More than 200 people from around the world attended the PAWS' 2016 International Captive Wildlife Conference in San Andreas, California, which took place on November 11 and 12. Attendees heard from 26 speakers and expert panelists, who addressed issues concerning bears, big cats and elephants, and enjoyed a special afternoon on "next wave" sanctuaries.

 

PAWS President Ed Stewart (pictured above) opened the conference by welcoming attendees and providing a lively history of the organization. He introduced each session - big cats and bears on the first day, and elephants and "next wave" sanctuaries on the second - which included featured speakers followed by a moderated panel discussion with the presenters and additional experts. Panel participants represented diverse backgrounds, including animal protection organizations, zoos, science, conservation and academia.

Friday's lively discussion on Big Cats featured panelists (L-R) Carney Anne Nasser,  Senior Counsel for Animal Legal Defense Fund; Joel Parrott, DVM, President and CEO of the Oakland Zoo; Carson Barylak, Campaigns Officer for the International Fund for Animal Welfare; Bill Nimmo, Founder and President of Tigers In America; Carole Baskin, Founder and CEO of Big Cat Rescue;  and Howard Baskin, Advisory Board Chairman of Big Cat Rescue.

The first day's Big Cats session focused largely on the scourge of roadside zoos and cub petting and the rampant breeding that is needed to sustain these businesses - while causing the suffering and deaths of tigers, lions, cougars and other cats. The Big Cat Public Safety Act, which would close a loophole in existing federal law that allows the continued breeding of big cats, was offered as a solution. (Watch PAWS' newsletters for more information on this important bill and how you can help.)

 

Following the panel, the organization Tigers in America premiered its new video, "The Entertainers." This short documentary provides a compelling history of tigers in entertainment, covers the issue of breeding for roadside zoos and cub petting and photo sessions, and closes on a hopeful note by showing tigers in various sanctuaries, including PAWS. (You can view the video here.)

 

The Bears session followed Big Cats, and included four featured speakers that addressed the natural history of black bears; the lives of bears in the wild versus those living in captivity; issues involving bears in Canada, including the capture of wild bears for zoos; and the breeding and use of bears in roadside zoos, for photo sessions, and as exotic "pets." During the panel discussion, Bobbi Brink, founder of Lions, Tigers and Bears in California, chillingly told the audience that the fates of hundreds of captive-bred bear cubs are unknown each year - we simply don't know where they go.

 

In future newsletters, PAWS will be writing more about the problem of breeding big cats and bears for petting zoos and roadside facilities. Many of our sanctuary residents share this background, and we can testify to the suffering and lifelong problems these animals experience.

 

The first day of the conference was followed by an Ice Breaker party for attendees that featured amazing food prepared by MJ Espiritu-Gerometta of Pivotal Foods, an all plant-based foods company. MJ also prepared the conference lunches and snacks, which received rave reviews.

 

Attendees at the Ice Breaker were treated to a performance by Jeff Newland and Lance Taber (Taber is known for his work on music video games, including Guitar Hero) of a song specially composed for PAWS, titled "Moment for Pause (PAWS)." Written by Kelcey Hall Taber and produced by Kelcey and Lance Taber, the song is available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon and Google Play, with all proceeds going to PAWS. A music video of "Moment for Pause" also was played at the conference. View the video here.

The second day of the conference began with a session on elephants, and covered such topics as conservation and the trade in ivory and live elephants; the state of elephants in captivity; the health and welfare of captive elephants; and a fascinating presentation on the elephant brain and cognition by neuroscientist Dr. Bob Jacobs, who was featured in the National Geographic special, "Mind of a Giant."

Adam Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA and Board Secretary for the accrediting organization Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), opened the last session of the conference on "next wave" sanctuaries.

The final session of the conference addressed "next wave" sanctuaries for chimpanzees, captive cetaceans, elephants, big cats and bears. While The Whale Sanctuary Project is still in the planning stages, Project Chimps is caring for chimpanzees retired from medical research, Global Sanctuary for Elephants -Brazil recently received its first two elephants who were once used in circuses, and the organization Four Paws is caring for bears and big cats at its sanctuaries in Europe and in South Africa, where it is also fighting the canned lion hunt trade.

On Sunday morning, conference attendees visited PAWS' ARK 2000 sanctuary. Here they listen to Sanctuary Manager Brian Busta (right), and meet Asian bull elephant Nicholas.

 

On Sunday, November 13, conference attendees visited PAWS' ARK 2000 sanctuary, a 2,300-acre, natural habitat refuge. Ed Stewart, Sanctuary Manager Brian Busta, and Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Jackie Gai spoke to the visitors, telling them the stories of our elephants, big cats and bears and educating them about the lives that they now have at our sanctuary.

PAWS President and Cofounder Ed Stewart talks about elephants at Sunday's ARK 2000 tour.

 

Save the Date!

The next PAWS International Captive Wildlife Conference will take place in Los Angeles in November 2018, with three days of outstanding presentations and panel discussions on a broad range of captive wildlife topics. See you there!

Visit PAWS Facebook page to view more photos from this year's International Captive Wildlife Conference.

Who Helped Make This Year's International Captive Wildlife Conference Possible!

 

Our generous sponsors who provided support for the conference:

 

All the speakers, moderators and expert panelists who shared their insight and expertise, inspiring conference attendees:  

View List Here

 

The Chefs:

MJ Espiritu-Gerometta of Pivotal Foods who created the plant-based

lunches and hors d'oeuvres served at Friday evening's Ice Breaker;

and Cindy Anderson and Rachael Silva, who provided vegan and gluten-free baked goods including breakfast bars, cupcakes, cookies and fruit tarts

for the conference and Ice Breaker.

 

Mountain Oaks School

This year's conference site.

Special thanks to Joel Sanchez and Claudia Davis.

 

In Kind Donations - Ice Breaker Reception

Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi

Michael David Winery

Stevenot Winery

Twisted Oak Winery

 

Our Amazing PAWS Volunteers!

Cindy Klein Anderson, Sylvia Arispe, Priscilla Chalmers, Priscilla Davis, Linda Dodge, Chuck Espiritu, Barry Gardner, Rhianna Gardner, M J Espiritu-Gerometta, Kitty Good, Ruth Huffman, Michelle Humphreys, Olivia Humphreys, Galen Hazelhofer, Janelle Kessler, Lonnie Jones, Leilani Lagge, Lorrie Morris, Kyleigh Saunders, Rachael Silva, Jill Melchione Spinelli, Nancy Stehura, Lori Swearingen, Bert Vue, Donna Wilhelm and Kerry Worgan.

Thank You to All of Our

#GivingTuesday Supporters!

Above: Black leopard Alexander with his pine tree branches.

ARK 2000 Holiday Open House,  December 10th

Tickets Now On Sale

 

We have a limited number of tickets still available for our ARK 2000 Holiday Open House to be held on Saturday, December 10th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $50 for adults, $25 for seniors (60 and over) and $25 for children age 12 and under. If you're planning to attend, we advise you to purchase your tickets early. No tickets will be sold at the gate on the day of the event.

 

PAWS' 2,300-acre captive wildlife sanctuary, ARK 2000, is located at 1248 Pool Station Road in San Andreas, CA 95249.

 

Visitors to the ARK 2000 Holiday Open House will board shuttles to the bear, lion, tiger, leopard and elephant habitats. Once you exit the shuttle you will be walking on grass, dirt, gravel, and sometimes paved surfaces, so please wear comfortable shoes. PAWS management, keepers and volunteers will be on hand to tell you about the animals and answer questions. A gift shop will be available on the day of the event. We accept cash, checks and all major credit cards.

 

If you would like to bring a holiday gift for the animals, we suggest any of the following favorites: apples, oranges, bananas, carrots, squash, pumpkins, melons, pears, unsalted peanuts in the shell, fresh mint leaves and fresh rosemary. You may drop off your gift by the front gate, or near the gift shop table when you arrive, or as you're leaving. The animals thank you!

 

This event happens rain or shine. Tickets are not refundable.

 

Two ways to purchase:  Click here to buy online and print your tickets at home; or call 209-745-2606, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST, to charge by phone. Visit our calendar of events page for more information. Ticket sales close on Thursday, December 8, 2016, or earlier if this event sells out.
 

*  *  *  *