January-March 2019 • Volume 63 Issue 1 TABLE OF JANUARY-MARCH 2019 | VOLUME 63, ISSUE 1 contentscontents Features FCF Advocacy Fund for Engaging Hanka 5 Advisor Julia Wagner makes the case for federal representation. Lessons Learned from Experiencing a Tragedy 6 Dale Anderson and Wendy Debbas share 2020 wisdom and advice after deadly accident. Observations of an Aspiring Exhibitor 9 Bret Haughwort describes his journey to USDA- licensed exhibitor. Federal Judge Finds PETA Investigating 12 Technique Unlawful Duane Morris explains PETA audio was illegally obtained. What an Adventure in Belize! 14 Debi Willoughby takes readers to Belize for wild cat research. King Richard’s Faire Features Felines from 20 Great Cats World Park Lynn Culver reviews this festive outdoor performance. How to Deal with the Days that Follow a Fatal 23 Accident Support from friends, associates, and the community helped Hannah Fullmer recover. Joe Exotic Charged with Murder for Hire, 25 Taking and Sales of Endangered Species, and False Labeling Lynn Culver describes crimes alleged in federal indictment of former zoo owner. 99 66 1111 Feline Conservation Federation Volume 63, Issue 1 • Jan.-March 2019 JOIN THE FCF IN ITS CONSERVATION EFFORTS - WWW.FELINECONSERVATION.ORG The FCF supports conservation of wild felids by advocating for qualified individuals to own and to pursue hus- bandry of wild felines, providing expertise and material support to ensure the continued welfare and viability of these populations, contributing to research, and funding protection programs that benefit felids living in nature. Send $35 annual dues ($40 Canada, $50 international) to FCF, 141 Polk Road 664, Mena, AR 71953. Features cont. Contact Us Deadly Lion Attack Highlights 26 Zoo Worker Safety FOUNDER: DIRECTORS: OSHA regulates safety practices Catherine Cisin Brian Braitsch in animal venues. 4235 Rambler Avenue Wildlife Conservation Expo 2018 OFFICERS: St. Cloud, FL 34772 Chris Tromborg represents the President 407-719-6269 29 Mindy Stinner [email protected] FCF at the Fall WCN Expo. P.O. Box 882 Sex without Consequences Mebane, NC 27302 Chris Tromborg 30 Lea Jaunakais describes birth 336-421-0065 217 Baja Avenue control at Tiger World. [email protected] Davis, CA 95616 530-753-2763 Vice President [email protected] Julia Wagner 4638A N NC Hwy 49 Billie Lambert Legislation Burlington, NC 27217 8211 Laird Street [email protected] Panama City Beach, FL 32408 Hawaii Second State to Ban Wild 850-532-5652 31 Animal Acts Secretary [email protected] Following New Jersey, another Phyllis Parks state gets on the bandwagon. 6550 77th Street JOURNAL STAFF: Vero Beach, FL 32967 Managing Editor: Legislation Breakdown: H.R. 1818 772-388-6627 Lynn Culver 32 – “The Big Cat Public Safety Act” [email protected] Rachel Garner explains proposed Layout/Copy Editor: federal ban on breeding and Treasurer Eden Tran private ownership. Dawn Strasser [email protected] 3400 Vine Street Cincinnati, OH 45220 Associate Editor: 513-559-7710 Judith Hoffman [email protected] Conservation Membership Services: Jennifer Kasserman A New Approach for the Lion 816-674-7277 8 Defenders – Engaging the Women membershipservices in the Villages @felineconservation.org Amy Dickson writes of women now discouraging the cultural practice of lion hunting. The FCF is a non-profit (Federal ID#59-2048618), Organization non-commercial society devoted to the welfare and Cheetah Conservation Botswana conservation of exotic felines. The FCF publishes the 11 Recipient of $1,000 Conservation Grant Journal quarterly. Members are encouraged to donate older copies of Rebecca Klein describes new Letter From the President research to mitigate livestock 4 the Journal, with permission of the resident, to vet losses. offices, dental or medical waiting rooms, or public libraries or public officials, to increase awareness of the FCF, its members, and mission. 5 First Quarter 2019 Meeting The author’s point of view does not necessarily rep- Pictorials Minutes resent the point of view of the FCF. Reproduction of Christmas Greetings from the any material in the Journal may not be made without 8 Cats the written permission of the original copyright own- Photos by Danielle Lucas and 12 Donations ers and/or copyright owner, FCF. Melissa Burns. Display advertisement space is available at the fol- Bhuton the Snow Leopard lowing prices: $10 business card, $25 quarter page, 13 Photos by Beckett Gladney. $50 half page, and $100 full 13 The Rationale for Migrating page ad. Your Best Shots from “Federation” to “Foun- 18 Photos by Nancy Sandroff, Submit articles on hus- dation” bandry, conservation, current Katherine Duck, Ginger Mansour, Chris Tromborg makes the Bret Haughwort, Melissa Burns, case for updating the FCF events, editorials, and photos Rachel Heck, Bernadette name. for publication to the manag- Hoffman, and Rachael Greer. ing editor, Lynn Culver, at [email protected]. Copyright © 2019 Feline Conservation Federation. All rights reserved. Some material is reprinted with permission of other copyright holders. 3 Feline Conservation Federation Volume 63, Issue 1 • Jan.-March 2019 Letter From the President 2019 looks to be an eventful year for be polled about amending our Constitu- Alex’s loss is heartbreaking, and we are the FCF! tion to update our organization’s name to devastated for her family. FCF members Some new board members have joined the Feline Conservation Foundation. Our will understand the sorrow we also feel us, including new officers. Julia Wagner FCF acronym and our website domain over the lion we lost during this incident. has been elected VP, Dawn Strasser was would still apply and not require modifi- The decision to put him down was neces- elected Treasurer, and Phyllis Parks was cation. This update would place the focus sary, and not based on our emotion or his elected Secretary. We also welcome Brian of our name on the supportive work we do behavior. In the wake of this tragedy, the Braitsch and Billie Lambert to the Board for feline conservation of all kinds. Center has methodically reviewed its safe- of Directors, and thank Chris Tromborg Please read the article on page 13. ty policies and procedures and has re- for returning to serve. The Board has voted to establish an trained its staff. The Center is confident They have jumped into a maelstrom of Advocacy Fund that will be put to work that those existing policies and proce- activity with enthusiasm, and we are con- protecting responsible owners from new dures, when followed, are sufficient to ducting multiple meetings this quarter in laws or regulations that are not in the keep the Center’s visitors, staff, and ani- place of the usual single meeting. Mem- interests of public safety or animal wel- mals safe. bers may follow these meetings on our fare. At the 2018 conference, presenter Some news reports have misinterpreted forum in the Member’s-only section of the a report drafted at the time of the incident website. and without further investigatory input. A new website design with a freshly This report included references to state- updated FCF logo was generously funded ments being made by witnesses at the time by Lea Jaunakais of Tiger World. This of the event, when speculation was ram- new mobile-friendly layout will be easier pant. One witness indicated a drop door for people on the go to visit using their may have been prevented from closing phones or tablets. The updated look will properly because it was partially obstruct- be more streamlined, but all the core con- ed by a ball. The report that the gate to tent you rely on will still be available. the shift area from which this lion escaped Our website host is hard at work updating was obstructed from closing by a 28 inch forms and features to ensure everything ball is neither accurate nor plausible. works smoothly. We look forward to Alex’s family has made clear to the debuting it soon. Center that they want to work with the We have elected to update our handling Center to ensure Alex’s legacy in the zoo- of FCF social media accounts, including logical world, which she loved. To that Facebook. Brian Braitsch is working with end, the Conservators Center will contin- moderator Erin Patters to give us a ue to work tirelessly to develop industry facelift. Our old group allowed anyone, best practices, advancing safety precau- including people with an agenda not con- By artist Michelle Nooney. tions internally and with other zoological ducive to the FCF’s mission, to post. parks, and will continue its mission to Now we will have a public page people Bill Hanka outlined some of the chal- introduce visitors and future animal hus- can like and follow where our moderators lenges facing wild cat owners at the feder- bandry professionals to rare, threatened, control the content. Public comments are al level. The Board has decided to invest and endangered species. still welcome, but the content of the posts in his services. Board members and other We recognize that there will be addi- will be limited to items that support our interested members will be heading to tional press coverage and speculation as mission. Attached to that public page is a Washington to share concerns. In addi- official reports are issued. We also antici- private FCF group that all FCF members tion, the FCF will continue to advocate for pate one or more bills to be proposed in are invited to join. In this less public owners at the state and local level as North Carolina to restrict or ban owner- space our members will be free to pose issues arise. The Advocacy Fund will pay ship of big cats. We will advocate as questions and share images that are not for lobbyist representation. We need your needed to protect our park.