Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Funds still needed to get lion to DeKalb County


Tigers for Tomorrow, Kazuma

Kazuma, a former circus lion living in Guatemala, needs help being moved to his new home at Tigers for Tomorrow in Collinsville.

from: DeKalb County, GA Times-Journal

Lindsay Slater Times-Journal

Monday, December 26, 2011

COLLINSVILLE - Tigers for Tomorrow needs one final push from DeKalb Countians to help bring Kazuma, the lion, to his new home at Untamed Mountain.
Executive Director Susan Steffens said less than $15,000 is still needed to be able to get the lion here.
"Tigers for Tomorrow has been issued a matching challenge grant from the Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation for $5,000 to be matched by supporters," Steffens said. "Mr. Benjamin has come to the aid of Tigers for Tomorrow before, in February 2010, with a matching grant to help get four tigers and a black bear to the preserve. Mr. Benjamin is an internationally recognized educator, corporate leader, philanthropist and animal rights activist. This gift is part of his Christmas Miracles giving campaign."
Steffens said Crossville Elementary students have also helped by taking on Kazuma as their mascot, when he arrives, and students have raised $1,200 toward the lion's rescue.
Steffens said a team will head to Kazuma's current home at the Aurora Zoo in Guatemala after the first of the year.
"The transport team is scheduled to leave the U.S. on Jan. 3 to transport Kazuma back to Atlanta on Jan. 5," Steffens said.
But, the challenge grant needs to be matched by Friday.
"The Challenge grant will need to be matched by Dec. 30," Steffens said. "We can make this happen."
Kazuma was once used in a circus act in Antigua, Guatemala. According to Steffens, the lion was living in a small cage and in "very bad conditions."
"The circus was given notification they had to improve the lion's conditions or they would be prosecuted," she said.
To make a donation to bring Kazuma to Untamed Mountain, log on to tigersfortomorrow.org and follow the directions for submitting a donation via PayPal or send a check with "Kazuma" in the memo line to 708 County Road 345, Attalla, AL 35954.
For more information, visit tigersfortomorrow.org or call 256-524-4150.

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