Last of rare cats rescued from shut down sanctuary permanently rehomed
The group of big and small cats including the critically endangered Amur leopard, species of Eurasian Lynx, servals and pumas were rescued by Hertfordshire Zoo and The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent.
While 22 of the 23 rescues soon found homes across the UK, Blob was the last cat without a confirmed future.
Blob the bobcat exploring his new habitat at the Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent.
'It was the final day, and Blob's life literally hung in the balance,' recalled Cam Whitnall, managing director of The Big Cat Sanctuary.
He added: 'I reached out to Lindsay at Wildside Exotic Rescue, who had already taken several pumas from the Cat Survival Trust.
'She agreed to take Blob temporarily.
'That day, I made a promise: I'd find Blob a permanent home in the UK.'
The rescue operation came after the owner of Cat Survival Trust, Terrence Moore was disqualified from keeping animals for five years and ordered to pay costs of £14,380 on May 30 2024, according to Hertfordshire Constabulary.
Moore, 78, of Codicote Road, Welwyn, in Hertfordshire, was found guilty of four counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals by failing to seek proper and necessary veterinary care, and seven counts of using an endangered animal species for commercial gain without a licence following a trial at St Albans Crown Court in April and May last year.
The ex-Sanctuary boss was acquitted of eight counts of causing unnecessary suffering, and four counts of commercial gain.
Seven months on, Blob has now been found a permanent home at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Ashford, Kent.
From July 24, visitors will be able to meet Blob at the sanctuary for the first time during their open days.
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