Artist's rendition of completed Project Tiger.
Artist's rendition of completed Project Tiger.
December 07: The inside cages for the south side of Project Tiger are nearly done! Landscaping will start as soon as the danger of frost is past.
August 07: Shade structure built over our Group Tour area, for those 120 degree days!
May 07: New cement poured for the bleachers for Group Tour area. Also, we held a work day - THANKS to the 6 people who came and helped wire-brush and begin painting on Project Tiger!
Jan 07: Project Tiger Update. Total Project Budget $125,000. Total funds received as restricted donations to "Project Tiger" = $71,903. Funds utilized from general operating account = $22,971. Expenditures to date = $89,874. Thus far the holding/den building have been completed. The pools have been constructed except for the top coating and surrounding curtains which cannot be completed until after the landscaping is done. Pump and filter systems for the pools are installed. Material for the outside caging has been purchased and is currently being installed.
What's left? We still need to purchase and construct the rock facing on the walls, complete the landscaping in the cages, and construct public walkways and safety railings.
Amount we still need to raise = $30,126. At the beginning of this project we had great response, however since 9/11 and all the recent natural disasters and wars, donations have slowed down dramatically. Costs of building materials have also increased.
We need your help to complete Project Tiger!
Jan 06: Welding is underway again both on the outside of Project Tiger and the inside cages.
Aug 05: We started using the new DPC in July, yay! Sorry again for not updating this page often. We're busy with maintenance and a record number of residents (79 cats!)
Dec 04: The new DPC building is nearing completion - the walls and roof are done, pipeline is being laid and a retaining wall built.
June 04: DPC DISASTER
As with everything age takes it toll. Our DPC (Dietary Preparation Center), almost 30 years old, finally gave out. This building was originally a mobile home type trailer altered to serve as our kitchen and diet prep center. With the continued cleaning and washing of dishes and food thawing cabinets, water damage could not be avoided. We were beginning to have problems with the entrance door and upon an attempt to replace the door and frame we discovered that water damage had progressed into the sub-floor and walls to the point that repairs would not be feasible. One thing that doesn't change is that our feline family needs to eat. Emergency measures were taken and again the Project Tiger building came to the rescue. Everything (sinks, freezers, uprights, utensils and supplies) was moved to this building so as to avoid any long term disruption of the cat's feeding routine. Unfortunately there is no hot water in the building so washing and sanitizing takes a little longer and the food must now be transported clear across the facility from the walk-in freezer twice a day.
We need your help to build a new DPC. Time is critical and a new DPC must be built and be operational in as short a time as possible. We have elected to build a fixed or permanent building out of concrete block similar to Project Tiger building. It will be built on a concrete slab designed with proper drainage of excess water and should last 40-50 years.
EFBC needs to raise $30,000 dollars for the construction of this new building and is asking for our memberâs help in making a donation of any size. We are looking for an architect to donate their services so we can get plans drawn up for the building permit. We are also looking for donations of new concrete block, half-inch plywood, roofing materials, and electrical materials.
If you can help, please send cash donations c/o EFBC's emergency DPC fund. Your continued support of our programs and special projects is greatly appreciated.
Early 04: Oops, just noticed I never updated this page last year, sorry! As we were the new home (permanently or temporarily) to over 20 new cats that year we were VERY busy, but not in ways visible to the daily visitor. We built new small cages for the arriving Pallas's Cats and Fishing Cats. Also, the Project Tiger building housed over 30 MORE small cats in November when Pat Quillen's place near Escondido burned in a wildfire.
Late 02: Project Tiger: More block walls for the pumps & access area are built, and the inside holding pens and outside walls are under construction. The septic tank/leach lines are in, and more concrete has been poured.
Early 02: We received a grant for the pools and Alan Jackson Pools, Inc. is putting them in, yay! Thanks to them for donating $7000 worth of the cost and doing research to learn how to build a tiger-proof pool. We still need about $25000 to finish everything.
Late 01: Recent Project Tiger work includes the concrete and plumbing and electrical work in the den building and the doors for the building. We've also finished installing the pathway lighting that we received a Kern County grant for (photo 2).
Early 01: The roof on Project Tiger's den area is done! Check out the inside - the slab is next.
Fall 2000: The walk-in freezer is in use. Den walls for Project Tiger done, roofing to commence.
Summer 2000: Quarantine cages are in use (with temporary den boxes). The den walls for Project Tiger are nearly complete and funding is almost there to purchase the roofing materials. Also two concrete pads were poured to support a donated walk-in freezer (yay!) and a large air conditioner for the gift shop. A bunch of donated oleanders were planted as a wind break (far from any cages - yes, we know oleander is poisonous).
A walkway towards the Project Tiger construction lets visitors watch the progress. Quarantine cages still in work.
Early February: Project Tiger is still growing
January 2000: Two angles showing Project Tiger den construction - wow, it's huge! We've also set up the Peaches Memorial Fund
Winter 99: Foundation for den area for Project Tiger is being worked on. Some raccoons were visiting, a zoo in Russia requested some for display
Quarantine cages closer to done
Fall 99: We're building 3 quarantine/recovery cages behind the clinic. Ground prep work continues on Project Tiger.
Quarantine cage construction
Ready to pour foundation of Project Tiger
Our construction crane, with Christmas decoration & birds
Beautiful sunset at EFBC/FCC
Mid 99: Several of the small cat cages have been enlarged and grass/trees added.
In late 1998 we began construction of our largest habitats, the Tiger and Jaguar exhibit area. Two large cages will be built with swimming pools for these large cats that like to swim. This will be a three part project, we have enough funding for Phase 1 so far. We hope to complete these cages by the end of 2000 but that depends on how quickly we raise funding for Phase 2 and 3. With a $1000 donation to Project Tiger, your name will be on a plaque outside the finished exhibit. Or, a corporation could fund a large part of it! Please call or email if you can help. Currently the tigers are not housed in an area open to the public.
Groundbreaking
We're slowly replacing all the older chain link cages with large habitat style cages containing ponds, trees, logs, and vegetation for both the cats and the visitor's enjoyment. In 1998, we added grass and trees to the central area of the compound, which will add shade and help keep temperatures down in our hot summers.
New grassy area
In 1998 we also opened three new smaller-sized natural habitat cages.
3 new cages
Memberships and adoptions are our main form of support.
Use this form to become a member and help support our efforts!
Other items needed are listed on the donations page.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
No portion of these pages (photos, backgrounds, graphics, text, etc) may be used without the permission of the author
