Education


"Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand."

  • Wild About Cats has a very active outreach wildlife education program. We focus on wild felines, but can adjust the direction to other wildlife topics. We bring one of our cats to lectures when possible. Our current featured programs are:

    1. Suitcase For Survival The illegal wildlife trade.
    2. Habitat: Realm Of The Tiger Tiger conservation.
    3. Mountain Lions Our local wild cat, the mountain lion.
    4. Cheetah-The Spotted Wind A unique program featuring one of the most rare and unique cats.
    5. Rain Forest Ecology This program is being currently being designed.

  • We are also available as a resource for people interested in private ownership of non-domestic felines. We do not recommend it for everyone and highly promote that people know honestly what they are getting into prior to taking that step.

  • Wild About Cats has been used as a resource by National Geographic, CBS-TV's Most Dangerous, California Dept. of Fish and Game, the Discovery Channel, and by thousands of students and adults wanting to learn more.

    Check out our educational page on feline skulls ranging from 35 million years ago!

    Suitcase For Survival

    Sponsored by the AZA (American Zoo and Aquarium Association), WWF (World Wildlife Fund), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It features a suitcase full of wildlife biofacts. Such as an ivory tusk, elephant hair bracelet, leopard claw pendant, crocodile purse, python wallet, ocelot fur, leopard coat, sea turtle skin boot, seal fur thimbles, turtle shell jewelry, etc. These items were seized by the U.S. government because of violations to CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species) and were gathering dust in warehouses. They have put them to good use by creating this program. It also includes a slideshow and/or video and a book full of resources and activities.

    Habitat: Realm Of The Tiger

    We have an excellent Tiger Conservation Education Kit sponsored by Exxon and produced by National Geographic. It accompanies the AZA exhibit, Tigers In Crisis. It contains two 60-minute videos and 40 color transparencies, three color wall posters, a comprehensive teachers guide, student handouts, trivia cards and more. As a teaching aid, the kit supports curriculum in geography, life science, ecology, environmental science and history.

    Mountain Lions

    Also known as cougar and puma, these cats are a hot topic here in California currently. There is a need for comprehensive learning about the natural behavior of our local wild cat. This program sometimes is held in conjunction with author Kevin Hansen's lecture. Mr. Hansen learned extensively about these cats while doing research for his book, Cougar, The American Lion (ISBN 0-87358-544-5, Northland Publishing). It discusses behavior dynamics; what to do if you encounter one; and how to prevent them from approaching your home, livestock, and pets.

    Cheetah-The Spotted Wind

    We have borrowed an excellent phrase coined by Tom Brakefield. The Spotted Wind expresses speed, one of the many unique characteristics of this animal that holds its own genus. This program uses many visual aids, analogies, and comparisons to help the audience clearly understand the features of this animal. Including their 23-foot stride, acceleration speed, flexible spine, non-retractible claws for traction, small canine teeth in exchange for large nasal passages, weak defenses (teeth and claws) to protect their cubs and kills. We hand out the "Sponsor A Wild Cheetah" forms for Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia. Wild About Cats is currently waiting to receive a surplus cheetah from a captive breeding program and this cat will be the program's ambassador.

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