Big Cat Rescue

American non-profit organization

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)

This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources.
Find sources: "Big Cat Rescue" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (April 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

(Learn how and when to remove this message)

Big Cat Rescue Corp.

Nickname| BCR, Big Cat Rescue
Formation| March 30, 1995; 30 years ago (1995-03-30) as Wildlife on Easy Street, Inc.[1]
Founders| Don Lewis[1]
Carole Baskin[1]
Type| 501(c)(3) organization

Tax ID no.

| 59-3330495[2][3]
Location|

* 12802 Easy St, Tampa, FL 33625
* Hillsborough County, Florida, U.S.[4]

Coordinates| 28°03′37″N 82°34′18″W﻿ / ﻿28.060314°N 82.571559°W﻿ / 28.060314; -82.571559
Fields| Protection of endangered species, wildlife sanctuary/refuge, education[2]

CEO

| Carole Baskin[2][3]

President

| Jamie Murdock[2]

Secretary/Treasurer

| Howard Baskin[3]
Revenue| $4,429,347[3] (2018)
Expenses| $3,201,985[3] (2018)
Staff| 20[3] (2018)
Volunteers| 126[3] (2018)
Website| bigcatrescue.org

Formerly called

| Wildlife on Easy Street, Inc.[5]

Big Cat Rescue Corp., also known as BCR and previously known as Wildlife on Easy Street, Inc., operated an animal sanctuary in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States, which rescued and housed exotic cats, and rehabilitated injured or orphaned native wild cats. It was founded by Don Lewis and Carole Baskin in 1995.

The animal sanctuary was open to the public and BCR sold tickets to visitors for tours including private tours, night tours, and feeding tours.[6][7] However, BCR closed the facility to the public on March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 outbreak,[8][9] and Baskin later announced that she was considering not reopening the animal sanctuary to the public.[10]

In 2019, BCR had 51 animals—17 big cats and 34 small cats of 11 species, including bobcats, Canada lynxes, caracals, cougars, Eurasian lynxes, jaguars, leopards, lions, ocelots, servals and tigers — down from 66 in 2018.[11]

BCR has been accredited by Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries since 2009,[12] and has received 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator for 2007–2022.[13]

## History

[edit]

In 1992, Don Lewis and Carole Lewis (now known as Carole Baskin) acquired a bobcat. The following year they acquired dozens more.[14] In 1995, they incorporated Wildlife on Easy Street, Inc. in Florida as a Not For Profit Corporation with the stated purpose of "acquisition, shelter, feeding, breeding and socialization of exotic and non-exotic animals; public education and awareness to benefit their wild counterparts."[1] In 2003, Wildlife on Easy Street, Inc. was dissolved in a merger into a newly incorporated nonprofit, Big Cat Rescue Corp., with the stated purpose "Prevention of cruelty to animals by providing rescue and a permanent retirement home to exotic cats".[5]

The sanctuary featured a bed and breakfast experience that allowed guests to spend the night with a young wild cat in their cabin.[15] According to the sanctuary, this part of its history was a misguided effort to aid captive conservation and animal welfare of privately owned animals.[16] The sanctuary was accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries in 1998, and its successor, the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries since 2007 to present.[17]

In September 2000, Wildlife on Easy Street applied to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for accreditation as a Certified Related Facility. The application was denied in March 2001 for various reasons, including concerns about the amount of visitor contact with the cats, lack of any trained zoological professionals on staff, insufficient formal veterinary programs and unfinished perimeter fencing.[18] BCR ceased physical encounters of any kind between the public and cats housed there in 2003.[19]

In 2013, following a 2011 lawsuit, Joseph Maldonado-Passage, aka "Joe Exotic", whose family runs the GW Exotic Animal Park, was ordered to pay Big Cat Rescue $1 million for using confusingly similar trademarked materials.[20] Joe Exotic attempted to hire a hitman to kill Carole Baskin, chief executive officer of Big Cat Rescue,[21] who had won a lawsuit against him in 2013.[22] Maldonado-Passage has since been arrested and convicted of two counts of murder-for-hire, eight violations of the Lacey Act and nine of the Endangered Species Act.[21][23]

In October 2014, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission inspected BCR based on a complaint and issued a warning for "maintaining a Leopard in an uncovered outdoor cage >1000 sq. ft., without the use of a moat system, and without previously obtaining written approval by the Commission".[24][25]

In March 2019, Big Cat Rescue opened a zoo exhibit without live animals, using augmented reality and virtual reality technologies. Visitors come in person and access the exhibit through a mobile app on their cell phone.[26]

In March 2020, Big Cat Rescue temporarily closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida.,[27][28] and Baskin later announced in a Facebook post that she was considering not opening it to the public, stating;

> There is just too much opportunity for people to put their own desires ahead of the greater good. We are trying to find ways that the cats can be cared for in a post-COVID-19 world.

As of December, 2023, all of the cats had been permanently relocated to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. [29] Big Cat Rescue plans to sell the Florida land, using the funds to help pay for the food at TCWR and to donate to projects working to save cat species in the wild.[29]

## Conservation

[edit]

Tiger at Big Cat Rescue in 2012

One of the stated main goals of Big Cat Rescue is to end ownership and trade of exotic felines in the private sector entirely. Big Cat Rescue claims that permit systems are not effective at ensuring animal welfare and campaigns for a total ban of private ownership of big cats regardless of keeping conditions.[30] The center is part of the International Tiger Coalition, which is dedicated to stopping the trade of tiger parts.[31]

In 2005, Big Cat Rescue published an action plan to end all captive keeping of all exotic cats, including animals in AZA-accredited zoos bred for conservation.[32] According to the plan, Big Cat Rescue wanted interstate transport of big cats for any reason (including conservation breeding programs) to end by 2012, display of large exotic cats in zoos to end by 2013 and keeping of any exotic cats (including smaller species) in zoos to be discontinued by 2015.[32]

In 2015, Big Cat Rescue began campaigning for the passage of a bill in the United States Congress called The Big Cat Public Safety Act (H.R. 3546)[33] that would ban all future keeping of all large cat species in the United States, with zoos certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, as well as certain sanctuaries, universities, wildlife rehabilitators, and traveling circuses being exempt.[34] In 2019 the Big Cat Public Safety Act was revised to end cub handling, the primary cause of abuse[35] and phase out private ownership of big cats, while allowing possession by USDA licensees. As of January 2020, HR1380 had 227 co-sponsors in the House[36] and the companion bill, S2561 has 17 co-sponsors in the Senate.[37] The House approved the bill in December 2020 but it did not proceed to a floor vote in the Senate; however, in April 2021, sponsoring senator Richard Blumenthal indicated that additional Republican support for the legislation had been secured and that the bill would be reintroduced.[38] The bill passed both houses and was signed by President Biden on December 20, 2022.[39]

### Rescue of Skip

[edit]

In January 2011, the center received attention for its rescue of "Skip", a bobcat, who had likely been hit by a car on Florida State Road 46 and had a crushed pelvis. Fans of Skip who watched his recovery on Ustream organized on Facebook, calling themselves "Skipaholics". These fans contributed money for cameras, cat beds, and other equipment, but Skip died in September 2012.[40][41][42]

## Animals

[edit]

List of animals

### Mammals

[edit]

* Bengal tiger
* Bobcat
* Canada lynx
* Caracal
* Jaguar
* Serval

## In popular culture

[edit]

The 2020 Netflix original documentary series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness is centered around big cat breeder Joe Exotic, who was convicted for a murder-for-hire targeting Carole Baskin and killing five tigers. Big Cat Rescue and Baskin appear in every episode save the aftershow.[43][44]

The sanctuary's owner, Carole Baskin, has voiced her displeasure with the show, stating that "it was like watching a dumpster fire, you just couldn’t turn away from it", and explained that her rivalry with Joe Exotic was somewhat blown out of proportion, as she claimed to have never actually spoken with him.[45] Despite this, the show became wildly popular, reaching 34 million views in only ten days.[46]

## See also

[edit]

* International Big Cat Alliance

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "Incorporation document N95000001669, Wildlife on Easy Street, Inc". Secretary of State of Florida. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
2. ^ a b c d "BIG CAT RESCUE CORP". GuideStar. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
3. ^ a b c d e f g "Form 990" (PDF). bigcatrescue.org. March 13, 2019.
4. ^ "Hillsborough County Property Appraiser, Search Real Estate by owner=Big Cat Rescue Corp". Retrieved April 22, 2020.
5. ^ a b "Incorporation documents, BIG CAT RESCUE CORP". Secretary of State of Florida. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
6. ^ "Big Cat Rescue, #9 in Best Things To Do in Tampa". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
7. ^ "Tickets for Big Cat Rescue Tours". Big Cat Rescue. Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
8. ^ Marchante, Michelle; Teproff, Carli (April 7, 2020). "A tiger in NY has coronavirus. How Florida zoos and rescues are protecting their animals". Miami Herald. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
9. ^ Douglas, Cassandra (April 7, 2020). "Tampa's Big Cat Rescue Took Down Their Signs & Told Us Why (PHOTOS)". Narcity Media. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
10. ^ Stewart, Dominique (April 17, 2020). "Carole Baskin Says Big Cat Rescue May Never 'Open For Regular Tours Again'". Narcity Media. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
11. ^ "Big Cat Rescue Corp. - Inspection Reports". Animal Care Information System. USDA. Archived from the original on August 22, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
12. ^ "Big Cat Rescue Corp". Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
13. ^ "Big Cat Rescue". Charity Navigator. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
14. ^ "How Big Cat Rescue Started". bigcatrescue.org. February 20, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
15. ^ Janson, Mary Lou; Foster, Lee (April 12, 1998). "Strange Bedfellows At Tampa's Wildlife On Easy Street". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
16. ^ "History & Evolution of Big Cat Rescue". Big Cat Rescue. Retrieved October 20, 2015.[self-published source]
17. ^ "Big Cat Rescue: remembering every large & exotic cat". Animals 24-7. April 20, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
18. ^ "AZA Denied WOES Application for Certification". June 2001. p. 12. Retrieved October 23, 2015 – via Internet Archive.
19. ^ "History & Evolution of Big Cat Rescue". Big Cat Rescue. Retrieved April 5, 2017.[self-published source]
20. ^ Knittle, Andrew (March 4, 2013). "'Joe Exotic' Ordered to Pay Florida Animal Sanctuary $1 million". The Oklahoman. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
21. ^ a b "Joe Exotic Convicted for Murder for Hire & 17 Wildlife Trafficking Violations". March 13, 2020.[self-published source]
22. ^ Williams, Sean (June 22, 2019). "Joe Exotic Built a Wild Animal Kingdom. He Was the Most Dangerous Predator of Them All". The Daily Beast.
23. ^ Clay, Nolan (April 3, 2019). "Joe Exotic found guilty in murder-for-hire case". The Oklahoman. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
24. ^ "Complaint Filed Against Big Cat Rescue over Leopard". The Tampa Tribune. October 7, 2014. Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
25. ^ "Captive Wildlife Inspections Form" (PDF). Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. October 2, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2015 – via worldpeacemeet.com.
26. ^ "World's First Augmented Reality Zoo opens in Tampa". That's So Tampa. July 29, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
27. ^ Bruney, Gabrielle (March 23, 2020). "Carole Baskin started a Nearly Lethal Feud in 'Tiger King.' Here's Where She Is Now". Esquire. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
28. ^ Cobb, Kayla (March 24, 2020). "Who Is Carole Baskin in 'Tiger King' and Where Is She Now?". Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
29. ^ a b "Moving". Big Cat Rescue. December 28, 2023.
30. ^ "Why Regulations Don't Work, Why Regulating Conditions Under Which Big Cats Are Kept Simply Does Not and Can Not Work". Big Cat Rescue. October 8, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2015.[self-published source]
31. ^ "International Tiger Coalition". Big Cat Rescue. May 23, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2015.[self-published source]
32. ^ a b "20 Yr Plan". October 30, 2005. Archived from the original on October 30, 2005. Retrieved November 11, 2015.[self-published source]
33. ^ "H.R. 3546". Congress.gov. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
34. ^ Greenwood, Arin (October 9, 2015). "There Are More Captive Tigers In The U.S. Than In The Wild Worldwide. This Bill Could Change That". The Huffington Post. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
35. ^ "United States Department of Agriculture Cracks Down on Abuse of Tiger Cubs by Roadside Menageries". The Humane Society of the United States. Archived from the original on January 15, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
36. ^ Quigley, Mike (September 18, 2019). "Cosponsors - H.R.1380 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Big Cat Public Safety Act". www.congress.gov. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
37. ^ Blumenthal, Richard (September 26, 2019). "S.2561 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Big Cat Public Safety Act". www.congress.gov. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
38. ^ Cramer, Maria (April 20, 2021). "One Year After 'Tiger King,' Bill Aims to Protect Big Cats". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
39. ^ "H.R.263 - Big Cat Public Safety Act". Congress.gov.
40. ^ Snow, Christine (January 13, 2011). "Injured Bobcat Rescued Along S.R. 46 Licking Wounds at Tampa Facility". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
41. ^ Tataris, Anna (January 29, 2011). "Bobcat Recovery Streaming Online". Bay News 9. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
42. ^ "Skip the Bobcat Rescue". Big Cat Rescue. September 13, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2015.[self-published source]
43. ^ "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness". Netflix. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
44. ^ Miller, Julie (March 10, 2020). "Netflix's Wild Tiger King Is Your Next True Crime TV Obsession". Vanity Fair. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
45. ^ "Carole Baskin: 'After Tiger King, my phone rang every two minutes for months'". The Guardian. December 5, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
46. ^ "'Tiger King' Nabbed Over 34 Million U.S. Viewers in First 10 Days, Nielsen Says (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. April 8, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* YouTube channel

* v
* t
* e

Zoos of Florida

Zoos|

* Big Cat Rescue
* Brevard Zoo
* Butterfly World
* Center for Great Apes
* Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens
* Dade City's Wild Things
* Everglades Alligator Farm
* Flamingo Gardens
* Good Earth Farm
* Gulf Breeze Zoo
* Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
* Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
* Jungle Island
* Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
* Monkey Jungle
* Naples Zoo
* Palm Beach Zoo
* Reptile World Serpentarium
* St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
* Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo
* Sarasota Jungle Gardens
* Suncoast Primate Sanctuary
* Tallahassee Museum
* White Oak Conservation
* Zoo Miami
* Zoological Wildlife Foundation
* ZooTampa at Lowry Park
* ZooWorld

Aquariums|

* Clearwater Marine Aquarium
* Dolphin Research Center
* Florida Aquarium
* Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters
* Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory, Inc
* Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
* Gulf World
* Key West Aquarium
* Marineland of Florida
* Miami Seaquarium
* Mote Marine Laboratory
* Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
* Pier Aquarium
* Sea Life Orlando Aquarium
* SeaQuest Fort Lauderdale
* South Florida Science Center and Aquarium
* St. Lucie County Aquarium
* Tarpon Springs Aquarium
* The Seas with Nemo & Friends (in Epcot)
* The Turtle Hospital

Animal theme parks|

* Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
* Discovery Cove
* Disney's Animal Kingdom
* Gatorland
* Lion Country Safari
* SeaWorld Orlando

Defunct zoos|

* Green Meadows Petting Farm

* v
* t
* e

Tiger King

Subjects|

* Doc Antle
* Carole Baskin
* Joe Exotic
* Rick Kirkham
* John Michael Phillips

Locations|

* Big Cat Rescue
* Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park

Related articles|

* Disappearance of Don Lewis
* Joe vs. Carole
* America's Most Dangerous Pets
* Louis Theroux: Shooting Joe Exotic
* TV Junkie
* Big Cat Public Safety Act

* Category

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template