Dr. Chloe Wilde is our wildlife biologist. She studied ecology at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Her favorite topic of study is conservation. Dr. Wilde is passionate about learning about and teaching others about how they can help wild cat populations, including reducing their use of products with palm oil in them. Though Carolina Tiger Rescue does not have any, Dr. Wilde’s favorite animal to study is the clouded leopard.
Dr. Wilde’s Blog Post-1/1/2021
I think we can all agree that 2020 was a very interesting year. Back in early 2020, we heard about a novel (new) virus that was beginning to show up in Asian countries. This virus was spreading quickly and by March, most of the United States, including Carolina Tiger Rescue was quarantining to keep everyone safe. The good news is, we at Carolina Tiger Rescue have not only been able to keep the humans safe, but also the animals. It was also discovered, in March, that cats were also susceptible to COVID-19. There were several tigers at the Bronx Zoo that were diagnosed with the virus. So far, those big cats that have come down with it have made full recoveries! Here at Carolina Tiger Rescue, we are working hard to keep our animals safe by always wearing masks around them. It’s important to keep them healthy and though we do not have close contact with them, it’s better safe than sorry so we mask up for the humans and the animals!
2020 wasn’t all bad though, we were able to rescue 3 new animals including a serval, coatimundi, and a bobcat kitten. I would like to introduce you to Willow Bobcat! Willow was born in the wild in Illinois, but orphaned at just a couple months old. She was still too young to live on her own and after being rescued by a wildlife rehab facility in Illinois, she quickly made it clear, she preferred the company of humans; this made it dangerous to release her into the wild so the next best alternative was to find her a suitable home in captivity. We were called and were more than happy to provide her with her forever home. Willow came to us when she was just 5 months old. Due to her young age, she received food daily along with probiotics and vitamins to ensure she grows up healthy and strong. Willow is settling in nicely and we are excited to watch her grow. She is much more shy than our other bobcats, but that is to be expected since she spent the first couple months of her life learning to hide from humans to keep her safe. She has started enjoying taking treats from a stick though and is learning that her keepers bring her food!
We are looking forward to a great year here at Carolina Tiger Rescue. We hope to be able to provide new animals with their forever home, but most importantly, we will continue to educate the public on the animals we have rescued. It is important for everyone to know how they can help animals in captivity and animals in the wild. As you look forward to a new year, think about how you can help out too! Remember, it’s never safe to handle or hold a wild animal nor is it respectful of that animal. Pick up litter and keep the environment clean for native wildlife. Don’t forget about your animals at home too! Provide them with lots of enrichment to keep their bodies and minds healthy! Happy 2021 everyone!
