Name contest will pay for cubs' care
By Kathi Keys
Staff Writer, The Courier-Tribune
PITTSBORO - The Carnivore Preservation Trust is preparing for the arrival
of two abandoned tiger cubs now under quarantine at the N.C. Zoo.
The nonprofit carnivore sanctuary (CPT) has kicked off a fund-raising
campaign - to pay for the lifetime care of the two cubs - along with a contest
to name the male and female pair, according to Pam Fulk, executive director.
The approximately 6-month-old cubs were found wandering Jan. 8 along
a state highway separating Cleveland and Gaston counties.
CPT agreed to give the cubs a permanent home. However, because it does
not have adequate quarantine facilities, local zoo officials agreed to temporarily
care for the tigers.
"They're healthy and their appetites are improving," said Rod
Hackney, the zoo's public relations manager, on Tuesday.
Since tigers can live 20 years or more in captivity, the cost of care
for the two cubs could run up to $350,000 for their lifetime.
The immediate fund-raising goal for the cubs' transfer to CPT is set
at $70,000 by March 12. CPT is also offering a business opportunity to name
or sponsor the habitat that the tiger cubs will call home at the sanctuary
near Pittsboro.
CPT is also sponsoring a contest to name the cubs - similar to the zoo's
recent partnership to name its two lion cubs.
Suggestions of names will be accepted through Sunday, Feb. 27. The top
five names for each of the cubs will be selected by CPT staff. The public
will then be able to vote for their favorites between Tuesday, March 1,
and Sunday, March 6.
CPT is home to 109 animals of 10 different species, including tigers,
leopards, jaguars, ocelots, binturongs and more.
Most of the big cats living at CPT were once "pets," kept by
private owners until they were confiscated or rescued from abuse, neglect
or situations in which the owners could no longer keep them.
The owners of the two latest tiger cubs have not come forward, according
to zoo officials.
The cubs arrived Jan. 11 at the zoo where they have been under quarantine
since that time and will remain for up to 60 days. Most zoos require a minimum
30-day quarantine period for any new animals to prevent the spread of disease
to other collections.
Quarantine examinations the week the tigers arrived determined them to
be male and female.
Anyone may nominate names for the boy cub and girl cub by visiting <www.cptigers.org>
and clicking on the update link under "Tiger Cub Rescue" or by
mailing nominations to Name The Cubs c/o CPT, 1940 Hanks Chapel Road, Pittsboro,
N.C. 27312.
Donations, which are tax deductible, can be made out to CPT - Save the
Tigers, and sent to CPT at the same address.
For more information, call (919) 542-4684 or visit <www.cptigers.org>.
Copyright 2002, Stephens Media Group
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