Happy New Year! - Feline Conservation Federation

Sections:
Feline Conservation
Federation News and
Events………..…..… 2
FCF Member Zoos and
Sanctuaries to Visit... 5
Learning about the
Cats……………….... 6
Efforts to Save the
Wild Cats……...........7
Holiday Cats………...8
Feline Fun …........… 13
Wild Cat Fan
Page……….….…… 14
Happy New Year!
2013 was a very exciting year. Those who were able to attend the
2013 FCF Convention in Nashville got a very special and very rare
treat: to hold a baby clouded leopard!
gfa Not many people can say that
they got to hold a baby clouded leopard. Those at the Convention
also got to visit the rest of the animals at the Nashville Zoo,
participate in line dancing or watch others attempt it, and spend an
afternoon and evening visiting various cats that were brought.
This year, the FCF Convention is headed west again. The 2014
Convention will be held in Arizona and will include a trip to Out of
Africa, a park known for its Tiger Splash Show where you get to watch
tigers playing and jumping in a large pool. Be sure to watch future
issues for more details.
This month is the FCF Wildcat Weekend where you can take both their
basic husbandry and edcuator’s courses and tour a facility. It will be
held at Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary in Sarasota, Florida.
In this issue are holiday cat photos, so be sure to check them out!
Feline Conservation
Federation
141 Polk Road 664
Mena, AR 71953
www.felineconservation.org
The Feline Conservation
Federation is a 501(c)(3)
organization dedicated to
the conservation of wild
felines through
preservation, education
and research.
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Out of Africa Park
FELINE CONSERVATION FEDERATION NEWS AND EVENTS
Produced by
the Youth
Education
Committee
2014 FCF Calendars for Sale
WILD CATS:
Chair:
African Golden Cat
Andean Cat
Debi
Willoughby
Asian Golden Cat
Bay Cat
Black-Footed Cat
Kim Barker
Bobcat
Canada Lynx
Caracal
Cheetah
Clouded leopard
Cougar
Eurasian Lynx
Fishing Cat
Flat-Headed Cat
Lauren Bean
Dawn English
Amy Flory
Geoffroy's Cat
Iberian Lynx
Iriomote Cat
Jaguar
Jaguarundi
Jungle Cat
Kodkod or Guiña
Leopard
To
Unsubscribe
from the
mailing list:
Send an email
to
Youth@FelineCo
nservation.org
and put
unsubscribe in
the subject line.
The Feline Conservation Federation still has some 2014
calendars available. Each month has a photo of a different cat
provided by members of the FCF. Calendars are $24 US, $26
Canada, and $30 for all other countries. Calendars and several
other items can be ordered through the FCF website at
http://www.felineconservation.org/programs_services/fcf_produ
cts__online_store.htm,
so be sure to get yours today!
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Leopard Cat
Lion
Marbled Cat
Margay
Ocelot
Oncilla
Pallas Cat
Pampas Cat
Rusty-Spotted Cat
Sand Cat
Serval
Snow leopard
Tiger
Wildcat
FCF Wildcat Weekend
Date: January 10-12, 2014
Place: Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Santuary
7101 Palmer Blvd, Sarasota, Florida
Cost: $125 FCF members, $160 non-members per course
$15 tour is FREE if you sign up for both courses
Hotel: AmericInn
5931 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34232
Events:
~ Friday - 8:00 – 6:00 – FCF Basic Feline Husbandry Course
~ Saturday - 12:30pm – 4:30 pm – Tour of facility
~ Sunday – 8:00–6:00 – Wildlife Conservation Educator Course
2014 Feline Conservation Federation Convention
Date: June 19-21, 2014
Hotel: Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort - $82/night
6160 North Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85253
480-991-1414
http://www.scottsdalecottonwoods.com/
Facility: Out of Africa
3505 W. Camp Verde Bridgeport Highway
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
http://outofafricapark.com/
Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Mingus Mountains of Camp Verde, Out of Africa Wildlife Park is
nestled on over 100 acres of rolling hills and valleys. This setting is home to hundreds of exotic mammals,
birds, and reptiles from all over the world.
Upon entering the Serengeti preserve, you’re immediately transported to the world of roaming African wildlife.
Perhaps you’ll make friends with a herd of giant eland or spot a zebra foal nuzzling up against its mother. How
about an encounter with an ostrich, or a kiss from a giraffe?
You may be in Arizona, but you’ll feel like you’re in Africa when hitching a ride on your own African Bush
Safari Tour. Imagine yourself surrounded by some of the world’s most exotic free roaming animals as you ride
in our safari vehicle, complete with expert guide and narration. Get closer than you ever thought possible to
giraffes, zebras, sable antelope, gemsbok, and so many more inhabitants of Out of Africa Wildlife Park’s
spacious Serengeti preserve. Maybe even steal a kiss from a giraffe while feeding treats. Be sure to bring your
camera so you can capture all the priceless safari moments!
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Gemsbok - Out of Africa Park
Stay in luxury at the Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort and Suites Hotel. The special FCF Convention rate is only
$82, including breakfast for two each morning, if you reserve your room early.
NOTE: Around a half dozen cats under 30 pounds are allowed.
Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort and Suites Hotel
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FCF MEMBER ZOOS AND SANCTUARIES TO VISIT
Alligator Adventure
1891 Colony Drive
Surfside Beach, SC 29575
Collins Zoo
2900 Hwy 49
Collins, MS 39428
www.collinsmszoo.com
Cricket Hollow Zoo, Inc.
1512 210th Street
Manchester, IA 52057-8951
www.crickethollowzoo.com
Dade City's Wild Things
37245 Meridian Ave
Dade City, FL 33525
www.dadecityswildthings.com
Heaven's Corner Zoo & Animal
Sanctuary
385 Quinn Rd
West Alexandria, OH 45381
www.heavenscorner.net
Hernando Primate Inc
14495 Chicanic Road
Brooksville, FL 34614
www.hernandoprimate.com
Natural Bridge Zoological Park
5784 S Lee Hwy
Natural Bridge, VA 24578
http://naturalbridgezoo.com/
Sierra Safari Zoo
10200 N. Virginia St.
Reno, NV 89506
http://sierrasafarizoo.org/
Olympic Game Farm
1423 Ward Rd
Sequim, WA 98382
www.olygamefarm.com
Tanganyika Wildlife Park
1037 South 183rd Street West
Goddard, KS 67052
www.twpark.com
Out of Africa Wildlife Park
4020 N Cherry Road
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
http://www.outofafricapark.com/
Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge
17552 FM 14
Tyler, TX 75706
www.tigercreek.org
Panther Ridge Conservation
Center
14755 Palm Beach Point Boulevard
Wellington, FL 33414
Tiger World
4405 Cook Road
Rockwell, NC 28138
www.TigerWorld.us
http://www.pantherridgesanctuary.org/
Phillips Park Zoo
1000 Ray Moses Dr
Aurora, IL 60505
http://www.phillipsparkaurora.com/
Safari Zoological Park
1751A CR 1425
Caney, KS 67333
http://safaripark.org/
Wild Animal Safari
3246 E Seminole
Springfield, MO 65804
http://www.goanimalparadise.com/
Wildwood Wildlife Park
10094 Hwy 70 West
Minocqua, WI 54548
http://www.wildwoodwildlifepark.com
Zooville USA
4702 Cooper Rd
Plant City, FL 33565
www.zoovilleusa.com
Hesperia Zoo
19038 Willow St
Hesperia, CA 92345
http://www.thehesperiazoo.com/
Note to FCF members: If you would like to be included here, please contact the committee.
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LEARNING ABOUT THE WILD CATS
Flat-headed Cat
Prionailurus planiceps
Weight: 3-6 pounds Body Length: 13-19” Tail Length: 5-7”
Habitat: forests, wetlands, scrubs Range: Southeast Asia
Diet: rodents, frogs, fish, birds, fruits Behavior: nocturnal, hunts from ground
Breeding: Unknown Gestation: 56 days # of Babies: 1-4
Sexual Maturity: Unknown Lifespan: 14 years captivity
Status: CITES Appendix I, IUCN Endangered
* Flat-headed cats are named for their long snouts and flattened skulls
* The flat-headed cat may be found in the forests, wetlands, and scrub of southeastern Asia.
* Very little is known about the species – there have only been a small number of observations and
camera trap records.
* Flat-headed cats are small, having a length of less than two feet and weight of 3-6 pounds.
* The cats are similar to otters with their long body, short legs, and reddish-brown or dark brown fur.
* Though rare for cats, this species has webbed feet.
* Also unusual, the flat-headed cat is omnivorous, content with meat or plants.
* Flat-headed cats hunt by night, eating rodents, frogs, fish, crustaceans, small birds, fruit, sweet
potatoes, and legumes. They often raid garbage cans and gardens, similar to raccoons or weasels in
other parts of the world.
* There are fewer than 10,000 flat-headed cats in the world.
* Habitat destruction (for human settlement, agriculture, and wood cutting) and over fishing are the
primary threats to the species. Trapping and poisoning are also threats.
References:
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/full/18148/0
http://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/carnivores/cat_flat_headed.html
For more information about the flat-headed cat, visit the Youth Section of the FCF website.
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EFFORTS TO SAVE THE WILD CATS
Flat-Headed Cat Conservation
Currently, the flat-headed cat is listed as endangered. Its
biggest threats are habitat loss due to the increase in the number of
palm oil plantations and the fact that very little is known about
this cat. Over 70% of the wetlands and forests where this cat lives
have been drained and turned into palm oil plantations. Palm oil
is a very popular product in the United States and can be found in
many foods and even in other items we buy such as soaps. In
addition to losing their lands, the palm oil plantations are also
polluting the nearby waters, something that is very important for
the survival of the flat-headed cat, a cat that lives in and around
the water.
One group that is working to save the flat-headed cat is the
Palm oil plantation
Small Wild Cat Conservation Alliance. This group is trying to
save these cats and their habitat by telling the public what palm oil is doing to the cats and teaching owners
of the plantations why saving these cats is important. They are working to make the public aware of the
impact palm oil is having on endangered species in Southeast Asia and asking them to stop buying items
that have palm oil in them so that the businesses that use it in their products will switch to less harmful
items instead. Another part of the plan is to talk to the people that own these plantations about why it is
import to save these cats.
The second biggest threat to the flat-headed cat next to palm oil plantations is the fact that not enough
is known about the behavior of this cat. Reliable information about a cat’s numbers and breeding, hunting
and other habits is needed in order to create a successful plan to conserve it. Conservationists need to know
what types of habitat the cat lives in and the areas that have the best habitat left for them. The Small Wild
Cat Conservation Alliance is leading this research project.
Sources:
“Updates on three small
wildcat species” Feline
Conservation Federation
Journal, May-June 2013;
“Flat-headed cat” IUCN
Red List
“Flat-headed Cat
Project” Small Wild Cat
Conservation Alliance
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Serval baby - Bob Turner
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Boris the Pallas’ cat – Nancy Vandermey
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Leopard – Panther Ridge Conservation Center
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Gypsy the serval – Roger Newson
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Ocelot – Jill Galindo
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FELINE FUN
CATS OF THE WORLD
List the cats under the continent(s) they are found in. List can be found on page 2.
1. Africa (6)
3. Africa and Asia (2)
A
B
-
C
L
C
H
CAT
L
CAT
L
D
N
4. Europe (3)
S
CAT
S
L
A
X
C
D
CAT
F
CAT
I
E
J
CAT
L
CAT
M
CAT
CAT
-
X
R
6. South America (6)
-
P
T
C
CAT
F
A
CAT
G
CAT
K
D
M
Y
O
A
P
CAT
CAT
S
T
I
B
CAT
C
R
X
5. North America (3)
2. Asia (13)
B
E
7. North and South America (3)
D
J
R
R
J
O
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I
T
Glossary
Ambassador – a person who speaks out or takes action for a cause
Conserve/Conservation – to save and protect an animal
Conservationist – a person that saves and protects animals
Diet – what an animal eats
Gestation – how long babies grow inside their mom before they are born
Habitat – the type of place (forest, ocean, desert) where an animal lives
Husbandry – the breeding and raising of animals
Nocturnal – active during the evening or at night
Omnivorous – eats both plants and meat
Range – the countries or continents where an animal can found
Scrub – an area that has mainly brushes and other small plants
Tropical – an area that is often hot and wet
Wildlife Educator – someone who teaches others about wild animals
Answers to Fun Page:
1. Africa - African golden cat, Black-footed cat, Caracal, Cheetah, Sand cat, Serval
2. Asia - Asian golden cat, Bay cat, Clouded leopard, Fishing cat, Flat-headed cat,
Iriomote, Jungle cat, Leopard cat, Marbled cat, Pallas’ cat, Rusty-spotted cat, Snow
leopard, Tiger
3. Africa and Asia – Leopard, Lion
4. Europe - Eurasian lynx, Iberian lynx
5. North America – Bobcat, Canadian lynx, Cougar
6. South America - Andean cat, Geoffroy’s cat, Kodkod, Margay, Oncilla, Pampas cat
7. North and South America – Jaguar, Jaguarundi, Ocelot
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