‘Pet’ lynx lived on family farm in Madeira, “like any domestic cat”
Thousands of people have joined the call to authorities to return a ‘seized lynx’ to his family, before he dies from the stress of what has been done to him.
Far from his peaceful, ordered life of six year, Bores is now locked in a “small, closed cage, completely sad, stressed and depressed”.
“He is in a play area, full of noise every day. He is no better off than he was. He is much worse…” says the petition, that now has over 17,000 signatures.
The petition acknowledges that it was wrong of his owners to have purchased him six years ago as a baby – and yes, they should face some form of punishment. But that punishment should not be meted out to Bores. “He is a real cat. He is a domesticated animal and does not know how to live in any other environment,” says the text, championed by animal welfare association “Ajudar Alimentar Cães”, which claims it will not rest until Bores is freed from his miserable situation.
“We are asking the courts to give the guardian back custody of Bores, who will not survive without the environment he was used to, and without his family.
“We do agree that the guardian should provide regular information on his state of health and facilitate access for the authorities to the place where he lives so that they can always check that he is doing well.
“We do agree that she should be punished to set an example to others”.
But the petition says it does not agree with the suffering the decision to remove Bores from his home has caused Bores himself, who is clearly depressed, and losing weight.
His family reportedly visits the wild cat every day, “and just wants him home”.
Bores was “seized” by the GNR earlier this month on the basis that his owner was keeping a “protected species” (a so-called desert lynx) illegally. He cannot be returned to the wild, as he would not survive, but for the time being he is shut in a small space underneath a slide in a waterpark.
“The stupidity of human beings is infinite”, comments one concerned citizen over Facebook, encouraging anyone and everyone to “email bomb the ICNF in Madeira” under whose authority Bores is now living in misery.
