder feels for the breed must be there too. You are saying that we are making assumptions, there are no assumptions it is all there for all to see. Why do you think so many animal lovers are so upset.
Also, the history of A1 Savannahs and the lineage has no reflection on the current owner, they did not build the business. Whatever A1 contributed to the breed is not relevent. Martin M. Engster cannot take credit for any of that. They bought the business a few months back. How do I know??? I had signed up for alerts with the previous owners because I was considering flying out to meet them and possibly add one of their kittens to my family in the next year. I was so excited to see the cattery and meet the cats and the owners. When the cattery was sold, I was a little surprised but I was sure that they must be loving caring animal people. I now feel that could not be further from the truth. This has nothing to do with my opinion of hunting. It is my opinion of hunting just for a trophy. Killing animals for the thrill of it. A true animal lover could/would never do this. The fact that he does it is terrible enough but the fact that he makes money from others to help them do the same takes it to a whole new level of horrible! His website has prices listed for each type of animal his client wishes to murder. Like a grocery list, it is just so sad.
If a person needs to feed their family and they need to hunt to accomplish this, I can understand that. I could never do it myself but I do not judge or condemn those who do and I would not judge this man for that either. I also stated that in my above post. Below is a page from their website. I have copied and pasted it here because there was no copy write listed on the page. Oh, look… they even have trackers so the paying “hunters” do not have to do anything except follow along and shoot when they are told where the animals are. Wow what great “hunters” they must be.
Hunting Namibia – Africa
Centerline African Safari Outfitters – Namibia
Namibia Trophy Hunt – Warthog
Namibia Trophy Hunt – Oryx
Namibia Trophy Hunt – Baboon
Namibia Trophy Hunt – Kudu
Namibia Trophy Hunt – Zebra
Namibia Trophy Hunt – Blue Wildebeest
Namibia Trophy Hunt – Black Wildebeest
Namibia Trophy Hunt – Hartebeest
Namibia Trophy Hunt – Springbok
Welcome to Namibia and Plains-Game Hunting at its Finest.
Centerline is proud to offer customized hunts in various regions of Namibia covering more than 300-thousand acres of different terrain with Kudu, Oryx, Wildebeest, Hartebeest, Zebra, Blesbuck, Springbuck, Warthog and many other game animals in abundance.
We hunt the plains, rolling hills, the mountains and a vast region between the Namib and the Kalahari Desert.
Accommodations range from very remote farms without electricity like Nababis at the edge of the Kalahari to fine game lodges with spacious rooms, private baths and even swimming pools.
With a limited amount of hunters per season we concentrate on first class hunts to give our clients the chance for quality trophies.
For the non-hunter photo safaris can be arranged.
Please contact us to discuss the details of your hunt.
Hunting season: Feb. 1st through Nov. 30th for plains game Aug. 1st through Oct. 31st for birds.
Rates ($USD):
Hunting day plains game
one on one $350.00
two on one $300.00
four on one $250.00
observer $150.00
Hunting day birds
$350.00 (includes 10 birds/hunter)
Included: accommodations with full board, transfers from and to airport, transfers in and out of hunting areas, ph, skinner, trackers, hunting license, field preparation of trophies
Not included: flight, drinks, tips
Trophy Fees ($USD):
Kudu $ 1200.-
Oryx $ 600.-
Hartebeest $ 600.-
Mountain Zebra $ 950.-
Blue Wildebeest $ 1000.-
Black Wildebeest $1300.-
Blesbuck $ 550.-
Springbuck $ 400.-
Steenbuck $ 400.-
Warthog $ 500.-
Baboon $ 200.-
Jackal $ 100.-
Following animals on request:
Cheetah $ 3000.- (CITIES regulations are strict)
Water Buck $ 2200.-
Leopard $ por
Giraffe $ 2800.-
Eland $ 2000.-
Impala Common $ 1000.-
Huntable game birds:
Guineas, Francolin, Sandgrouse, Rockpidgeon, Cape laughing dove, Senegaldove, Cape Teal, Redbilled Teal, Egyptian Goose
Centerline Firearms can customize your trip within our abilities and the rules and regulations of the Game Department of Namibia.
Trips have to be booked about three months ahead of time. A down payment of 20% of the daily rates (does not include game fees) is required and non-refundable.
We look forward to making your next hunting trip an unforgettable one.
CENTERLINE FIREARMS SHOWROOM
2110 N Ash
Ponca City, OK 74601
(580) 762 5451
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WINCHESTER Mod. 94 LEVER ACTION 30-30 GOLDEN SPIKE COMMEMORATIVE RIFLE
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MAUSER 66 BOLT ACTION 7mm Rem. MAGNUM RIFLE
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Again, you’re making an assumption based on your opinion of hunting. Have you examined the screening process for homing the kittens yourself, or are you just making an assumption because of your prejudice? Have you a actually researched the company and attempted to discover what happens to kittens who are “not marketable” or are you again making an assumption based on your prejudice?
I hate to tell you, but anyone who is breeding Savannahs in the USA has to attribute the lineage of their cats to A1S at some level…because all bloodlines in the USA started with them. Check the records with TICA. I also regret to inform you that the original owners began breeding he magnificent creatures to make a profit, as only breeding an animal that claims such a lofty price tag can. So if your desire is to not patronize businesses that care about profits and are only there for the betterment and appreciation of the animals, I suggest you look outside the Savannah breed, because there very existence in this part of the world can be reduced to one inalienable fact: the desire to make money.