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WildCat Conservation Legal Aid Society is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to ensuring a wild future for all wildcats.

The mission of the WildCat Conservation Legal Aid Society is to protect and defend all native and non-native wildcats.
Continued on About Us

ON THE PROWL

May 16, 2013 - Washington, D.C.

"Today, Congressman Howard Buck McKeon (R-CA 25) and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA 46) introduced H.R. 1998, the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act. The Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act would prohibit private possession of big cats, such as lions, tigers, panthers and cheetahs, except at highly-qualified facilities, like accredited zoos, where they can be properly cared for and restrained. Additionally, since no agency, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), state agencies, or local first responders, currently knows exactly how many dangerous big cats are being kept in private hands, under what conditions, and in what locations, the bill would require any persons who currently possess big cats to register those animals with USDA in order to keep the cats they currently own. The bill would also outlaw the breeding of any big cat except at accredited zoos and research and educational institutions. Violators of the law could have their animals confiscated along with any vehicles or equipment used to aid in their illegal activity, and could face stiff penalties including fines as much as $20,000, and up to five years in jail."

WildCat Conservation Legal Aid Society fully supports this important inititative and urges the U.S. Congress to implement this urgent measure into law.

WildCat Conservation Legal Aid Society is pleased to announce, the documentary film, American Tiger, is now available on Nat Geo Wild! Watch for interview segments with our President & CEO, Lisa Ann Tekancic. The film is also available on YouTube: Nat Geo Wild ~ American Tiger

WildCat Conservation Legal Aid Society needs your help! Become a participant in our Big Cat Conservation Awareness Study by completing our survey! The results of the study will serve as a guide for the development of our new programs and related services.

Big Cat Conservation Awareness Survey

Texas introduces new bills banning the private ownership of big cats and certain primates . . .

H.B. 1015 is sponsored by Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-31, and S.B. 1627 is sponsored by Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-27. The proposed bills will prohibit the private ownership of big cats and certain dangerous primates such as chimpanzees and baboons in counties with populations exceeding 75,000.

Rep. Guillen said: "These animals can cause death and inflict serious injury which is why I introduced this public safety measure. It is difficult for individuals to meet wild and dangerous animals' specialized needs while in captivity and properly ensure the safety of their neighbors and their community."

Sen. Lucio said: "Since 1990, more children have been killed or injured by captive big cats in Texas than any other state. Texas' law needs to prevent people from keeping dangerous animals in their backyards and basements. These animals are not intended to be pets. They deserve the care and respect that can only be provided by professional facilities."

Texas does not overtly prohibit the private possession of big cats or primates but does require owners to register their animals with local law enforcement or the animal control office.

WildCat Conservation Legal Aid Society commends Rep. Guillen and Sen. Lucio for their sponsorship of the bills and urges the Texas legislature to pass this urgent measure into law.

Link to House Bill No. 1015

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Initiates Review of African Lion Under the Endangered Species Act!

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has initiated a review of the African lion's status in order to determine whether the lion, Panthera leo leo, requires protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). USFWS is conducting this review after receiving a petition requesting ESA protection for the African lion. The Asiatic lion was listed as an endangered species in 1970, but the African lion is not currently protected under the ESA.

WildCat Conservation Legal Aid Society supports this initiative to protect African lions under the ESA.

The public comment period closed on January 28, 2013. USFWS received over 3,200 comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov which are available for review.

For additional information see: Federal Register: African lion and Petition to list the African lion under the ESA

More On the Prowl...

Journal of the WildCat Conservation Legal Aid Society
Sum/Fall 2011 ~ Volume V

Publications

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Sixteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP16), 3-14 March 2013

14 March 2013: CITES CoP16 proceedings have concluded.

In a press release issued from Bangkok, CITES provided the following summary on Big Cats: "Range States were requested to organize national seminars in Appendix-I Asian big cats, involving all relevant enforcement agencies, to promote a multi-disciplinary approach that will facilitate improved coordination and cooperation in the detection, investigation and prosecution of wildlife crime offences. An agreement was also reached to undertake a study on cheetahs to determine how best to address the alleged illegal trade in live specimens; and better rules were adopted to refine the leopard trophy hunting system."

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), in conjunction with CoP16, dispatched their report on the tiger trade crisis: Hidden in Plain Sight: China's Clandestine Tiger Trade

The next Conference of the Parties, CoP17, will take place in South Africa in 2016.

More on CoP16 . . .

Wildcat News

Environmental Crime Programme INTERPOL Release:
Nepal police seize tiger parts and arrest seven during intelligence-led actions...
INTERPOL Press Release

Attacks prompt Nepal to cap wildlife growth... Officials in Nepal have said they will now have to put a cap on the growth of wildlife including endangered species like tigers and rhinos. BBC Science-Environment News

Corridors Critical for India's Big Cats, by Nat Geo correspondent, Brian Switek, reviews two recently published studies by Sandeep Sharma and Trishna Dutter et al. of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, on the genetic diversity of tigers and leopards in Central India and whether the big cats are finding mates from different areas in the preserves. Corridors Critical for India's Big Cats

A new article by Chloe Inskip et al. takes an indepth look into the human-tiger conflict in Bangladesh Sundarbans. Human-tiger conflict in context: Risks to lives and livelihoods in the Bangladesh Sundarbans

"The Truck Stops Here!"

ALDF is currently waiting for the Louisiana Court of Appeal to hear their case. They are also waiting for the trial court to decide if Sandlin's suit will move forward. Tony's fate is tied up in the courts, but ALDF is keeping the pressure on. Visit ALDF: Cases & Campaigns: The Truck Stops Here! for a timeline of the case and controversy surrounding Tony's unfortunate life at the truck stop.

Read more Wildcat News

WildCat Advocate, our quarterly newsletter, features the latest news and events affecting wildcats from around the world! Back issues of WildCat Advocate will be posted soon!

Publications