Rescue

Lithuanian Liberation – International Rescue Update #3

Lithuanian Liberation – International Rescue Update #3

New Arrivals: Lithuanian Savannah Cats Find Sanctuary in Oregon

A Journey Across Continents

Yesterday evening WildCat Ridge Sanctuary welcomed three very special new residents. Avataras, Bondas, and Bagira – our Lithuanian savannah cats – finally touched down on American soil after a long and tiring journey.

Avataras, F1 Male

Meet Our New Feline Friends

  1. Avataras: This handsome boy is an F2 savannah, meaning he’s a first-generation hybrid between a serval and a domestic cat. With his striking spotted coat and tall, elegant frame, Avataras is sure to turn heads

    Bondas, F4 Male

  2. Bondas: An F4 male, Bondas is a fourth-generation savannah. While he may have a bit more domestic cat in his lineage, don’t let that fool you – he’s every bit as wild at heart as his F1 counterparts.
  3. Bagira: Another F2 savannah, this little female appears to be the most outgoing of our new trio.

The Journey Home

As their transport boxes were carefully unloaded, we could sense the cats’ eagerness to stretch their legs after their transcontinental trip. The soft mews and occasional chirps (a unique vocalization of savannah cats) told us they were more than ready to explore their new surroundings.

Settling In: The Quarantine Period

For the next 30 days, Avataras, Bondas, and Bagira will reside in our quarantine facilities. This crucial period allows us to:

  • Closely monitor their health
  • Ensure they’re eating well and adjusting to their new diet
  • Give them time to acclimate to the sights, sounds, and smells of the sanctuary
  • Conduct any necessary medical check-ups or treatments

    Bagira, F1 Female

We’re happy to report that all three cats have already shown healthy appetites, which is an excellent sign of their adjustment. Their curious nature is also evident as they cautiously but eagerly investigate every corner of their temporary homes.

Looking Ahead: New Friends and Forever Home

Once their quarantine period is complete, our Lithuanian trio will transition to a specially designed enclosure within the sanctuary. Here, they’ll have the opportunity to meet some of our other resident cats. Savannah cats are known for their social nature, so we’re excited to see the friendships that may develop.

The Importance of Sanctuary

The arrival of Avataras, Bondas, and Bagira highlights the ongoing need for sanctuaries like ours. While savannah cats are legal pets in many areas, their wild instincts and specific care requirements often lead to them being surrendered or abandoned. At WildCat Ridge Sanctuary, we’re committed to providing these magnificent creatures with the specialized care and enrichment they need to thrive.

How You Can Help

We’re thrilled to provide a forever home for Avataras, Bondas, and Bagira, but we can’t do it without your support. Here’s how you can help:

  • Consider being the first to sponsor one of our new arrivals
  • Donate to help cover the costs of their care
  • Share this story to raise awareness about the challenges faced by hybrid wild cats

Stay tuned for more updates on our Lithuanian savannah cats as they settle into their new lives here at WildCat Ridge Sanctuary. We can’t wait to share their journey with you!

WildCat Ridge Sanctuary is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a safe haven for abandoned, abused, and retired exotic cats. We believe that education is key to ending the exotic pet trade and are committed to sharing the stories of our residents to promote conservation and responsible animal care.

Posted by Natasha Nemyre in Blog, Hybrids

A Passion Fueled By Fire

Originally published in:
Weber State University on October 30, 2020

Written by By Taylor Benincosa, Wildcat Ridge Sanctuary - Carnivore Keeper

Working at a nonprofit animal sanctuary as a carnivore keeper tends to be an adventure every day. The opportunity to be innovative and creative when it comes to solving problems presents itself quite often. September 8, 2020, was no exception. After large wind storms, the night before, another keeper and I went into work expecting to repair the damage done to enclosures, get the power in our barn back on, and care for all the animals. While preparing diets, we received an unexpected phone call telling us that a wildfire was rapidly spreading, and we needed to begin evacuating the facility immediately. The smoke became more prominent over the property as we began moving animals to a different location as quickly as possible. The bright red skies made everything feel so eerie and dangerous.

I'll never forget the look in the tigers' eyes while we waited for their transport crates to be ready. The fear I saw within them was heartbreaking.

After two days, we had evacuated 70 plus animals off of the Wildcat Ridge Sanctuary property, including tigers, lions, cougars, bobcats, servals, cheetahs, and domestic/hybrid cats. We spent the next two weeks dividing our team-up between a makeshift triage shelter created with the help of amazing volunteers at a barn far away from potential danger, as well as Wildlife Safari. Wildlife Safari is a facility we reached out to who offered to house our 14 big cats until we were able to return to the sanctuary. I can't express my gratitude to everyone who stepped in to help during the chaos, especially after having to evacuate my own home in the middle of it all. After a month of temporary housing, we are finally all moved back home. Seeing the big cats recognize their own enclosures and feel safe enough to play and sleep belly up out in their yards was one of the most rewarding things I've ever experienced.

Growing up, I always wanted to be like the people I watched on Animal Planet: the ASPCA who saved animals from natural disasters or unfit living conditions, Steve Irwin and his knowledge of wildlife and how to protect them, and the zookeepers who worked closely with exotic animals. This passion for animals inspired me to pursue a zoology degree and find work at a facility that cares for animals who came from abuse. These animals have faced so much already in life, an example being our lionesses who were bred by the infamous Joe Exotic, that keeping them safe during this unexpected situation was incredibly important. It was eye-opening to see how deeply this passion was rooted within me when faced with an emergency situation.

Adapting to uncertainty and fear was easy when it meant that these animals would be out of danger if I kept going.

Find what you are passionate about, live your life knowing that you are making a difference, and keep fighting for your dreams.

I never expected to experience the things I have in this field, but I'm grateful for every moment of it.

Posted by Taylor Benincosa in Blog

You Don’t Say… Ep. 33 – In the Wake of Joe Exotic

On November 9th, 2020 we were featured on the podcast, You Don’t Say… Ep. 33
In the Wake of Joe Exotic - WildCat Ridge Sanctuary Comes to the Rescue

We’re talking about our mission, and providing an update on Kariba and Chobe. Listen and share the episode and help us spread our message!

About "You Don’t Say… Stories from the Drew Zagorski Files"

YDS is a podcast about people you should know, topics you should know about, or just things that make us think or laugh. YDS is your stop for interesting stories, opinions, or wisdom to help, inspire, or amuse you.

YDS on Facebook | youdontsay.net

Posted by Stefanie Kraus in Blog

Operation: Big Cat Rescue

Published in:
Our Town North on November 1, 2020

Written by By Melissa Wagoner

"I've moved a lot of off-the-wall things," Eric Tremble, owner of the Two Men and a Truck franchise in Beaverton, told Our Town. "But no, we typically do not move live animals of any sort. Mostly we specialize in residential, home-to-home moves or business moves. That's really what we specialize in."

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Posted by Stefanie Kraus in Blog

Surviving Joe Exotic

Most people have heard of Joe Exotic or if not are at least aware of the Netflix show, Tiger King, Murder, Mayhem, and Madness that aired this year.

Unfortunately, instead of showing the constant abuse of the animals in his care, it sensationalized Joe's life and all the chaos surrounding him.

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Posted by Cheryl Tuller in Blog

Cairo Serval – Saved By A Good Samaritan

On May 9th I received a message from a friend who was worried about wild cats escaping from a home in his area. The photo he sent was one of a Savannah Cat. The owner's number was posted and I called to ask if they ever wanted to place him we would be happy to take him. He politely declined said the cat had been caught. When I asked how he had gotten out so many times he said the cat could open doors. We talked a bit more and he shared that they still have a serval on the loose.

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Posted by Cheryl Tuller in Blog

BC SPCA seizes 13 exotic serval cats found living in ‘horrific conditions’

BY SIMON LITTLE GLOBAL NEWS
Posted July 2, 2019 6:26 pm, Updated July 4, 2019 8:53 am

The BC SPCA says it plans to recommend animal cruelty charges after seizing more than a dozen exotic cats from a breeder near Little Fort, B.C., that officials say were living in “horrific conditions. The agency alleges that the 10 adult serval cats and three kittens were being housed in dark, hot RV trailers with a lack of ventilation and water, and had been exposed to high levels of ammonia from urine.

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Posted by Stefanie Kraus in Blog

A Rescue Story – Part 2: Four Servals and a Jungle Cat

Additional Rescues?

Chobe, Kariba, and Taji all started to settle in beautifully into their new homes, and we thought that we could go back to our daily routines. But we were wrong. Wildlife Waystation was about to close its doors permanently, and all animals needed to find homes as soon as possible.

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Posted by Cheryl Tuller in Blog

A Rescue Story – Part 1: Two Lion Queens and a Serval

Wildlife Waystation in Sylmar, California had been home to more than 400 animals including big cats, chimpanzees and more. Because of numerous infractions and internal management issues, The Board of Directors surrendered the license they held to have the animals, and the California Department of Wish and Wildlife was faced with the monumental task of finding new homes for all residents.
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Posted by Cheryl Tuller in Blog