Shay shot into the spotlight earlier this year, when it was publicised that a "wild cougar" was being kept in a residential area."The cat is not 'wild' and knows nothing about the wild. It was born in captivity and kept at a zoo in Canada."When he was brought here he was kept in a cage in Valsayn, that was approved by chief veterinary officer David Kangaloo. "It is big enough to hold a three-bedroom house, it has a loft and a pond. It is made of concrete and steel."There were cameras on the cage, it was very secure," Habib stressed, adding that there were also two caretakers on the compound."In addition, I was there at all times. I have worked with tigers, grizzly bears, you name it. There is nobody with that type of background here," he said.What made it more confusing, Habib said, was the fact that one of the licences required to bring Shay into the country in the first place, was granted by Ramnarine.
"In June last year we were granted the two permits necessary to bring the cougar into the country," Habib said-one signed by Kangaloo in his capacity as chief veterinary officer, Animal Production and Health, Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs, the other signed by Ramnarine in his capacity as chief game warden, Wildlife Section, Forestry Division.He said since there was no appropriate place to house Shay at the quarantine facility at Piarco, the Valsayn location was approved by the relevant authorities, although it was a residential area.After the requisite six-month quarantine period, Habib said his organisation did all that was necessary for the next step-the transfer of the cougar to an approved facility in St Joseph, where a private zoo is soon to be established.
"We did everything within the parameters of the law, and I was surprised when on February 21, the same man who gave us a licence, showed up with armed officers to take the cat."Ramnarine, he said, opted to remain off the compound."But he never received written permission from the chief veterinary officer to remove the animal (as stipulated under the Animal Diseases and Importation Act). I asked the game warden who accompanied the armed officers, but he had no document to show me."All he said was 'I am under instructions (from Ramnarine) to seize this cat.' But what could I do? Go up against armed officers?"
He said a letter from Dr Kangaloo dated March 10 confirmed that Ramnarine had acted illegally... "... written permission was not granted by the chief veterinary officer for the removal of the cougar from No 1 Parima Road, Valsayn, the location of the quarantine site," the letter stated.When contacted by the T&T Guardian regarding Habib's allegations, Ramnarine said, "No, I can't comment on that."Habib said he asked for time to calm the animal, but was only allowed 30 minutes before the team sprung into action."They stressed it out, they put cameras in the cage, and they eventually blow darted it and took it to the zoo.
"I don't even go to the zoo to see him because I can't bear it. The animal is suffering. These animals need to be interacted with every day."They need to be walked, trained, and their minds challenged. They can't eat only meat. They need intestines, heart, liver. They need the enzymes to keep them healthy."He said his organisation sent several letters to zoo officials requesting that Shay be seen by Dr Kangaloo, the vet who had attended to him during his quarantine, but they all went unanswered.But apart from the Shay's "suffering" at the zoo, Habib lamented the fact that establishment of the private zoo was being hampered."The concept is to educate about the animals. The idea is to have about two or three exotic animals, some local parrots and reptiles housed at the facility.
"Visitors (approximately 15 at a time) would be required to book appointments for tours and educational live shows with the animals. They can spend the night if they choose to, because we'll have bedroom and bathroom facilities."With Shay's detention at the local zoo, and the delay in the importation of Dimitri, a Siberian tiger waiting to be brought from a zoo in Canada, Habib said it was costing the organisation money for the rental the St Joseph facility, and depriving T&T of a sound education on these animals.