Sisters but Separate
An article on the relationship between the Project Survival's Cat Haven and Project Survival - redrafted December 16th 1998.

" For the Cat Haven, it was clear from the outset that merely exhibiting cats did not go far enough. Project Survival, Cat Conservation Group was founded to address this issue."

Those of you who have followed the development of Project Survival may wonder how it specifically relates to the Project Survival's Cat Haven, its 'sister' organization. The people are almost the same, the missions are compatible and the success of each is tightly interwoven, yet there are important differences.To give an analogy, consider symbiosis, the process wherein distinct organisms derive  benefit from a close association with one another. Although Project Survival and the Cat Haven are legally separate entities, the work of the latter is made far more meaningful through Project Survival. Visitors to the Cat Haven are educated about the importance of range country conservation and, as a result, Project Survival is afforded a wider audience to develop support for its outreach programs.

The determining factor in the creation of both organizations was how best to achieve a set of related goals. These were, first, the conservation of wild cats; second, the furtherance of public education and third, the development of programs to help youth. Clearly an infrastructure had to be established.

The Project Survival's Cat Haven, founded in 1993 on 93 acres of land near King’s Canyon National Park, provides that infrastructure. It functions as 'base camp' - without it there can be no 'assault on the mountain'. People have to see wild cats to get interested in them.  The next step became taking that interest and directing it towards support for front line conservation.

Project Survival was created in 1997 as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization  to complete the link to the field specialists the Cat Haven wished to assist.  One of the most significant trends in the zoological community in recent years is the support given to the conservation of wild populations. Zoos have increased their role not only in educating the public about conservation, but in actively promoting it through fundraising and research. In some cases they have become modern day arks, attempting to save species and then reestablish wild populations. Project Survival functions in a similar way to those zoological societies which promote conservation.

Despite this similarity the Cat Haven does have some significant differences to traditional zoos. Memberships and educational programs are familiar aspects common to both, but the physical setting of the Cat Haven is much more wild and rugged. Another difference is that there is no free walking of the facility. All visitors are given guided tours by trained docents. They have an opportunity to have their questions addressed in a personal and interactive way.

Perhaps the most obvious difference of all is that it is cats, just cats, at the Cat Haven.  Specialization means that the Cat Haven can give people a solid introduction into one of the most beautiful and enigmatic families in the animal kingdom.  For as much as the general public thinks they know about cats, they fall far short of a true understanding of their variety, ecology and importance.  It is a souce of delight for both them and the tour guides to rediscover this amazing family.

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Use the following link for information on Project Survival's conservation projects

Membership of Project Survival is distinct from membership to the Cat Haven.   Project Survival does not have a facility which can be visited.  Joining this organization is an excellent option for those who live too far away to come to the Cat Haven, but still want to be personally involved.