The first thing you notice when you walk into the Big Cat Sanctuary is the warmth of the people that work there. Not just towards the visitors supporting such a great cause, but towards the resident cats. Every keeper you come across is laughing and smiling whilst doing their daily chores of feeding, cleaning or just being thoroughly enthralled by these majestic animals. You can see the dedication to the resident’s care everywhere you look, with each cat species being treated completely independently, from feeding plans to cleaning schedules, to enrichment exercises.
What is The Big Cat Sanctuary?
The Big Cat Sanctuary is a registered animal charity, whose main aim is to contribute to global conservation, whilst educating the world on these brilliant species. Some of which are nearing extinction or would already be extinct if it wasn’t for global conservation efforts.
Forever indebted to Peter Sampson and the Sampson family for their vision and investment in founding the Sanctuary, it has come a long way thanks to its supporters, donators, Partners, and fundraising eff orts.
Now focused on developing partnerships with other conservation organisations, and co-ordinating with breeding programmes of these endangered cats. The Big Cat Sanctuary has four pillars of ethos: Welfare, Breeding, Education and Conservation.
Education
The impact education can have on preserving species is immeasurable. BCS Explore issues such as climate change, deforestation and the illegal wildlife trade with all students and visitors. In the hope that it will inspire everyone to have a positive impact on our planet, as well as the animals that reside here. This education programme includes hosting schools, as well as visiting schools, groups of vets and vet nurses and privately booked tours. The Big Cat Sanctuary works to encourage a ‘think global, act local’ mindset.
Breeding & Conservation
Seeing the happy pairs of cats that have been carefully selected based on species, age, temperament and of course, what the best quality of life for them will be, is rather romantic. Neron and Kiera are a perfect example of this, The pair have become quite famous on BCS Socials due to their constant cuddling and grooming of one another. They are now parents to the stunning Inka, the first Jaguar to be born at The Big Cat Sanctuary.
But it’s stories like Luka’s that demonstrate the importance of conservation parks like this one. Luka was transferred from Colchester Zoo in 2021 as part of the co-ordinated breeding program, which is crucial for this species.
Amur leopards are the most endangered big cat on the planet. Poached largely for their beautiful spotted fur, there are currently only 84 of these leopards left. But this number is on the rise thanks to global conservation efforts like the breeding programme at BCS.
In December 2022, Leia arrived at the Big Cat Sanctuary, ready to be gradually acquainted with Luka, with the very exciting hope that they will have cubs later this year, helping to increase those daunting numbers
To do all of this, the sanctuary needs frequent access to veterinary facilities to give the best possible care to these much-loved cats.
This is why they spent the last couple of years developing a brand-new facility at the centre. Almost a hub of all things required,
a dream turned into reality.
The Equipment
Bespoke Tables
One of the most interesting pieces of equipment was something that is pretty standard in most practices, an operating table. But this was no standard operating table, this table was a bespoke build for The Big Cat Sanctuary. Measuring in at 2000mm x 900mm compared to our standard 1220mm x 600mm. Thats 24% longer! Our project manager, working alongside our product design team, decided the Burtons Pro-Lift base was the best suited for this project, with its twin rams, this table is capable of lifting 400kg as standard, and it also tilts up to 33°, making it a perfect all-rounder for any procedure.
The second pro-lift was fitted with a dental top, this was chosen for the post-mortem room due to it's indented edges and drainage, allowing post-mortems to be carried out smoothly whilst reducing the amount of clean-up required afterwards.
Anaesthesia Equipment
Alongside tables, the practice also required sturdy, yet mobile anaesthesia equipment. The core machine chosen was the Burtons Adaptable Anaesthesia setup. This machine comes ready for an on-board concentrator to be added, as well as accommodating 2 x F sized cylinders, making it a completely versatile anaesthesia setup. A uMEC12 Multi-Parameter was also supplied, a great machine to have when you need all monitoring combined in one machine that can be moved into the best position for continuous patient monitoring.
Laboratory Equipment
A Labcold Fridge & Chest Freezer were also supplied. The chest freezer has provided The Big Cat Sanctuary with a way to store research samples, again, helping towards the bigger picture.
And one small but mighty piece of equipment has made a huge difference in day-to-day operations at the site. A Motic Digital Microscope. It has given the sanctuary the ability to run in-house sampling for routine checks for worms in the cats. These were being regularly sent off to a laboratory, costing thousands every year, this small investment has meant the Sanctuary can now use these funds elsewhere.
The Success of The Animal Resource Centre
The Animal Resource Centre opened In 2022. Providing The Big Cat Sanctuary with its very own on-site operating theatre.
Alongside a post-mortem room, a meal prep room, an education centre, and offices for staff members. All in memory of Dr John Lewis, founder of Wildlife Vets International and partner at International Zoo Veterinary Group. John was a friend as well as a colleague to many at the Sanctuary and worked as their International Zoo Vet across both parks. He also played a big part in advising on what the Sanctuary would need in their dedicated vet room.
The project was managed by Curator, Briony Smith. Who has worked at The Big Cat Sanctuary for years as a keeper herself.
Being an experienced keeper, Briony was involved with most previous procedures. These had to be carried out in the animal’s den, using makeshift tables and carting equipment back and forth to on-site vehicles that would be parked as close as they could get. It took a huge clean-up eff ort, as well as a lot of pre-planning due to not having equipment immediately to hand. The new theatre takes all those concerns away, and more. As Briony said, you sometimes don’t even realise the scale of the need for some things until you are lucky enough to have them to hand. She now often wonders how they managed it without the new space. Highlighting areas of concern such as the temperature regulation of a cat under anaesthetic.
Recalling a recent procedure, Briony spoke of one of the hottest days of the summer last year, where a large lion had got itself incredibly worked up at the sight of the vet, and therefore its temperature had spiked by the time it was in the operating theatre. Due to the large size of the cat, this subsequently raised the room temperature, fighting with the air conditioning. But being in this new working environment meant that the staff had instant access to towels and cold running water to cool the patient down quickly, and monitor him to regulate his temperature throughout the procedure. This is one end of the spectrum, imagine having to keep the temperature of the patients up whilst under anaesthesia when exposed to the outdoor elements. Briony worked with local vet contacts as well as our project management team and local equipment expert here at Burtons, to work out what The Big Cat Sanctuary required in their theatre room.
"Dan at Burtons was just brilliant, he was so patient with me, I would call him up and say, ‘But don’t I need this?’ and he would say ‘No, as we mentioned, you don’t need this for this reason’. I was so incredibly invested in getting this right, I was worried we would forget something, but even now, after a few procedures, I couldn’t fault it, there is nothing I would change about it”.
What a project
All projects are incredible to work on, seeing practice dreams turned into reality and hearing about the impact those changes have had on patient care is something we will never get tired of. But this one has stood out for us, from the task of building bespoke-sized equipment, the warmth and dedication of the people working there, the individual cats and their stories, but primarily because of the incredible conservation and education project that this Sanctuary is contributing to.
Are you looking for bespoke equipment? Or a practice re-design? Speak to our experts today by calling 01622 834300
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