A Few Pussy Cats for Harry, because he Loves Them So

pathfinder · March 28, 2008

Brendan and I, recently, spent an afternoon at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in west central Indiana.

The EFRC is a fascinating place. This was our second trip.

The EFRC provides lifetime habitat and veterinary care for hundreds of large feline predators. The cats consume about 3,000 pounds of fresh meat every day.

This is not a zoo. The fencing is 2 inch wire mesh, which can be difficult to shoot through. Large cameras and lenses are a disadvantage.

The cats are very aware of your presence and some may actively threaten you or void their bladders at you. Or they may just totally ignore your presence as well. A few may stalk you if you don't watch out. It is quite breath taking to see a 500lb cat running full blast right for YOU, and realize it is totally silent. You do NOT hear them coming.

They can also be very affectionate, as with the founder, Joe Taft, seen here

They have lions - very large well fed lions

They have tigers

Leopards

As well as bobcats, ocelots, servals, panthers and other species. A truly remarkable place.

Most of these shots were captured with my favorite Point and Shoot - a Canon G9.

Comments and criticisms entertained.

dbaker1221 · March 28, 2008

so very cool:ivar :ivar thanks

Ric Grupe · March 28, 2008

If I were ever out in the bush somewhere and one of these kitty cats came after me.....I would save him the trouble of severing my jugular and die of a heart attack first!:yikes

Good shots.

pathfinder · March 28, 2008

I remember reading as a kid about big game hunters, and how reluctant they were to search for a wounded lion in the brush. I can better appreciate this since having had one of these cats stalk me while I was busy shooting another tiger through the viewfinder. I was totally startled when another very large tiger, from far across the enclosure, slammed into the wire mesh immediately in front of me. I was sprayed from head to foot, including cameras, with mud. I did not hear it coming. It was a very graphic display of how little warning prey gets before their demise. And I think the tiger was just playing with me. It knew there was a fence separating us.

Watching these cats, one becomes very aware that their is a lot of awareness and planning going on in their heads. They are truly magnificent, and a bit frightening too. But they are very affectionate also. Complex animals. Some of my portraits depict them with blood on their noses or their paws.

Harryb · March 28, 2008

Imagine my relief when I saw what cats you were capturing. :whew

Took a lot of guts to go there with Brendon. I hope he didn't scare the cats.

Good set Jim.

Gale · March 28, 2008

Beautiful Kitties

Stan · March 28, 2008

Just spent ages reading their web site. What an amazing place. How do they get 3,000 lbs of meat a day? That's more than just road kill

Thanks for the pics

Stan

schmoo · March 28, 2008

Wow, holy poo those are some close-up shots. I would love to visit such a sanctuary sometime. I've never heard a first-hand account of being toyed with, and it's quite scary and touching at the same time.

Good lord you can see every taste bud in that tiger's maw!

pathfinder · March 28, 2008

I actually asked them how they obtain their meat supplies. They get downed animals from local farmers throughout the county, and they purchase supplies from various vendors, as well. Chickens, turkeys, pork, etc. They do not take dead pets - someone tried to donate their deceased canine

There seems to be a source for dead horse flesh as well.

In the end, I do not fully understand all their sourcing, but 3,000 is what, 3 to 5 horses or cows per day? Thats a lot of meat to move about. Just image feeding the cats. Someone has to enter each enclosure carrying 20 to 40 pounds of meat after verifying that the cats are all safely ensconced away from the feeding areas.

Feeding is interesting to watch. That's where the blood on the paws and noses comes from of course. As I said, it is a fascinating place.

pathfinder · March 28, 2008

Harryb wrote:

Imagine my relief when I saw what cats you were capturing. :whew

Took a lot of guts to go there with Brendon. I hope he didn't scare the cats.

Good set Jim.

I thought that title would catch your eye, Harry

The cat that jumped me, was because Brendon was supposed to be spotting for me, and his attention was diverted by other by other wildlife (of the human feminine kind )....

You do need someone to watch your back while shooting in the EFRC.

pathfinder · March 28, 2008

schmoo wrote:

I've never heard a first-hand account of being toyed with, and it's quite scary and touching at the same time.

It is quite breathtaking until you remember, that there is a fence separating you from the pussy cat.

Good lord you can see every taste bud in that tiger's maw!

Yes, and smell their carnivore breath as well. When the lions roar, you can see this huge cloud of steam emanating from their mouths. Very impressive, and I just missed shooting it several times

Taste buds are cool to view, but I favor the eyes of the leopard myself

sg_is_me · March 29, 2008

Amazing shot of the inside of the tiger's mouth. That's as close as I'd ever want to get, from the safety of my monitor. Beautiful animals, and beautiful shots.

Zanotti · March 30, 2008

Jim and Harry:

There is a similar type place in Tampa. I have never made it over there, but it might make a good DG outing someday.

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

Z

Harryb · March 30, 2008

Zanotti wrote:

Jim and Harry:

There is a similar type place in Tampa. I have never made it over there, but it might make a good DG outing someday.

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/

Z

Give them a call and find out what they could do for a photography group and let me know what they say.