Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation have some Geoffroy’s cats at their sanctuary. They’re based in Florida. They are a not-for-profit organisation. They are dependent upon donations. They are described by Big Cat Rescue as a “pseudo-sanctuary” which in their view exploits exotic cats by taking them off site to be handled by the public.
Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation have decided to work with a restaurant in Gainesville, Florida called Paramount Grill. The idea is to raise funds for Carson Springs and I presume to generate business at the same time for the restaurant (see below).
You will see a photograph on this page of three, sweet, Geoffroy kittens. They’re currently at Carson springs in their care. This medium-sized wild cat species is found in the southern half of South America. It typically preys on rabbits and frogs and has a spotted coat. The numbers of this cat are diminishing year-on-year. They actually live in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. The species suffers the usual threats from human activity such as persecution, loss of habitat and at one time killing it for its fur.
Paramount Springs are advertising an anniversary and benefit dinner on August 20 which includes a six course meal and in attendance will be “ambassador animals”. Included will be the Geoffroy’s kittens. This is commercial exploitation of a vulnerable species of wild cat. Especially kittens. It is not clever. It is in no way part of conservation which is what they they say they is their raison d’être.
Big Cat Rescue have tried to talk with both Paramount Grill and Carson Springs to change their minds about exploiting these kittens, without success. In fact a lawyer representing Carson Springs responded to the request with a threatening letter.
My thanks to Big Cat Rescue for notify me of this story. I think it is just so typical of what is wrong with so-called conservation organisations. They’re more about exploitation than conservation. They’re about making money. In fact, the existence of Carson Springs is about the exploitation of vulnerable exotic cats in my view. This has been compounded by this distasteful money making promotion at a restaurant.
If you wish you can write to these organisation protesting by using a letter drafted by Big Cat Rescue on this page.
Real zoos limit exposure of infant animals to reduce exposure to germs and some disease. They are fragile. The USDA needs to shut these places down.