Reta Rutledge is fundraising
Help Restore the Brown Canyon Jaguar
Help Refurbish the Brown Canyon Jaguar!
It has been said that the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge is southern Arizona’s best-kept secret. The serene 118,000-acre semi-arid grassland straddles the border with Mexico while sitting in the shadow of Baboquivari, the heart of the Tohono O’odham Nation. The Refuge is home to numerous endangered species such as the Masked Bobwhite Quail, Chiricahua Leopard Frog and Pima Pineapple cactus. It was home territory to a jaguar named Macho B back in the 1990’s.
Tucked up in Brown Canyon is another jaguar. This taxidermy jaguar has been in the Environmental Education Center where very few people get to see it. A Dallas businessman killed the jaguar in the Brazilian jungle and then tried to smuggle it into the United States where he was fined and the jaguar was confiscated. US law allows such contraband animals to be used as teaching tools for the pubic and eventually the jaguar was mounted and brought to the Brown Canyon Environmental Education Center as a donation in 2003.
Friends of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (or Friends) is seeking funding to restore and preserve this beautiful jaguar and move it to our visitors center at the Refuge. The refurbished Brown Canyon jaguar will be the centerpiece of a spectacular display that will educate visitors about the endangered jaguar population, it’s history and it’s intrinsic place in this southern Arizona environment. Because this specimen has not been properly cared for, we will have it fumigated for insects, restored by a taxidermist and placed in a display case that will protect it from future damage while allowing it to be on view and appreciated. We will also use funds raised through this campaign to develop educational materials to achieve our goal of breathing new life into this beautiful creature.
This crowd funding will culminate on Nov. 29, 2019 with the celebration of the 2nd International Jaguar Day. At our celebration of this day at the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Center we plan to unveil the newly restored Brown Canyon jaguar to the public. As part of our community celebration, we have a planned art exhibition of work by artists living in the borderlands working on the theme of jaguars. There will be refreshments and music.
Please help Friends of BANWR reach a modest goal of $1,850.
It is our intention to make the public aware of the Refuge and the endangered jaguars of the southwestern borderlands.
More about BANWR here .
More about Friends of BANWR and what we do here.
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Donation levels and givebacks:
Please let us know if you would prefer to waive the offered giveback.
$20: BANWR bumpersticker
$50: BANWR bandanna, yellow/black, designed by artist Ondrea Levy.
$100: BANWR bandanna and a jaguar pendant necklace designed by artist Rosa Panchychyn
$200and up+: 6- hour private guided hike for 4 people into Brown Canyon, a place not open to the public. Lunch is included. (Level 4 hike, refuge staff and donor mutually agreeable date between Dec-March)
BANWR bumpersticker
BANWR jaguar bandannas
Jaguar pendant on gold chainWhere your donation will go...
Project Budget Estimate:
Plexiglas: $625
Display case construction: $625
Base materials: $350
Fumigation: $500
Taxidermy: $350 minimum
Needs eye lashes and whiskers, ear repair, and a couple of rough spots in the hide
Educational materials including hand-outs, informational signage etc.: $350
International Jaguar Day festivities and art exhibition seed money: $250
Special thanks to the Safari Club International for the initial generous gift of $1,200!
TOTAL fundraiser GOAL $1850
Any funds raised past our goal will be applied to grow our art exhibition programming and art class development at the BANWR Visitor's Center benefiting the surrounding rural community.
Headline photo courtesy of Howard Cederlund
All other photos courtesy of Friends of BANWR
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50 supporters