TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Refuge For Big Cats Steps Up Security After Paintball Attack

Tribune photo by CANDACE C. MUNDY

Workers install a 10-foot wall around the Big Cat Rescue animal sanctuary.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 12, 2008

Updated: 02/11/2008 11:23 pm

CITRUS PARK - Concerned about the possible construction of town houses nearby and an incident that involved teenagers shooting paintballs at leopards, Big Cat Rescue officials recently began the first phase of installing a 10-foot-tall wall around the sanctuary's property.

The wall is a major project for the nonprofit organization, which operates with an annual budget of about $1 million.

Howard Baskin, Big Cat Rescue advisory board chairman, said it cost about $106,000 to install about 940 feet of the wall. More donations are necessary to finish enclosing the remaining 6,000 feet at the 45-acre refuge.

Big Cat Rescue cares for about 146 exotic cats, including cougars, tigers, bobcats and lions.

Many of the felines suffered abuse, neglect and abandonment before being taken to the sanctuary, officials said. Baskin said the cats are contained with specially designed wire cages.

As a secondary barrier, the perimeter is surrounded with a chain-link fence with barbed wire and an electrified wire on top, he said.

Jason Geary

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT