TOUR for the TROOPS!

Remember the care packages that IEAS is putting together?! Well, it's almost time to send them and we still need more STUFF. Since our "Water Weekend" was so successful, we are going to do something similar this coming weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday - July 1, 2, 3, and 4) and let you take a TOUR for the TROOPS! If you bring items from the following list from each member of your party, everyone's tour is HALF PRICE! That means instead of $20 for adults and $10 for kids, your tour will be $10 for adults and $5 for kids!

ITEMS WE STILL NEED:

Crossword puzzles, word searches, sudoku puzzles, bags of non-melting (no chocolate) candy (apparently they really CRAVE good candy and junk food sometimes!), magazines (TIME, Men's Health, People, etc.), recent newspapers, battery operated misting fans, chips/Pringles, and protein bars!

So, head out to the store, then to IEAS! Remember, your donation to the troops will only cut your tour cost ONCE - two items won't mean you get a free tour, but it WILL mean you care THAT much more about our troops! With the 4th of the July right around the corner, now is the time to be generous! Maybe use the WHOLE extra $10 you will save on your tour on the TROOPS! You know they will appreciate it and the IEAS residents will appreciate your visit!

Remember, in visiting the Sanctuary and bringing these items, you are helping an amazing cause help another amazing cause!

Mister Pictures!

Here are some pictures and a clip of the misters in action!

Princess hops up into her mist and cools off!

You can barely see Kuru behind his mist!

Samson's habitat with mist!

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED!

KURU enjoying his mist!

The Mister System has ARRIVED!

Well, the mister system that YOU all purchased for the cats of IEAS has arrived and been all set up! Samson is already laying right in front of his and the those who haven't seen them before, like the two tigers who arrived from Houston in March, have investigated and made their decisions about the cool mist! They have both plopped right down on the perch in front of the mister!

So many of these amazing animals are cooler

and more comfortable because of YOUR generosity.

PICTURES COMING SOON!

Thank you to everyone who

donated for making it possible!

Want to be a Sanctuary Volunteer!?

The International Exotic Animal Sanctuary has so many dedicated volunteers that come out, visit the animals, and are a HUGE help to the staff and residents of IEAS! Often times, these volunteers come and go, and we love to get updates on their lives and travels. One such volunteer recently had the chance to volunteer at a wildlife reserve in Ecuador and sent us news of her exciting new adventure:

"After two weeks of laboring under the canopy of the Amazon rainforest, building enclosures, carrying incredible red wood trees through the forest, and enjoying the company of beautiful animals, I sit here in an internet cafe in Quito, and enjoy the lovely smell of clean laundry and the millions of people that trek by my window. How's that for ya? Ecuador is amazing!! I have so many pictures and now I'm waiting to head off to Otavalo which is the largest market in South America! Hope everyone is well! :)"

Many of our volunteers do awesome things after they help out at the Sanctuary, just like Ecuador and even places such as Alaska!

Do YOU want to be a Sanctuary volunteer?!

Visit our VOLUNTEER PAGE for everything you need to know!

We hope to see you soon!

Cell Phones and Mountain Gorillas!?

What do a cell phone and a Mountain Gorilla have in common?

This might shock you!

Cell phone batteries are made from an rare metal called Columbite-tatalum (Coltan), which is mined primarily in Africa's Republic of Congo. This area is currently home to 52 threatened or endangered species of animals. One of these species, the Eastern mountain gorilla, numbering only 250 individuals as of December 2002, is being slaughtered by the Coltan miners for "bushmeat" during their mining. The region is being cleared and mined pushing the remaining gorillas out of their environment.

A cell phone battery contains 2 oz. of Coltan which can be recovered and re-used. An estimated 200 million cell phones were thrown away in the U.S. in 2003. This means that 400 million ounces of Coltan was wasted and is still wasted annually. The current price for Coltan is $1,000 per kilogram. This converts to the wasted Coltan to 11,339,809 kilograms costing over 110 BILLION DOLLARS. All of this money is being thrown away by the U.S. population alone.

JOIN US in our effort to conserve wildlife, protect our environment, reduce the need for mining additional Coltan by recycling your old cell phones! Send them to IEAS at P.O. Box 637, Boyd, TX 76023 and we will take care of them for you!

Almost Halfway There!

We are almost halfway to our goal of raising $2,500 towards a new mister system to supply cool mist to the second half the Sanctuary! We have had so many generous donations, and we can't wait to see if they keep on coming! Just remember, every little bit counts - there is truly no donation too small! Each and every penny gets the cats one step closer to having that cool mist to keep them comfortable in the summer heat!

Thanks SO much to everyone who has already sent in a donation!

Remember, you can call 940-433-5091, send your check to PO Box 637, Boyd, TX 76023, or click HERE to donate!

Cool Mist for Cool Cats!

We hope you are all settling into summer as well as we are! Our summer routines are in full swing, and we are ready to beat the heat – but the animals need YOUR help! Here at IEAS, we strive to provide many different ways for the animals to stay cool. The animals enjoy pools with waterfalls and vegetation that provides shade for areas of each habitat to give the animals a nice, cool spot to relax. Some animals, such as bears, cougars, bobcats, and lions, have caves that provide a private place away from the sun’s rays. We also have misters that provide a fine mist of cool water in the animals’ favorite places to hang out!

In the past, you, our supporters, have really stepped up when the animals of IEAS needed you the most. We have two mister pumps that each supply water to one half of the Sanctuary. While the pumps are only expected to last about five years, we purchased our original two pumps over ten years ago, and in 2009, your generosity and caring helped the Sanctuary raise enough money to replace one of these struggling systems. At the end of last summer, we began having problems with the second of our initial mister systems, and it has finally given up on us. We now have to buy a new pump to supply water to the second half of the Sanctuary. With your help, Lexus, a male lion, who truly adores lounging in front of the cool mist on his favorite perch, and many other animals will have a great way to stay comfortable and refreshed in the summer!

We are hoping to raise $2,500 to reach our goal. We must purchase a Rapid Cool Pump, which will cost almost $2,000. The additional money is allotted for the need to purchase more mister line, electrical supplies, and plumbing supplies that are required to complete our misting project. Remember, every dollar counts and will help us reach our goal. There is no donation too small!

You can donate through our website, by calling the Sanctuary at 940-433-5091, or send a check to P.O. Box 637, Boyd, TX 76023 . Just be sure to specify that your donation is towards the new mister system!

Stay updated on our progress on our Blog and our website, www.bigcat.org!

Thanks for all of your support!

New Interns Have Arrived for the Summer!

Well, another session has begun and IEAS welcomes Beth, Jackie, Kristi, and Amanda as Animal Care Interns! The staff and new interns are all eager to see what the next three months will bring. There is a lot to learn here at the Sanctuary and the girls seem ready to take it all in! So far, they have begun to learn feeding and pick up routines, daily chores, and all about giving tours, but we think that meeting all of the AMAZING animals at IEAS has been their favorite part!

Are YOU interested in becoming an intern

at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary?

Wondering what you can do to

better your chances of being selected?

Well, here are a few hints:

1. Work hard in school! Having a background in biology, animal science, wildlife ecology, zoo and aquarium science, or a related field can be SO helpful in working with animals and we certainly like to see someone who is willing to study hard and learn as much as they can!

2. Experience, experience, EXPERIENCE! Have a zoo nearby? Humane society? Wildlife rescue facility? Volunteer! Volunteering or taking part in other internships can be a great foot in the door when looking for animal care experience. IEAS loves to see someone who volunteers their time to learn from and take care of animals!

3. Most importantly, don't give up! The animal world can be very challenging to break in to. It gets frustrating at times to be part of such a competitive field but remember, hard work and perseverance will pay off in the end! Don't give up on your dream. There are plenty of animals out there that need taken care of. The right animal, the right place, and the right job will find YOU as long as you make yourself available!