Feline Conservation Federation
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2021) |
The Feline Conservation Foundation (FCF) is a 501(c)(3)
History
The history of the FCF originates with the founding of the Long Island Ocelot Club in 1956 by Catherine Cisin. In 1997, the organization was incorporated as "LIOC - Endangered Species Conservation Federation". By 2002, the organization changed its name to the "Feline Conservation Federation". A group of members split off in the early 2000s, and re-formed the "Long Island Ocelot Club", a completely separate organization mostly focused on the smaller species. That organization ceased operations in the mid 2000s. In 2019, the main group updated their name to "Feline Conservation Foundation". The group continues to use an ocelot-based logo in honor of its historical significance to the group.
Communication and activities
The Feline Conservation Federation publishes a quarterly journal, hosts a website and maintains a presence on social media.
Primarily focused on education, in situ conservation, and captive breeding to protect against extinction, the Feline Conservation Federation has developed a well-respected Wild Felid Husbandry Course and other courses and workshops intended to teach best practices to individuals who own or work with wild cats. The group also welcomes guest speakers and course instructors at its annual conference. Other topics covered in these courses include contingency planning resources, responsible use of these species as educational outreach animals in wildlife education programs, informed advocacy in legislative and regulatory platforms, and use of safety equipment like chemical capture devices.
In response to the issues that surround
The group's concern for wild cats extends beyond those in captivity and the Feline Conservation Federation awards grants for research and conservation of felines in the wild. In the 20 years from 2000 to 2020, the group has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to in situ conservation efforts, with a focus on supporting the chronically underfunded small wild cat species.
The group conducts a census of wild cat ownership periodically, using resources available through the Freedom of Information Act and information from surveys of its own membership. The group publishes information about this census on its web site and in its journal, and the group shares the methodology and information with outside sources to aid in confirming the data and improving the accuracy of future results. As part of the 2016 census, information was shared for an article about the number of big cats living in captive settings in the US. The article is posted on Rachel Garner's blog, "Why Animals Do The Thing".
Wild Feline Husbandry Course
The Feline Conservation Federation teaches a Wild Feline Husbandry Course.
Topics covered include:
- Natural History of Wild Felines
- Regulatory Agencies & Permits
- Facility Design
- Handling Equipment
- Diet / Nutrition
- Health Care Basics
- Disposition & Handling
- Behavior Conditioning
References
- ^ "Feline Conservation Federation profile". Guidestar.
- ^ "Feline Conservation Federation Finds Captive Wild Feline Populations in Danger". Cision. Retrieved January 24, 2012.