The newest addition to the WCW family is African wildcat female Quilla. Last Sunday (21st) she arrived and she settled in nicely. Of course the other wildcats were very curious to see their new neighbour and esp. Maurice (like it should be) was exited to see her from start and immediately started calling. Promising for the future. Luckily Quilla did start eating well right after her arrival so she is doing well. She is a pretty girl too as you can see, and like Louise she tends to stick out her tongue (to the photographer). More photos of her will follow later when she is completely at ease. Follow her and us on social media for the latest up-dates.

We are very proud to inform you about a third successful birth of our African leopard couple Feline & Félipe. After the relocation of the youngsters from previous litters to be (soft) released, March this year, the couple must have thought it is too quiet and time for new off spring.

On August 22nd we welcomed three gorgeous and healthy cubs again, 2 females & 1 male. Names we have but are only meant for insiders, like the people who work closely with them, and sponsors or (symbolic) adoption parents. For the world it is most important to know the African leopard (Panthera Pardus Pardus) is currently vulnerable on the red list of the IUCN. As their numbers are declining rapidly everywhere but also in South Africa, where the leopard ban on hunting has been withdrawn in some Provinces as well, these three new cubs, and any other in the future, are essential for the future of the species.

Of course these cubs, like the last born of our other couple Felicia & Felix, will in time be relocated for a (soft) release. As a matter of fact we already have a request by a wonderful, outstanding Private Game Reserve (non-hunting area), so the future looks bright. Of course the first one to two years they can enjoy the save surroundings close to their amazingly wonderful and protective mom Feline, dad Félipe and our other leopards.

We are often asked to co-operate in research or conservation projects or study ‘objects’ re. Conservation Ecology.
Twané Bester focused on the African wildcat as her project to finish off her studies at University Pretoria, and requested to use some footage.

Enjoy this video, starring a.o. our African wildcats Sid & Louise. The video was received well with a mark of 90% and Twané’s professor requested to use it as example for next year’s students. So well done! All attention for the small wildcatspecies is more than welcome!!!

On the 26th of March 2018, our black-footed cat female Lilly gave birth to another kitten. The second birth of this season, which is very normal for black footed cats. In September 2017 she gave birth to Lady & Lucky, who are still doing well, and this new kitten seems to be a girl as well, though isn’t officially sexed yet.

So far so good, and we are very happy, as the species is very rare and endangered, and very vulnerable to stress-related illnesses like kidney failure, why most of them die on young age. One of the essential conservation projects of Wild Cats World is focused on the Black-footed Cats.

A first glimpse of Olive, Solo, Beau & Bahati, the four young leopards born and (mother)raised at Wild Cats World, who in March this year were relocated for a (soft) release…… Founder/CEO of WCW, Babette de Jonge, went to visit (search for….) them, and these are the moments captured of the first glimpse, to show best the confirmed news that they are doing great (as expected) and are showing the exact right wild behaviour already. Esp. Solo and Olive turned very elusive and preferred to hide away for the vehicle….
They are in same territory as a rehabilitated wild male ( with Olive) and 2 wild females, Phoenix & Cleo (with the three boys).

For who said “you can’t”….we only want to say: “yes we can!!!”  Thanks to all involved on our great journey to get the bigger and better for all cats, and have many released or free roaming in near future!!

Check this out – Amazing jewellery for sale, featuring the species we fight for in our S.A. project (and other places)…..like the leopard and caracal.
Buying these jewellery means supporting Wild Cats World, 20% of the profits will go to our charity to do even better for the wild cats.

https://www.dbsilversmiths.co.uk/caracal-pendant-necklace-sterling-silver-handmade-by-saw-piercing-wild-cats-world-3254-p.asp

For this conservationist, there is only one way to start her day – by hanging out with leopards.

Babette De Jonge, 50, founded Wild Cats World in 2011 to help conserve endangered big cats, such as leopards and African wild cats.

Based in Kirkwood, South Africa, the sanctuary is home to four leopards, and one cub, cheetahs, servals, caracals, African wildcats, Africa’s smallest cat – the black-footed cat and a group of 8 feral cats.

By building up a mutual respect with the leopards – who were rescued from exploitation – Babette has been able to work hands on with them during their rehabilitation.

Babette told Barcroft TV: “I just go in naturally and I see how they behave and if it’s nice and fine, I’m staying. If not, I go out and the game is over.

“It’s nice to go in and they come to you and greet you. They give you a rub, sometimes they spray you. I just respect them, I’m not afraid to go in with them to keep this special bond.

“They are always playful or naughty, but not aggressive, never. If they were, I don’t think I’d go in anymore!”

Babette is passionate about providing the best forever home and care for the cats, as well as supporting endangered species with essential conservation programs, but she does not encourage others to interact hands on with big cats.

She said: “The rescues were four leopards, Feline, her brother Felix, another male Felipe and his female Felicia.

“For years, I was just an average animal lover. When I started to volunteer at sanctuaries, I thought, well there are certain things I really don’t like – how animals are being kept, how they are treated.

“So I thought I’d like to make it better for them, so we decided to put our project up here.”

Babette has rescued cats from canned hunting, exploitative petting centres and trapped or orphaned in the wild.

The conservationist said: “Feline, is an African leopard. We got her in 2011 when she was born. She was at a breeding farm, who took her away from her mother.

“I saw how she just had to interact with people, that’s why we brought her here with a better enclosure. We took her brother, so we sort of rescued him to be company for her.

“There’s a few rescue animals and a few, also ‘rescues’, but they’re more like born in captivity. They were born for trade, and for abuse and for the hunting – canned hunting – so that’s why we rescued them and brought them here to give them a better life.”

The rescues at the sanctuary include wild caracal kittens that were orphaned after a farmer shot their mother.

Sanctuary employee Zanell McCarthy added: “Every cat has a very different personality, like one can be very loving, one can be very playful, some are a bit calmer than others. You cannot really compare one cat to another.

“It’s just something you cannot describe to someone, the bond that you build up with these animals is just amazing.

“If you see the power that these animals have and the way that they play with each other, you see how strong they are.

“You must always be careful for the behaviour, you can check when they’re going to be naughty but it’s all play. I don’t ever feel intimidated by them.”

Babette ensures that their diet is as close to what it would be in the wild, so they feed on game meat, like e.g. impala, zebra, full prey like rabbit and sometimes a whole chicken.

The conservationist’s ultimate goal is to release the animals into the wild for who possible and, for those animals that must stay in captivity, she aims to release them into huge enclosures to give them an experience as close to the wild as possible.  This is phase II and has already started.

Zanell said: “People think it’s like the king of the jungle, or that they’re the most aggressive animals, but they’re not. They’re actually very gentle animals – they’re very misunderstood.”

The four rescued leopards have now been relocated to Mpumalanga Province at Ubhetyan OAfrica for soft release back into the wild. And they are doing great! National Park is interested to release 7 leopards from Ubethyan, including the ones from WCW.

Babette said: “Cats in general, whether they’re domestic or very small or very big, I’m just attracted to their looks and also to the way they’re so independent but also so loving.

“The way they just look over you, like they’re the rulers of the world – I love that, it’s just great.”

BARCROFT MEDIA, STUDIO 14, SHOREDITCH STABLES, 138 KINGSLAND ROAD, LONDON, E2 8DY 0207 033 1030