They have a short amount of time to raise money and construct an enclosure for four mountain lions the center is taking from the Fejervary Children's Zoo in Davenport, Iowa, which has closed.
"We are supposed to get them in January, but I would love to get them in November," said Heidi Berry, executive director of CARE. "The date has moved up quite a bit."
The mountain lions, Beauty and Beast, both 15, 8-year-old Taz and 6-year-old Majanna, are the only remaining animals at the zoo. The zoo's interim curator and former intern at CARE, Sarah Whittle, hopes that the cats can be placed at CARE very soon. Whittle has given her two-weeks notice and worries that the staff remaining at the zoo is unqualified to care for the animals.
"I have taken another job and the staff isn't adequate," she said. "(CARE) is a sanctuary for them - a home for them. Cats that don't have a place to go would be euthanized if not for places like CARE."
In order to prepare for the cats' arrival, Berry and her staff need to construct a new enclosure fit for the mountain lions. The non-profit organization already has more than 50 cats living in the center, including three mountain lions, and needs donations in order to build the enclosure.
"It will cost $50,000 to build the enclosure," Berry said. "But that's without the materials being donated. Pipe is very expensive right now. If we can get pipe donated, that would help."
The center has planned a 10,000-square-foot exercise yard with four large trees for climbing and five 20-by-20-foot feeding and lock-down enclosures topped with sheet metal. The project also includes six bridges and platforms in the trees, one waterfall and pool and five concrete block houses for the cats. There will also be a perimeter fence around the enclosure.
Berry said she needs 2,800 feet of 2 7/8-inch drill stem pipe, and she will take new and used varieties. She has also listed 725 feet of chain link fencing, sheet metal, cattle panels, hardware and the use of a bulldozer for a day. She also needs volunteers to help construct the enclosure.
"We need volunteers - welders, masons, landscapers, people that can build waterfalls," Berry said. "Anyone that could help would be awesome."
CARE has just completed a new tiger enclosure and released the tigers into their new home Sunday. Berry said they will begin work on the mountain lion enclosure this week.
While the $50,000 will pay for the enclosure, the center also needs continued donations to help fund the organization's mission to provide a safe habitat for exotic cats.
Those interested in volunteering or donating should call CARE at (940) 683-8115. Donations can be given through the center's Web site at http://www.bigcatcare.org
