Donations for orphaned cougar may spring her from death row

CanWest News Service
Published: Thursday, May 04, 2006

VANCOUVER -- Death-row cougar Helena may escape her date with the needle, thanks to the generosity of British Columbians and a Prince George hockey team.

Wildlife authorities have given a wildlife shelter three months to build an enclosure to house the three-year-old cat, which was orphaned as a kitten by the devastating 2003 wildfires in Kelowna. Otherwise, the cougar will be euthanized by lethal injection.

The eight-by-eight-metre covered enclosure, with trees to climb, a pond and dens, will cost $22,000.

The Northern Lights Wildlife Centre in Smithers received some $3,825 in donations on Tuesday.

"I am so excited," said Angelika Langen, who operates the Northern Lights Wildlife Centre in Smithers with her husband Peter.

Donors had already contributed $1,825 through the mail and internet, she said.

"It's tremendous," Langen said. "A lot of people have compassion for her. That was really gratifying to see."

Meanwhile, the Western Hockey League's Prince George team has "adopted" Helena and promised a $2,000 donation.

"We're the Prince George Cougars, if somebody is going to help the poor little thing, it would be nice if it was us," said team business manager Brandi Brodsky.

"All of us felt like it was calling our name."

The Cougars will be using their website to gather donations for Helena's enclosure, and they hope to use the 50- to 60-kilogram cat as a mascot of sorts.