Mustelidae and lovers of mustelidae rejoice! Instead of severely cutting back the Fish & Wildlife Service's Black-Footed Ferret breeding program, enough public comment was generated that the program has been fully funded for this fiscal year, including a move to Fort Collins, CO. from Casper WY.

Check out http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2005/08/27/news/wyoming/243ec0663ee6f2628725706a000144dd.txt
It's the second story from the top.

The footfalls of paws cause roads to tremble; here, armies of proud
animals assemble. Ready to lock horns, knights raise their swords; by
fang and by claw, they fight for their lords. All manner of creatures
shall battle, they say; yet only the lionhearted shall capture the day.
Hear the echoes of howls and drumming: Further Confusion shall soon be
coming!

1. Picnic & Campout thanks
2. Travel Assistance
3. Pre-Registration for FC
4. Extreme Fursuit Make-over, Season 2: Transformation!
5. Furry Marketplace
6. Furry Night Live! Returns
7. Staff Needed
8. FC Film Festival
9. Conbook Submissions Needed
10. Membership Badge Art Needed
11. Hotel FAQ for Booking Rooms
12. Further Confusion Masquerade
13. FC Weapons Policy
14. Next Public Meeting

The Conifur Northwest 2005 con book is looking for G- and PG-rated art and stories relating to conventions, Seattle, the Pacific Northwest, Nootka, and this year's theme, Halloween. Read more for details!

A rare Chinese tiger brought to South Africa to learn how to hunt has died, dealing a fresh blow to efforts to save the species from extinction.

Born in a Chinese zoo, "Hope" was sent to South Africa as a cub with his mate "Cathay" in 2003 for a pioneering experiment seen by some as the last chance to preserve the species — a "rewilding program" to encourage the animals to hunt on their own.

"Hope had an infection and he stopped eating meat. He died on Saturday evening," Li Quan, the founder of the "Save China's Tigers" foundation, told Reuters on Monday.

[Read ABC News Wire article]

A Siberian tiger attacked and killed a teenage girl who was posing for photos at a family-run animal sanctuary Thursday in southeast Kansas, authorities said.

The Labette County Sheriff's office identified the victim as Haley R. Hilderbrand, 17, of Altamont. A statement from the office said Hilderbrand was at the Lost Creek Animal Sanctuary posing for photos with the 7-year-old tiger, which was being restrained by its handler, when the animal turned and attacked her.

Officers and handlers killed the animal. Emergency personnel were not able to revive Hilderbrand.

Read CNN article

Oklacon Registration is now open!
Come register for one of the best new cons around.

For more information visit http://www.oklacon.com/

See you there!

T-Shirt Contest
Calling all artists! Oklacon is asking for art and design submission for its 2005 t-shirt contest. The theme for this years con is

Inner Animal

Keep in mind that the artwork you submit for the t-shirt must somehow relate to our theme. Good luck!

Safari's of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma is an interactive animal safari in the Central United States dedicated to the rescue of exotic animals that were original acquired as pets that later could not be kept. Open to the public Saturdays and Sundays 12:00-6pm. General admission is $6 per person, $5 for kids 3-12 (under the age of 3 is Free), and $4 for Seniors.

In addition to the safari tours, there is a "bed & bagel" on the grounds that features an 1800s log cabin, queen bed, fireplace, antiques, kitchenette, clawfoot bathtub, animal décor, proch swing and continental breakfast. Price includes admission to the park, guided tour, and a nightly serenade by the wolves of Safaris just outside your window! $75 / night.

Click here for a .pdf flyer with color photos of the cabin.

Some Prominent Ecologists Floating Plan to Send Endangered African Animals to the Great Plains

Lions stalking deer in the stubble of a Nebraska corn field. Elephants trumpeting across Colorado's high plains. Cheetah slouching through the West Texas scrub. Prominent ecologists are floating an audacious plan that sounds like a "Jumanji" sequel transplant African wildlife to the Great Plains of North America.

Their radical proposal is being greeted with gasps and groans from other scientists and conservationists who recall previous efforts to relocate foreign species halfway around the world, often with disastrous results.

The authors contend it could help save Africa's poster species from extinction, where protection is spotty and habitat is vanishing.

[Read the rest of the Article]

The San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild is under investigation by Homeland Security. According to their latest newsletter, its assets have been frozen ever since Treasurer Pam Brown resigned after 20 years and passed the miniscule nestegg to a new bank account a few months ago.

From: "Doodles"
Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2005 14:20:55 -0700

Lots of things this month, including the usual Halloween-themed books, bust
most of all the return of a classic comic and old friend.

An untamed jungle cat - albeit a soft and cuddly one - scared the stuffing out of some suburban commuters passing through the Bronx yesterday, prompting cops and city officials to try and catch the tiger by the tail.

It wasn't too hard.

"The police wanted to know where the tiger was," said German Ortiz, 34, the super of 1194 Brook Ave. "I told them, 'It's mine, but don't worry, it's not real.'"

Read the rest of the article from the New York Daily News

WikiFur is a new project started by Greanreaver GreenReaper, intended as a large-scale wiki specifically for the furry community.

From Toonzone.Net: The opening film at SICAF this year was a CGI effort based on the seminal French folk tale that, I am told, inspired the story of Robin Hood. It's called "Renart the Fox," directed by Luxembourger (yes, that is a word) Thierry Schiel. Renart spends him time engaging in mischief on those who deserve it: an adulterous deer, thieving porcupines, greedy pigs, but most of all against Ysengrin the wolf, the power-hungry captain of the guard in the animal kingdom, and his master, the Royal Councillor, a donkey with his eyes on the throne. Both the Councillor and Ysingrin are constantly frustrated by the somewhat ineffectual King Noble and the rational Queen lions, who insist that Renart be given a chance to defend himself for his crimes.

When the Councillor sends Ysengrin on a quest to retrieve a Sacred Scroll with the recipe for immortality on it from the Cave of Maledictions (curses), it's only natural that in the regular course of freezing Ysingrin's tail in a lake, the scroll accidentally falls into Renart's hands, and he just as accidentally hears there's treasure at the end (though he doesn't know what). Thus begins our dashing thief's quest.

Read the rest of the Toonzone article

From: "Doodles"
Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 11:53:25 -0700

Just in time for folks coming back from AC, a list of new titles to make you
even poorer. =};-3