All about the Cougars at Cougar Preservation Resources

Tawni: Tawni is four and a half years old, and is our only permanent resident. Her full name is "Nutawni" which means "pretty little girl." Tawni serves as our education ambassador, traveling to schools and other institutions with Ray and another handler, and sitting quietly on top of a desk in her harness and collar while Ray answers questions about cougars.

John: John is seven years old and was donated by Gary Wickham with a substantial amount of fencing when Gary's facility was closed in the summer of 1992. John's large size and plush coat indicate that he is a member of a northern sub-species. Cougars from southern climates are generally much smaller.

Levi: Levi is four years old, and was rescued from a breeder in eastern Washington who confined him to a very small cage. When his original owners gave him children's toys to play with, he ate them, and this created a blockage in his intestines. While he was in the squeeze box at the veterinarian's, recovering from surgery, his owners left town. A month later the veterinarian gave him to a breeder who left him in the squeeze box for three more months. Patience, privacy, and routine care all we can provide for Levi while he rehabilitates.

Kayaka: Kayaka is a three year old and was born in the wild near Dexter, Oregon. He was orphaned in August of 1991 after a rancher reported livestock losses to county authorities. Kayaka's mother and brother were killed by Animal Damage Control and Kayaka was found near death over a week later. We took care of him for a few months and then transferred him to Wildlife Safari. He was returned to our facility in April of 1993, while they rebuild and expand their cougar exhibit. Kayaka is the youngest cougar here and can often be seen running up into the trees in the exercise yard, clawing the bark and shaking the limbs.

Czar: Czar is four years old and was raised near Graham, Washington by our placement coordinator, Susan Clawson. When Susan moved to a new neighborhood and residents objected to Czar's presence, he was transferred to our facility. Czar has been with us since he was two years old. He will stay here until a facility near Seattle can be found for him. Czar does not groom his neck like the other cougars do, which gives him his distinctive look.

Musashi: Musashi is three and a half years old and was born into he wild. After his mother was shot by a poacher, Musashi was found and taken to a zoo in Granby, Canada. He was later transferred to Wildlife Images in Grants Pass, Oregon, and housed in a one acre enclosure with jackrabbits, pheasants, and a few wounded deer in preparation for a release program in Idaho. Study results were interpreted in Idaho as inconsistent with expected success ratios and the release program rescinded Musahi's welcome. He was transferred here in 1993.

Kitty: Kitty is seven years old and arrived with John from Gary Wickham's facility in 1992. A week after her arrival, Kitty had three kittens. They were placed in other facilities as soon as they were weaned to allow them to bond with their new primary keepers. As the most vocal cougar at Cougar Preservation Resources, Kitty makes a variety of sounds, ranging from purring to loud chirping.

Pancho: Pancho is ten years old and was transferred here with Kayaka from Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon, while they rebuild and expand their cougar exhibit. Pancho is quite content in his enclosure, having spent the past five years in a smaller cage. It is thought that cougars only live ten years in the wild. In captivity, cougars have lived as long as twenty-one years.

Malina: Malina is eight years old and was born in a breeding facility. She was one of the kitten stars in the movie, "Benji, the Hunted". Terri Raines rescued her from an unethical animal broker and raised her in Santa Clara, Oregon. Terri and Malina became the vanguards of our cougar preservation effort for a number of years, touring throughout Oregon to schools and other institutions until a neighbor complained about Malina's presence. Malina was then transferred to our facility. Terri moved to Australia where she married a preserve owner. When the final paperwork is completed Malina will be sent to the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park where Terri and her husband can care for her daily.

Cougar Preservation Resources
30915 Maple Drive
Junction City, Oregon 97448