We are devastated by what happened in Ohio yesterday. But we do not blame the legal authorities nor the lovely Jack Hanna. We blame people who buy & sell wild baby animals.
It is shocking to read about tigers in captivity in backyards around the States. We had no idea. Please click over to the World Wildlife Fund to look at an interactive map with captive tiger population statistics. Follow the links to see what you can do to get this outrageous conduct under control. If people want a wild animal, they should adopt a little cat. We assure you, that is wild enough!
ciao-meow/GGCM
(Mama tiger & cub by Michael Nichols for National Geographic)
Just 3,000 tigers live in the wild today. These majestic animals face grave threats to their survival, including poaching and habitat destruction. It is our work to ensure the protection of the 1,000 remaining breeding females, so that they may live to produce the next generation. Help us give tigers room to grow: Support our efforts to conserve these great cats and their homes. --Wildlife Conservation SocietyThis is a full-blown emergency, people. Please visit Wildlife Conservation Society's Tiger Tools page & take action. Also, GG Central purchased these Vanishing Species stamps that will help raise money to fight tiger poaching.
For children of all ages, visit National Geographic Kids Creature Feature/Tiger page. There are coloring pages, e-cards, & all sorts of cool features. Giulia is paw-painting right now. With spilled coffee on a tiger page. Seriously. We have to go!
ciao-roar-meow/GGCM
(Siberian tiger by Joel Sartore for National Geographic)
Adopt a cute lion at IKEA & help UNICEF & Save the Children. There's a new Facebook Fan page for the IKEA Soft Toys Aid 2009 campaign. Or you can read about the Adopt an African Lion program at the National Zoo. Either way (or both), you will be helping out worthy causes. And have fun. What more do you want, really? (You are so difficult to please, some of you cranky pusses!)Please remember Toys for Tots, too. Here is the video of First Lady Michelle Obama's remarks at the White House for the beginning of the holiday season. She announces the participation of the White House staff in this year's campaign. It's all good.
a ciao-snowy-meow from Washington, DC
[image via IKEA.com]
For ways to celebrate a feline-themed Halloween, check out National Geographic Kids. They have printable masks, costume ideas, labels for collection boxes, & a cat o'lantern for their worthy Cause an Uproar initiative. Of course, there are Halloween ideas that are non-cat related. Eyeball deviled eggs, anyone?
Calling all human servants of domestic cats. For just $5, you can help National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative save lions, tigers, cheetahs and other big cats. Upload a photo of your little kitty to show your support! You absolutely must click here & see Kitkat, Pumkin, Ernest, & fellow felines from around the world. (Little Kia is the Kitty of the Week. Congratulations!)