RTEC, a registered charity, was founded in 1987 as a private conservation breeding and study centre for small cats. These species are often neglected by zoologists, researchers and by the general public, in favour of the big cats, despite the fact that many small cats are seriously threatened. RTEC is increasingly turning its attention to work in the cats' range countries, and to in situ conservation. RTEC's funding comes entirely from charitable sources:
* RTEC has up to now concentrated on the Latin American species. We have bred ocelots Leopardus pardalis since 1988.
* We are one of only three institutions in Europe, and the only one in the UK at present, to be breeding the margay Leopardus wiedii, which is difficult to reproduce in captivity. RTEC co-ordinates the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) for this cat.
* RTEC was the first institution to send a home-bred cat (an ocelot) to one of its range countries in Central America for a breeding and education project.
*RTEC has advised conservationists in Asia and South America on the management and husbandry of wild cats, and published studies on cat breeding and behaviour and methods of improving captive care. Our recommendations are being implemented in zoos here and abroad.
* RTEC supports rainforest conservation in Belize, home to 5 cat species.
* In 1992 RTEC, together with the Association of British Wild Animal Keepers, organised a cat conference at Chester Zoo and published the proceedings for worldwide distribution.
*RTEC organised another conference in 1998 at Banham Zoo - the Proceedings are currently in press.
*RTEC is a member of the European Felid Taxon Advisory Group and works in conjunction with major zoos here and overseas.
What makes RTEC different is that here the cats come first. They are not on show to the public and every effort is made to give them natural, stimulating and sheltered accommodation with the necessary privacy for successful breeding.
The Ridgeway Trust publishes a newsletter, liFeline, twice yearly.
1992. Cats. Proceedings of the conference/workshop held at Chester Zoo on October 10, 1992 by The Ridgeway Trust for Endangered Cats and the Association of British Wild Animal Keepers The Ridgeway Trust for Endangered Cats, Hastings, G.B.
1998. European Studbook for Margay Leopardus wiedii 1997 (includes husbandry guidelines). The Ridgeway Trust for Endangered Cats, Hastings, G.B.
Mansard, P. 1989. Some environmental considerations for small cats. Ratel Vol 36. No. 1. Association of British Wild Animal Keepers, Bristol, G.B. Reprinted in International Zoo News No. 214. Vol.36/3 1989.
-------- 1990. Breeding an ocelot kitten at The Ridgeway Trust. Ratel Vol.17 No.1
-------- 1990. Oestrous cycles and oestrous behaviour in the ocelot Felis pardalis. Ratel. Vol.17. No. 6
-------- 1991. Ocelot. in Management Guidelines for Exotic Felids ed. J. Partridge. The Association of British Wild Animal Keepers, Bristol, G.B.
-------- 1997. Breeding and husbandry of the Margay Leopardus wiedii yucatanica at The Ridgeway Trust for Endangered Cats. International Zoo Yearbook 35. pp.94-100. Zoological Society of London.