I have been involved with all species of animals at one point in my life or another. I am pretty much used to seeing the atrocities of mankind inflicted upon those that cannot speak for themselves. I really thought up until two years ago, that I had heard and seen it all. That was, until I saw a video that changed my life forever. This video made me cry, made me outraged, made me physically ill and made me want to either GO TO INDIA MYSELF or DO SOMETHING HERE TO SAVE THE ASIAN LEOPARD.
This video prompted me to face all adversaries against private ownership. Banning private ownership is a death sentence for the Asian Leopard. It is only the private facilities that are stepping up to the plate and BREEDING these magnificent creatures in captivity. Does it contribute to conservation? ABSOLUTELY!!
The gene pool is small here, but it is also small in the wilds of India (or whatever wild is left!) and I was actually posing a theory. You often hear the argument that the captive breeding programs by non AZA member zoo’s (in other words all private facilities) are not any good because their genes cannot be traced back to the wild. Well, they all came from the wild, but yes, they are at least FIFTEEN GENERATIONS REMOVED from the wild. Then you hear the argument that captive cats could introduce illness, defects, etc back to the wild. OK.. well, they did it here in the US with the wolf at Yellowstone and the Florida panther in Florida. They brought in sub species that were totally different and allowed them to breed with the wild population. And yes, they did have a captive breeding program with the Florida Panther that was released. For a few generations to boot. Would it NOT BE FEASIBLE for a captive bred Asian Leopard be released into a conservation area to breed with the wild population? But if you have no captive breeding facilities such as Mystic Jungle, then what distantly removed gene pool can the cats of India draw upon? Are you following me now?
So, in closing, think about the laws people are trying to push through. Are they really in it for the animals? Do they understand the ramifications, such as total extinction that this would mean for cats such as the Asian Leopard? Or are they on a band wagon and searching for a purpose? A lot of people do mean well, but because they have been spoon fed a lot of lies, and they themselves have never bothered to seek the real truth, have placed the beautiful cats in a spiraling downward fast track to extinction!
Watch the video. I have heard people state that they cannot bear to watch it. Well, if it is HORRIFYING for you to just WATCH, think of the agony this poor leopard went through. Her death will NOT BE IN VAIN!! This started me on my path and until the day I die I will be an advocate of this wonderful, elusive, cunning and majestic creature!
