The Conservators' Center: helping endangered animals in North Carolina

The Conservators' Center is a remarkable place that helps rescue & transform animals that have been previously mistreated and neglected into happy healthy magnificent creatures and that also takes in animals who can no longer be cared for by their owners. It's amazing to see the work that the Center has done with these animals. When visiting, I am able to really see the animals up close (much closer than most zoos, but always a safe distance) and the animals are so impressive this way. I felt bonded to them, because they were able to see and smell me up close too.

My guides were absolutely amazing every time I visited. I learned the story of each animal and what the mistreated animals had been through before coming to the Center. Some of the stories were heartbreaking, but the animals seemed so happy now that they were well fed and well taken care of at the Conservators' Center. It's hard to think that these were the same creatures that had such horrible backgrounds. It's also wonderful to see that the animals whose owners had to give them up found a good home that would take care of them for the rest of their lives.

At the Center, I've seen the 5 brother lions playing with each other on their climbing structure like giant housecats, tigers taking leisurely baths in their tubs, and binturongs scurrying down from their hammocks to take a bite of banana, one of their favorite foods. During my visits, I learned to chuffle with tigers and I howled with wolves. Sometimes, all the animals will sing together and it's an absolutely amazing experience that gives me chills. The New Guinea singing dogs begin to sing, the lions roar, the tigers grumble, and the wolves howl all at once. I can't help but try and join in the chorus too.

I've been back several times since my initial visit, and every time I go, I learn or see something new. It really is an amazing place, and I encourage all who have the chance to visit or donate, to do so. You truly will be helping out the extraordinary animals who call the Conservators' Center their home, and you will probably make a new friend or two along the way.

Picture by Bob Seelye

Most of these pictures were taken by Abbie Cooke. You can reach her at abbie.cooke@yahoo.com or call her at 252.452.6191 for more information about her work.

Two are by Bob Seelye of Studio R1.

An exotic animal facility with a spotty safety record closed when bad publicity forced the owners to face their inability to manage their big cats.

After more than 40 cats were placed, three male tigers remained.

The owner planned to euthanize them until the Conservators' Center proposed an alternative: the Center placed two in good facilities, and took responsibility for the last one - a sad, elderly cat with health issues.

Although Tonka was initially anxious about his new neighbors, he has adjusted nicely to the rowdy young lions and tigers in nearby enclosures, and to the humans who stop by to pay their respects to this distinguished senior.

In the summer of 2008, the Conservators' Center staff received a request to take a white tiger cub that had been seized by a government agency.

While the idea of having a young white tiger was exciting, the staff was hesitant to take on another large cat. The Conservators' Center is a home of last resort, providing a haven for elderly animals, animals with behavioral problems, or those with extensive injuries. Many zoos and sanctuaries would be pleased to have a white tiger to help draw visitors.

The agency explained that there were legal issues with the cub's owner, and that the case might go to court because of his value. They wanted the cub placed in a location where no one could question the integrity of the owners or safety of the cat. The Conservators' Center was considered the ideal solution.

Arthur was only 19 pounds at over three months of age, a fraction of what he should have weighed. His previous owner had kept him eating only a very watered-down formula when he should have been eating solid foods. On the ride to his new home at the Conservators' Center, Arthur ate half his body weight in solid food.

The staff was concerned he would not grow normally because of the severe malnutrition he had endured, but young animals can make remarkably fast recoveries. He is now a little tall for his age and has filled out well. His pink nose and blue-green eyes are strikingly bright against his fuzzy, almost all-white coat.

Today, Arthur loves to jump into puddles to splash his human friends with muddy water. He plays tug-of-war with fire hose and attacks large, straw-stuffed burlap sacks with relish. He sits in his big water bucket to cool down, even in chilly weather.

Arthur enjoys climbing and teasing his leopard neighbors with peek-a-boo games. Most of all, he likes to greet visitors, all of whom he considers new friends. The Conservators' Center's staff is working to determine which resident lion or tiger will make the best companion for Arthur so he will have a playmate to wrestle and cuddle with.

For more: Staff & Volunteer Blog...

Bringing Up Babies by Kim Barker

A few months ago, I was asked about being involved with helping raise some baby serval cubs that were on the way. My first thought was, "Absolutely!", but then I had to evaluate the time it would take to invest into these little lives so they would grow up to be healthy, well-socialized cats and if I was ready to take that on. That struck me as exactly what it is: a big responsibility and commitment.

I decided yes, and realized I had made the right decision the second I held my first two week old serval named Tail (his name is Obi now, and I am one of his adoring sponsors). These cubs were born to a rescued serval who arrived already pregnant.

Every Sunday and Wednesday, I show up to help Doug and Mindy with these creatures that I have watched grow to be about 6 months old now. In the beginning, everyone had to be completely clean to handle the babies and had to do so with extra care as serval cubs are very fragile...

This year-old lioness was scheduled for euthanasia when the Center staff was asked to evaluate her. With a malformed hip, she had become increasingly lame and aggressive.

Kira blossomed into a friendly lion after she moved to the Center, where she enjoys a larger enclosure, therapy toys, and adoration from her sponsors and fans.

Yogi binturong was discovered by accident. His parents had been imported from Southeast Asia illegally, and they were seized by Fish and Wildlife officers. When the binturongs were being loaded into crates for exportation, the officers discovered baby Yogi.

Because he was born in the United States, there was no home country to return him to. So he was hand-raised by an experienced US caregiver who enjoyed his outgoing personality and appreciated his unique bloodline. She contacted us when he came of age to see if we might pair him with one of our girls. Yogi now lives with Maru binturong and we hope they will produce offspring in the future.

Photographer Rob Seelye took this picture; 12 of his images are available as gift cards in the Conservators' Gift Shop. See the module below and go have a look!

Mufasa is the great old gentleman of the Center's lion prides. He arrived at the Center in 2004, along with 13 other cats. He is gentle and loving to his three female companions, Sadie, Kiara, and Ugmo.

Though he is elderly, he is also active and interested in the world around him. He enjoys visitors and likes people to talk to him and admire his beautiful mane.

Mufasa is the father of eight of the young lions at the Center. He is quite unhappy that four of them live with tigers, and he often expresses his disapproval of the arrangement to the young tigers. These bouts of grumbling, roaring, and huffing at the tigers seem to help keep him young.

Hopa came to the Center when she was about eight months old. She had been injured, probably hit by a car, and had been picked up by animal control officers.

She had several serious injuries, including a fractured pelvis, a fractured elbow with the joint badly damaged, and an abscessed tooth we pulled with two fingers when she was sedated for the X-rays.

Ami was lonely and in need of a companion. He was crazy about Hopa from the moment he saw her. Though he was housed next door to her, he dug under the shared wall and pushed all his toys through as gifts to her. They slept outside, each against the wall on their own side, shoulder to shoulder.

Lena is an elegant, very well socialized wild cat. Lena was placed with us in 2002 by her former owners when, at 18 months old, she decided she didn't want a career in educational programs.

Lena is very active and playful. She likes affection and chasing balls and toys, though she rarely brings them back. She especially enjoys seafood treats, since she was raised on the Great Lakes and was indulged in a good bit of shrimp while she was growing up.

Aretha and her brother Charlie were born at a small North Carolina zoo. The staff at the Conservators' Center offered to help hand-rear the two cubs because the zoo staff was inexperienced with carnivores. Our founders took the cubs home when they were five days old.

When Charlie was only 10 weeks old, he began to have neurological symptoms and seizures. He died shortly thereafter of an inherited cardiomyopathy, a serious heart defect. The Center's staff made the decision not to breed Aretha, since she is likely to carry that trait and may pass it off to her cubs.

Aretha bonded with the house cats, and spent a lot of time playing tug-of-war with them. Then she made friends with a little bobcat, learning to speak with her tail, since the bobcat had trouble speaking with her ears like a caracal would.

Finally, the Center took in a male caracal as a companion for her. Aretha and Taz took a while to warm up to each other, but they get along well now. They argue when food is involved, but the rest of the time they seem to enjoy spending time together on their swing bench. They do look a bit embarrassed when seen being affectionate with one another.

Taz had an unstable life prior to coming to the Center; it's his fifth home. He's a geriatric, arthritic, slightly overweight male who is a bit grouchy about his strict diet.

Taz arrived very overweight, so he has been on a diet ever since. He has lost approximately 30 pounds, and seems to have leveled off at a more comfortable weight. Taz huffs and puffs and threatens very well, but has a weakness for treats and scent enrichment. He prefers cardboard covered in peppermint oil or cinnamon to most meals and turns from an otherwise dignified gentleman to a drooling, fluffy mass when he is provided with scent enrichment.

New Guinea singing dogs are the result of many generations of an aboriginal dog evolving and adapting to island life on Papua New Guinea.

Their relatives from more than 20,000 years ago moved into Australia and became dingoes.

Some people consider them feral domestic dogs; some consider them a subspecies of dingo; still others think they are a distinct species.

Their behavior is certainly different than that of domestic dogs. They are great tree climbers and diggers, they are stronger than other dogs the same size, and they have distinct vocalizations that sound like eerie singing.

The New Guinea singing dogs at the Center are mostly well socialized and enjoy going out for educational programs. They appreciate attention and love to meet new people.

This photo is by Mark Kostich.

Samara is strong-willed and independent, but she still likes living near her parents.

Samara is being trained to go off-site for programs. She is a bit nervous about other animals, especially unfamiliar dogs, but she is game to try anything that will give her a lot of attention.

Samara loves any special treats and any visitors who will spend time with her and give her attention. She is an excellent digger and is highly skilled at burying things.

She has recently begun to share her space with Kodi, a neutered male companion. They have had a lot of negotiating to do to settle who gets attention first, who sleeps where, and who gets the first treat, but they seem to be working it out well.

In the summer of 2005, Reno bobcat was hit by a car while crossing the road in rural Wendell, North Carolina. The driver picked her up and put her in the back seat, then drove her to a veterinarian's office nearby. Dr. Carol Johnson and vet tech Dhona Lovick tended her wounds and nursed her back to health. While she was recuperating, her behavior indicated that she was not a wild bobcat.

As a native species, bobcats are illegal to own as pets in North Carolina. It is possible Reno was previously injured, insufficiently rehabilitated and released, or that she was a self-liberating illegal pet.

Dr. Johnson and Ms. Lovick visited the compound and helped settle Reno into her new home. We were thrilled to have our first licensed native cat on site.

Reno now lives at the Center with a male companion, Bobby Fargo, and enjoys spending her days stalking birds from inside her enclosure, and grumbling at passers-by.

They are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, so all donations are tax deductible.

You can make a donation through PayPal, or by sending a check to:
Conservators' Center, Inc., PO Box 882, Mebane, NC 27302.

For additional information about donating call (336) 421-0883 or send an email to tours@conservatorscenter.org.

If you contribute to United Way at work, you can earmark your donation for the Center.

They also appreciate in-kind donations, including trash bags, freezer bags, paper towels, cleaning supplies, cars or trucks, hand tools, power tools, or why not? A tractor or a backhoe!