Libre, one of the pair of jaguar cubs born in November, stretches out
his tongue for a toothy yawn at Project Survival Cat Haven. Libre and
his brother, Nacho, are still considered cubs at 7 months old and 65
pounds.
| JOHN WALKER
Project Survival Cat Haven’s new additions, jaguar cubs Nacho and Libre, have reached 7 months old and 65 pounds. Nacho
and Libre, both males, were born at the big-cat sanctuary in the
foothills east of Fresno on Nov. 3, each weighing a little more than a
pound. Their names come from the 2006 film “Nacho Libre” starring Jack
Black — who happens to be a supporter of Cat Haven. Nacho is all-black;
Libre is yellow-spotted.
Cat Haven in Dunlap opened in 1993 as home to several rare,
endangered species of wild cats, including lions, tigers, leopards and
cheetahs. Project Survival is dedicated to the preservation of
the wild cats, specializing in education and engaging in both captive
and range-country conservation.
Nacho and Libre are the 10th and 11th jaguars born at Cat Haven in the past four years — and the first litter since January 2014. The mother is Juanita, age 9, and the father is Butch, age 191/2, one of the oldest breeding males in the United States. All-black jaguars are more rare. Only four of the 11 born at Cat Haven have been all-black.
Project Survival has given away six jaguars at Cat Haven to zoos with the stipulation they must work toward helping jaguars in the wild. Jaguars used to come up from northern Argentina in South America and through Central America and Mexico to California.
Dale Anderson, founder/executive director of Cat Haven, says the last jaguar in California was killed in 1860. “It’s an American cat,” Anderson says. “That’s why I like the jaguar. It’s my favorite cat.”
Hours: Gates open at 10 a.m. Tours run throughout the day. The last tour leaves at 4 p.m.
Admission: $10, ages 4-12 $7, ages 62-over $8.50. Group rates and memberships available.
Details: cathaven.com or (559) 338-3216.
source
Jaguar cub Nacho relaxes (or guards?) a water bucket at Project Survival
Cat Haven. Nacho and his brother, Libre, are still considered cubs at 7
months old and 65 pounds.
| JOHN WALKER
Nacho and Libre are the 10th and 11th jaguars born at Cat Haven in the past four years — and the first litter since January 2014. The mother is Juanita, age 9, and the father is Butch, age 191/2, one of the oldest breeding males in the United States. All-black jaguars are more rare. Only four of the 11 born at Cat Haven have been all-black.
Project Survival has given away six jaguars at Cat Haven to zoos with the stipulation they must work toward helping jaguars in the wild. Jaguars used to come up from northern Argentina in South America and through Central America and Mexico to California.
Dale Anderson, founder/executive director of Cat Haven, says the last jaguar in California was killed in 1860. “It’s an American cat,” Anderson says. “That’s why I like the jaguar. It’s my favorite cat.”
If you go
Project Survival Cat Haven: 38257 E. Kings Canyon Road, Dunlap, on Highway 180 heading east toward Kings Canyon National Park.Hours: Gates open at 10 a.m. Tours run throughout the day. The last tour leaves at 4 p.m.
Admission: $10, ages 4-12 $7, ages 62-over $8.50. Group rates and memberships available.
Details: cathaven.com or (559) 338-3216.
source
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