Paleocene - In the Geologic Time Scale, the Paleocene is the first period of the Cenozoic, (Age of Mammals, 65 million years ago to the present). Although primitive mammals existed throughout the time of the dinosaurs, their numbers and varieties exploded during the Paleocene. The earliest identifiable ancestors of modern carnivores have been found in Paleocene sediments. Tigers as we know them appeared in the late Pliocene (5 to 1.8 million years ago) and thrived during the Pleistocene (1.8 million to 40,000 years ago). In historical times their numbers began to be decimated as human population levels exploded.

The Zoe Foundation is now embarking on a great new venture, the development of the world's largest, genetically managed tiger park. I am pursuing this venture, in part, because of the friendship I developed with Dr. Michael Bleyman, noted zoologist and world renowned tiger expert. He passed away on July 20, 1996 fighting kidney cancer. He was a fine man, and I will miss him.

We are raising funds to establish Paleocene Park™ in honor of Dr. Bleyman. He believed that if tigers were going to survive a genetically sound population would have to be managed in a protected environment, much the same as the one he developed at his preserve, but on a much larger scale. He felt that it was a good prototype for a much larger facility.

You will not see tigers in conditions like one’s I’ve witnessed over the years. Tigers living in 8’ x 10’ concrete floored cages exposed to the elements, tigers living in roll cages being carted around the country so their owners can scrape together a living and tigers being killed for their body parts.

I invite you to click on the upper left thumbnail to see a facility designed to save the tiger where animal comfort and well being are predominant concerns. But we don’t stop with the animals. The grounds and guest amenities will treat you to the splendor and charm of Southern England. I love that part of the country - with its grand architecture, quaint villages and hedge lined streets. I want to duplicate that look and feel at Paleocene Park™. I want you to be able to take a step back in history while enjoying the splendor of one of the most magnificent animals on earth.

I would like you to understand, from my perspective, why this facility - in this form - is being developed. First, the efforts to save the tiger in the wild are failing. I have several papers on that subject in our Research section and a new paper called Where Do We Go From Here. If we do not get a park in place where this animal can be protected and expertly managed while there remains a viable gene pool from which to select unrelated founding pairs the tiger will be lost forever.

Second, many private facilities, based on how I’ve seen these animals displayed and bred, cannot manage to gain sufficient public support for their efforts. And that’s because you often see tigers in conditions like one's in these photos. People will not support their efforts, and I don’t blame them.

I believe a facility where people can play a round of golf, a few sets of tennis or witness the splendor of the tiger from a tree house within one of the four acre habitats, all in a unique English setting, will be supported by our visitors and guests. And I would like to add that this park is designed to be self sufficient with on site food production, power generation and the very best animal care.

I would appreciate your help with this project. I invite you to read over our Donation Options as well as our new fund raising opportunity that can benefit you and the foundation. I would like to direct you to our Help page as well. If you are really serious I invite you to review our Silver Challenge. This opportunity is only for the few.

There may be other opportunities for your involvement. Thank you very much for your help and consideration.

Sincerely,

Jason Savage
Director