Has anyone had experience with any of the cat adoption/ fostering places such as KWS?

Will be fostering an elephant thru David Sheldricks for my niece for Christmas but my nephew loves the cats and am looking for a similiar program for cheetahs, leopards or lions.

I like the idea of Sheldricks providing updates throughout the year. The KWS adoption process appears confusing or maybe it's just me.

Would appreciate some feedback. Thanks!

Awesome Christmas gift! Sheldricks is great - they seem very organized, and keep their members/sponsors informed. It sounds like you are looking for something in Kenya? Not in the states or another country?

Yes Local I'm looking for an organization in Kenya or Tanzania as I'll be there June 2011 & can hopefully visit.

I know Sheldricks allows you to visit your fostered elephant.

Have been catching a few (repeats) on National Geo Wild this past week... all about the "cats."

Check out Cause an Uproar ( www.causeanuproar.org ) for info on how to save the cats. Didn't find anything about "adopting" but this site might be interesting for your nephew to follow.

Sorry, I haven't heard of any adoption/visit places except Sheldrick in Kenya. I was going to offer up a lion/tiger rescue here in Arkansas that does good work - Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.

If Divewop were reading this, she might know of a place.

If you were going to Uganda, you can stay over night Ngamba Island, http://ngambaisland.com and visit the chimps - although it looks like they are not doing their "forest walks" but offering other more controlled interaction. Of course this is way off course from Kenya, but thought I would give them a plug. We seriously considered it in 2008, but the vaccination requirements and arrangements became prohibitive for us.

Hopefully someone has more knowledge and will jump in.

Thanks sandi I'll pass along the link to Cause an Uproar, he'll really enjoy that.

Looks like it'll be fostering eles for both with Sheldrick. Like Local said they really have their act together.

I emailed KWS for some assistance but haven't heard back yet. Looks like I'll have to go down there myself and sort it out!!

Have you checked Cheetah Conservation Fund, www.cheetah.org , I think. It's in Namibia, but a good organizaiton.

Thought I'd report back on how I made out with this in the end.

I did sponsor a cheetah for my nephew thru the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia and altho their website quoted amounts like $1000USD & $5000USD which was way out of my budget, there was an area where you could simply donate any amount so I was happy they accepted an amount more in my price range.

With this being a gift I was also looking for something with a bit of a presentation feel to it & the certificate was quite nice even if tricky to print. There was very little actual information provided on the specific cheetah selected and updates are only emailed out semi-anually.

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for fostering elephants absolutely blew me away! Within minutes of selecting the ele I was emailed a certificate with the most beautiful artwork and a lovely little letter to my niece. A beautiful watercolour(they send one each month along with an update on 'Sities'), a 5 page fact sheet & photos on how she was rescued along with the keeper's diary.

It was an amazing little package that my niece is going to love and will really enjoy following little Sities progress thru the year.

On a side note when choosing an ele to foster and reading their details prior to fostering it's not clear if that particular ele will remain in Nairobi or be transferred to Tsavo.

With my being in Nairobi June 2011 I especially wanted to visit our fostered ele and be able to report back to my niece with photos,etc. So wouldn't you know it my 1st selection was transferred to Tsavo Dec 3 & that info wasn't provided till I received my package email. But they were very good about sending me a list of eles they expected to be in Nairobi in June 2011 and were happy to change my fostering to the new ele. All the way around I was very impressed with their service and can't wait to visit Sities next June.

Finally heard back only today from KWS in Nairobi about their programmes and altho I'm already set for the niece & nephew, will give their info a good read in the new year.

KathBC, the Sheldrick orphans usually stay in Nairobi until they are about 2yo and then transfer depending on their individual development and whether they have a mini herd to move with. I use that as a guide when I want to visit my actual elephant but now I have a string to support so when I visit I don't worry so much about whether 'mine' is there or not. They are all so deserving. I'm sure you'll have a fantastic visit and yes, the Sheldrick's foster programme puts many others to shame.