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All photos were taken by the
staff at the Wildcat Sanctuary. Please note the dates and
the positive changes in the cats just in two months! Most
of the scarring is GONE!!!
Those of you who contributed $100 or more will get a free
photo of your choice. Additional photos are $20. If you
did not contribute $100 or more, we will send a photo of
your choice for a donation now of $25. Additional photos
are $20.
All new photo donations (minus our direct costs of
reproduction) will be given to the Wildcat Sanctuary
www.wildcatsanctuary.org for their expansion.
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Paypal
from this site
www.wildwatch.org .
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Visa/Master Card by phone:
1-800-WILD-HELP
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Check: Wildlife Watch,
P.O. Box 562, New Paltz, NY
12561
Please let us know the photo
you would like by also e-mailing wildwatch@verizon.net and
specifying the name and date below the photo. Also, please
let us know if you prefer glossy or matte finish, and
please provide a mailing address.
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As announced in the Fall issue of the Wildlife Watch
Binocular, the winners of the naming rights for the African
lions were to be the three highest donors through the twelfth of
December, and winners were to be chosen in order of their
donation. In addition to individual donations, grants from
Ahimsa Foundation (directly to Wildcat Sanctuary to defray
Wildlife Watch's costs), Animal Welfare Trust, and United Animal
Nations allowed us to meet our goal of $25,000 by our target
date. Wildlife Watch is exceedingly grateful to the foundations,
but excluded them from naming rights consideration. As there
were seven individual donors of the same amount by the cut-off
date, we chose the winners by date of payment.
Wildlife Watch notified the first winner to determine the lion
she wished to name (male or female). After she said the male, we
then asked the second winner if she wished to name the larger or
smaller lioness. We suggested in one case using her own name or
that of a loved one, but here is what happened instead:
A MEDITATIVE PROCESS:
The three winners did not know each other. Nothing was said to
any of them as they went through several days of soul-searching
to find the right name.
We did not divulge any winner's chosen name to any other winner.
Yet each name expands our vision, and makes us realize how
united we are with each other and with these magnificent,
mystical, and charismatic animals.
THE WINNERS:
HOWARDENA PINDELL, New York, NY
MICHELE ZAICHUK, Lake View, NY
LIBRA MAX, Los Angeles, CA
ASLAN
Howardena Pindell's Choice for the lion: ASLAN He was named for
the mythological lion hero of the Chronicles of Narnia.
Aslan is very wise and magnificent.
"Aslan, the "Greatest Lion," is the central character in The
Chronicles of Narnia, a series of seven fantasy novels for
children written by C. S.
Lewis. He is the lion of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,
and his role in Narnia is developed throughout the remaining
books.wise, compassionate, magical authority (both temporal and
spiritual); mysterious and beloved guide to the human children
who visit; guardian and saviour of Narnia; and ultimately
revealed as its creator and destroyer. To many readers, Aslan
represents the Christ figure in one way or another.
Throughout the series, it is often repeated that Aslan is 'not a
tame lion', since, despite his gentle and loving nature, he is
powerful and can be dangerous. He has many followers, which
include a plethora of Talking Beasts, Centaurs, Fauns, Dryads,
Dwarfs, Satyrs, Naiads, Hamadryads, Silvans, Unicorns, and
Winged Horses. Lewis often capitalises the word Lion, to convey
the reverence the characters feel towards him.." From
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aslan
Aslan is very beautiful, but a closeup reveals that his face is
scarred from having rubbed on the fences of his previous
enclosure.
Tammy is hoping there will be no new scars now that they have
more space. The lions came from about a 20x20 space and are now
in a 60 x 100 space.
In a surprise e-mail from Tammy this morning, she said they will
be constructing a 200 x 200 or 40,000 square foot space in the
spring!!!!!!!
ASHA
Michele Zaichuk's Choice for the first lioness: ASHA Swahili and
Indian word meaning Hope and Life.
Asha is quite scarred from rubbing against the fencing at the
Catskill Game Farm. Her sad face tells the sad story of confinement.
SHANTI DEVA
Libra Max's Choice for the Little Lioness: SHANTI DEVA Libra
wrote: Shanti Deva (pronounced shauntee dayva) - From Sanskrit:
Shanti meaning Peace, and Deva meaning God, the Divine, an
exalted being or 'Shining One'.
(Also, Shanti was my beautiful cat who lived for eighteen years
and is still the love of my life..)
"Whatever joy there is in this world All comes from desiring
others to be happy, And whatever suffering there is in this
world, All comes from desiring myself to be happy.
...What need is there to say more?"
text from:
http://www.khandro.net/Bud_Shantideva.htm
From a distance Shanti Deva is very beautiful, but a closeup
reveals the scars of confinement.
At least now, no new scars will form. When she arrived at the
Wildcat Sanctuary, Shanti Deva had a lot of mouth pain from
having bitten on the pole used to sedate her at the Catskill
Game Farm. Everyone was very concerned about her, but
now...Tammy Quist, the Executive Director of the Wildcat
Sanctuary said that she bosses both Aslan and Asha around and is
doing fine!
IN CLOSING:
The chosen names illustrate that we are connected to each other
in very deep ways.
It wasn't terribly long ago when humans were their prey. Time
has reversed our roles. Yet there are certain things that can
never change, namely our primal connection to all living beings
and the earth.
Thinking independently and acting on it is what freedom is. How
I wish the cats could have that freedom but, for the time being,
this world will not allow it. We have to believe that we will
change the world for animals with perseverance.
Farewell for now to ASLAN, ASHA, SHANTI DEVA, MAX, MIA, MATTY,
AND SHAZAM.
(The three mountain lions and one black leopard were named by
donors to The Wildcat Sanctuary.) Once again, we thank all of
the donors who made this happen, and also thank those who spread
word of their need. We ask that you stay in touch with the
Catskill Game Farm Cats through the WILDCAT SANCTUARY.
Anne Muller
Wildlife Watch
Click here to see the cats
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