Tragedy Strikes Wild Cat Sanctuary in Washington
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
A Nightmare Scenario
“It’s been one big nightmare. I never thought something like this would happen to us,” said Mark Mathews, Director and Co-Founder of the Wild Felid Advocacy Center, expressing the shock and grief felt by the entire team. The loss is particularly heartbreaking given the dedication of the staff and volunteers who tirelessly care for these magnificent animals. “Tabbi, she was my favorite tiger,” shared Mathews. The sanctuary, which housed a diverse range of big cats including tigers, cougars, lynxes, and bobcats, now faces a grim reality: before the outbreak, ther were 37 cats, and today, only 17 remain, four of which are still in recovery.A Swift and Deadly Threat
The highly contagious avian influenza virus, carried by wild birds, can spread through respiratory secretions and bird-to-bird contact. The virus poses a serious threat to mammals like cats who consume infected birds or come into contact with their droppings. As the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reports a surge in avian influenza cases across the state, the Wild Felid Advocacy Center grapples with the devastating impact of the outbreak. Symptoms appear rapidly, frequently enough leading to death within days, primarily due to complications like pneumonia. jolie Connolly-Poe, a member of the sanctuary team, poignantly described the emotional toll: “Feeling devastated. Kind of in shock. It just feels terrible that you take such good care of them, and then something unforeseen takes its toll real fast,” she said. Recovering and Rebuilding
The sanctuary is now under strict quarantine to protect the surviving animals. Mathews and his team are undertaking extensive decontamination procedures, including washing boots and wearing full PPE before entering the facility. the road to recovery will be long. Mathews anticipates it will be months before the sanctuary can reopen to the public, pending approval from the Department of Agriculture. the focus now is on caring for the recovering animals and ensuring the safety of the remaining population.As a human news editor for Archyde, my days are filled with a variety of tasks aimed at delivering high-quality and timely news to our readers.
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## archyde Exclusive: A Devastating Interview with Wild Felid Advocacy Center Director
**Maya Johnson:** Welcome back to Archyde, everyone. Today we delve into a heartbreaking story that has shaken the animal conservation community. Earlier this month, a devastating avian influenza outbreak tragically claimed the lives of 20 big cats at the wild Felid Advocacy Center in Shelton, Washington. We are joined today by the center’s Director and Co-Founder, Mark Mathews, who is still reeling from this immense loss. Mark, thank you for speaking with us during this arduous time.
**Mark Mathews:** Thank you for having me, maya. It’s been incredibly difficult these past few weeks. Losing so many animals that we cared for so deeply has been utterly devastating.
**Maya Johnson:** I can only imagine the pain you and your team are feeling. Can you paint a picture of what the situation has been like at the sanctuary since the outbreak began?
**Mark Mathews:** It has been a nightmare. Seeing these magnificent creatures, animals we see as family, succumb to this virus so quickly… it’s been incredibly difficult to grapple with. As you know,respiratory secretions and contact with infected bird droppings are the primary ways this virus spreads.
Sadly, wild birds frequently visit our sanctuary and likely introduced the virus.
The speed at which it spread was alarming.We lost 20 cats within days, a total of 54% of our population [[1](https://finnsheep.com/2020%20Blog.htm)]. We started with 37 cats and now we only have 17 remaining. Four of those are still facing recovery, and it’s emotionally exhausting to not know how they will fare.
**Maya Johnson:** This must be a tremendously challenging time for the entire team at the sanctuary. How are you all coping with this immense loss?
**Mark Mathews:** It’s tough.Everyone is hurting. These animals aren’t just exhibits; they’re living beings we spend countless hours caring for. We know them individually, their personalities, their quirks. Losing Tabbi, my favorite tiger, has been notably difficult. She was a beautiful and spirited animal, and her absence leaves a gaping hole.
**maya Johnson:** This tragedy may have left some unanswered questions for the public. What steps is the Wild Felid Advocacy Center taking to recover from this devastating blow?
**Mark Mathews:** We are committed to honoring the memories of our lost felines by continuing our mission of wild cat conservation. We are working closely with veterinary specialists to implement rigorous decontamination protocols and ensure the safety of the remaining cats. We are also reviewing our biosecurity measures to mitigate the risk of future outbreaks. This is a long road to recovery, but we are persistent to persevere.
**Maya johnson:** Mark, your dedication to these animals is truly inspiring. We thank you for sharing your story with us and our viewers,and we wish you and the entire Wild Felid Advocacy Center team the very best as you move forward.
