A pride of big cat supporters was on the prowl during the Big Cat Brunch at the Vero Beach Yacht Club hosted by the Central Florida Animal Rescue. CFLAR is a big cat and wildlife sanctuary in St. Cloud that is home to animals rescued from inhospitable and unsafe situations.
The mission of the nonprofit is to protect these cats and those in the wild through what they call their three Cs: compassion, conservation and commitment. CFLAR currently houses 17 big cats, a mix of lions, tigers, leopards, cougars and serval.
Dr. K. Simba Wiltz, CFLAR board SVP and CEO, spoke of the history of the organization, how it came to be in its current location, and the changes that needed to be made in order to care for and feed the animals. He also gave an overview of the cats’ diminished numbers in the wild due to development, animal trafficking and overhunting.
“We have three strategic objectives within our organization,” said Wiltz.
He explained that their three Vs are veterinary care; visitors, to meet their educational goals and provide revenue; and viability, to secure a future for big cats.
While the CFLAR is located in Florida, they are very much involved with what is happening internationally, said Wiltz.
He introduced guest speaker Brian Braitsch, president and CEO of the Feline Conservation Foundation and founder and CEO of Amazing Animals, a nonprofit exotic animal preserve and educational facility.
“The Feline Conservation Foundation is one of the oldest groups in the United States dedicated to conserving wild felines,” said Braitsch.
He noted that the FCF was originally founded in the 1950s as the Long Island Ocelot Club and today has a mission to advance wild feline conservation. Braitsch explained that 74 percent of the world’s forests are home to wild felines.
“Of the 74 percent of the terrestrial landscapes that a feline calls home, three-quarters of them are what scientists refer to as key biodiversity areas. KBAs are scientifically proven hotspots for genetic diversity, housing some of the world’s rarest endangered species,” said Braitsch, adding that this overlap is remarkable.
“If we save every single wild cat species, we save about 75 percent of the world’s endangered species. If we save cats, we save a lot of other animals.”
CFLAR is hosting three events at its facility: Sip and Stroll on March 9, a Family Fest on May 22 and Cat Tales and Cocktails on Oct. 11.
For more information, visit CFLAR.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
