Tuesday,
April 10, 2012
Big cats really do roam the British countryside – at least they do on a secluded animal sanctuary tucked away in rural Rutland.
Falconry expert Chris Lawton has made a home for rare leopards at the sanctuary he runs on a 42-acre site in Exton, near Rutland Water.
The 66-year-old former engineer took over the Rutland Falconry and Owl Centre, then in neighbouring Greetham, in 1996.
The centre, which moved to its present home in 1999, cares for more than 150 birds of prey and occasionally take in rabbits, foxes and other wildlife.
Since 2005, it has also become a sanctuary to some of the world's rarest big cats.
Chris, who has fostered stricken wild animals for most of his life, said: "We provide a home for big cats who are not wanted in the system for whatever reason – usually because they are ill or can't be used for breeding.
"I've always had a passion for big cats, and in 2005 was in touch with the Snow Leopard Breeding Project. "At the same time, a problem came up with an Amur leopard in a zoo, which was going to be destroyed because it had no tail and couldn't be used for breeding. It rang alarm bells with me because I felt strongly that such a fantastic creature deserved the chance to live."
Manx, now 11, is the sanctuary's oldest resident. He lives with three fellow Amur leopards – an endangered breed from eastern Russia, of which only 35 remain in the wild.
The Amurs are joined by one Persian leopard and an African leopard and the sanctuary is also expecting a new resident – a three-year-old Persian leopard called Cyrus, who is being moved from Chessington World of Adventures, in Surrey.
The leopard has a genetic heart condition which means he cannot be used for breeding.
John Merrington, Cyrus's keeper at Chessington, said: "He's a beautiful cat and I'm going to miss having him around but I know at Rutland he will be given the opportunity to continue living a long, fulfilling and rewarding life."
The big cats in Rutland can be viewed by a limited number of people six times a year. Chris said: "We hold the open days to raise funds for the plight of the Amur leopard. Visits are limited because leopards are elusive creatures which prosper the best if they are left alone as much as possible."
Being the owner of six big cats himself, Chris has a unique perspective on the mysterious Rutland panther legend.
He said: "I haven't seen it but there have been some strange happenings with my cats when they've behaved very oddly, as if spooked by another big predator."
www.rutland-falconry.com
http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Rutland-sanctuary-offers-help-big-cats-spot/story-15770917-detail/story.html
April 10, 2012
Big cats really do roam the British countryside – at least they do on a secluded animal sanctuary tucked away in rural Rutland.
Falconry expert Chris Lawton has made a home for rare leopards at the sanctuary he runs on a 42-acre site in Exton, near Rutland Water.
The 66-year-old former engineer took over the Rutland Falconry and Owl Centre, then in neighbouring Greetham, in 1996.
The centre, which moved to its present home in 1999, cares for more than 150 birds of prey and occasionally take in rabbits, foxes and other wildlife.
Since 2005, it has also become a sanctuary to some of the world's rarest big cats.
Chris, who has fostered stricken wild animals for most of his life, said: "We provide a home for big cats who are not wanted in the system for whatever reason – usually because they are ill or can't be used for breeding.
"I've always had a passion for big cats, and in 2005 was in touch with the Snow Leopard Breeding Project. "At the same time, a problem came up with an Amur leopard in a zoo, which was going to be destroyed because it had no tail and couldn't be used for breeding. It rang alarm bells with me because I felt strongly that such a fantastic creature deserved the chance to live."
Manx, now 11, is the sanctuary's oldest resident. He lives with three fellow Amur leopards – an endangered breed from eastern Russia, of which only 35 remain in the wild.
The Amurs are joined by one Persian leopard and an African leopard and the sanctuary is also expecting a new resident – a three-year-old Persian leopard called Cyrus, who is being moved from Chessington World of Adventures, in Surrey.
The leopard has a genetic heart condition which means he cannot be used for breeding.
John Merrington, Cyrus's keeper at Chessington, said: "He's a beautiful cat and I'm going to miss having him around but I know at Rutland he will be given the opportunity to continue living a long, fulfilling and rewarding life."
The big cats in Rutland can be viewed by a limited number of people six times a year. Chris said: "We hold the open days to raise funds for the plight of the Amur leopard. Visits are limited because leopards are elusive creatures which prosper the best if they are left alone as much as possible."
Being the owner of six big cats himself, Chris has a unique perspective on the mysterious Rutland panther legend.
He said: "I haven't seen it but there have been some strange happenings with my cats when they've behaved very oddly, as if spooked by another big predator."
www.rutland-falconry.com
http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Rutland-sanctuary-offers-help-big-cats-spot/story-15770917-detail/story.html
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