an ocelot and a community's water
Donation protected
ocelot kitten needs his habitat protected!
When this little fellow was deposited on the doorstep of La Mariposa Spanish school, in the village of Concepcion, Nicaragua, all of us students (inside) fell head over heels -- in love. It was the first time any of us had ever seen a wild ocelot, let alone a four week old. Our school’s founder and director, Paulette Goudge, didn’t wait an instant to bring him inside, warm a bottle of milk and start getting some nourishment inside him. We named him Leo, or Leo-ito, because he was so small. Leo had been found abandoned in the woods, and was at most 10 ounces dripping wet when we found him. We all presumed his mother had been killed for her coat, which has sadly become the norm for these beautiful leopard-like cats. Ocelots have been hunted to near extinction, whereas they once roamed throughout all of Central America, much of South America and parts of the Southern U.S. La Mariposa plans on supplying food and vet care, and even an ocelot jungle gym until he reaches adulthood, when we will, with expert help, release him back into the wild.
We’re asking for YOUR help to create a nature reserve up in the Nicaraguan highlands where Leo can live as a wild and free animal, and, hopefully in the future, reestablish a new ocelot population. The owner of the land is willing to sell it, but for a price of course -- and what we owe now is about $35,000 USD. If we can raise at least $10,000 by the end of this campaign, we'll be THRILLED.
Anything you give us btw -- from $10 to 1,000 -- is fully tax deductible. More details about this below.
This 200 acre plot of jungle, called Canada Honda (Deep canyon), sits high on a hillside, and is adjacent to another 200 acre reserve. The surrounding landscape is magnificent -- simmering volcanoes in the distance and brilliant sunsets, and the whole place is teeming with lots of interesting fruits, flowers and ... bugs. And there’s farmland.
The local farmers want this reserve to succeed too, as it is the best hope in maintaining not only native flora and fauna, but with thousands of tall native trees, vines and shrubs that already thrive there, Canada Honda will help greatly to hold and replenish the dwindling water levels in local springs. Nicaragua is plagued by water shortages. Canada Honda would actually be a huge help in keeping the water flowing for famers, residents and ocelot alike!
With your help, we will create a haven where Leo will be able to run, drink his fill, hunt and climb as high as he dares. (Ocelots rest on high tree limbs during the day.) We hope he’ll find a mate and have cubs of his own! But don’t worry. We’re not abandoning him all over again. The local community is on board with the preservation of the land and its animals and local farmers will be paid as reserve-wardens to prevent poaching. Leo too will be monitored, so that we know his whereabouts, and are sure he hasn’t run into any trouble.
There are now loop trails so you can walk the entire length and breadth of Canada Honda, and you are all cordially invited to be our guests and come on a locally guided walk through the reserve. Who knows who you might see snoozing on a branch overhead?
So...we’re hoping that you will want to pitch in to help us to preserve this patch of paradise for Leo, and the kittens he hopes to have some day (not that we’re putting humanoid thoughts in his head!) Any amount you can spare will be very much appreciated! As we've mentioned above, your donation is fully tax deductible, thanks to our non-profit sponsor, the Ascension Lutheran Church, located in Austin, TX. Through their generosity, we're able to offer you this benefit (and even more unusual, they keep nothing for themselves)
WHO ARE WE?
The Mariposa Spanish School Sustainable Tourism Foundation is an educational non-profit organization. We have our own Nicaraguan NGO, Asociacion Tierra. Our mission from the very beginning -- 2005 when Paulette first conceived of La Mariposa -- has been to integrate Spanish language classes with opportunities for students to learn about the Nicaragua community that we’re nestled within. We have collaborated with local farmers, teachers and artisans from our inception to create meaningful learning experiences. So guests learn through a whole host of ways -- talks, films, trips -- about the rich and complex Nicaraguan culture, history, news, art and dance! Every Friday is history class followed by salsa!
At the same time funds from the school and volunteer assistance from our guests are funneled back into the community. For more than fifteen years, La Mariposa has been about cross-cultural mutual understanding.
And we have always been about best ecological practices in a way that is fully cognizant of the fact that whatever our buildings and human use require in the way of land, electricity and water will impact the surrounding people in profound ways. So we are 90% run on solar, our gardening water is recycled from showers -- and the soap and shampoo that’s given out to our guests is fully biodegradable and non-toxic. We grow most of our vegetables and fruits on the grounds. And we are replanting the grounds like crazy, with both common and rare heirloom species.
We operate a full bore animal rescue program, from cats and chickens to monkeys, parrots and old horses in sore need of retirement (the horses’ owners are reimbursed, enough to enable them to buy a younger, stronger working horse.) The “old gray mares” are living on the edge of Canada Honda now, and have a very gentle job, giving rides one afternoon/week to children with disabilities.
Canada Honda is our first major effort into large-scale land conservation.
Again, we hope this project and our aims have caught your interest, and that you share our hopes of success. We are more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
With great hope for Leo and his small piece of the planet!
Paulette, Pedro, Brian and Susan
Friends of Leo
When this little fellow was deposited on the doorstep of La Mariposa Spanish school, in the village of Concepcion, Nicaragua, all of us students (inside) fell head over heels -- in love. It was the first time any of us had ever seen a wild ocelot, let alone a four week old. Our school’s founder and director, Paulette Goudge, didn’t wait an instant to bring him inside, warm a bottle of milk and start getting some nourishment inside him. We named him Leo, or Leo-ito, because he was so small. Leo had been found abandoned in the woods, and was at most 10 ounces dripping wet when we found him. We all presumed his mother had been killed for her coat, which has sadly become the norm for these beautiful leopard-like cats. Ocelots have been hunted to near extinction, whereas they once roamed throughout all of Central America, much of South America and parts of the Southern U.S. La Mariposa plans on supplying food and vet care, and even an ocelot jungle gym until he reaches adulthood, when we will, with expert help, release him back into the wild.
We’re asking for YOUR help to create a nature reserve up in the Nicaraguan highlands where Leo can live as a wild and free animal, and, hopefully in the future, reestablish a new ocelot population. The owner of the land is willing to sell it, but for a price of course -- and what we owe now is about $35,000 USD. If we can raise at least $10,000 by the end of this campaign, we'll be THRILLED.
Anything you give us btw -- from $10 to 1,000 -- is fully tax deductible. More details about this below.
This 200 acre plot of jungle, called Canada Honda (Deep canyon), sits high on a hillside, and is adjacent to another 200 acre reserve. The surrounding landscape is magnificent -- simmering volcanoes in the distance and brilliant sunsets, and the whole place is teeming with lots of interesting fruits, flowers and ... bugs. And there’s farmland.
The local farmers want this reserve to succeed too, as it is the best hope in maintaining not only native flora and fauna, but with thousands of tall native trees, vines and shrubs that already thrive there, Canada Honda will help greatly to hold and replenish the dwindling water levels in local springs. Nicaragua is plagued by water shortages. Canada Honda would actually be a huge help in keeping the water flowing for famers, residents and ocelot alike!
With your help, we will create a haven where Leo will be able to run, drink his fill, hunt and climb as high as he dares. (Ocelots rest on high tree limbs during the day.) We hope he’ll find a mate and have cubs of his own! But don’t worry. We’re not abandoning him all over again. The local community is on board with the preservation of the land and its animals and local farmers will be paid as reserve-wardens to prevent poaching. Leo too will be monitored, so that we know his whereabouts, and are sure he hasn’t run into any trouble.
There are now loop trails so you can walk the entire length and breadth of Canada Honda, and you are all cordially invited to be our guests and come on a locally guided walk through the reserve. Who knows who you might see snoozing on a branch overhead?
So...we’re hoping that you will want to pitch in to help us to preserve this patch of paradise for Leo, and the kittens he hopes to have some day (not that we’re putting humanoid thoughts in his head!) Any amount you can spare will be very much appreciated! As we've mentioned above, your donation is fully tax deductible, thanks to our non-profit sponsor, the Ascension Lutheran Church, located in Austin, TX. Through their generosity, we're able to offer you this benefit (and even more unusual, they keep nothing for themselves)
WHO ARE WE?
The Mariposa Spanish School Sustainable Tourism Foundation is an educational non-profit organization. We have our own Nicaraguan NGO, Asociacion Tierra. Our mission from the very beginning -- 2005 when Paulette first conceived of La Mariposa -- has been to integrate Spanish language classes with opportunities for students to learn about the Nicaragua community that we’re nestled within. We have collaborated with local farmers, teachers and artisans from our inception to create meaningful learning experiences. So guests learn through a whole host of ways -- talks, films, trips -- about the rich and complex Nicaraguan culture, history, news, art and dance! Every Friday is history class followed by salsa!
At the same time funds from the school and volunteer assistance from our guests are funneled back into the community. For more than fifteen years, La Mariposa has been about cross-cultural mutual understanding.
And we have always been about best ecological practices in a way that is fully cognizant of the fact that whatever our buildings and human use require in the way of land, electricity and water will impact the surrounding people in profound ways. So we are 90% run on solar, our gardening water is recycled from showers -- and the soap and shampoo that’s given out to our guests is fully biodegradable and non-toxic. We grow most of our vegetables and fruits on the grounds. And we are replanting the grounds like crazy, with both common and rare heirloom species.
We operate a full bore animal rescue program, from cats and chickens to monkeys, parrots and old horses in sore need of retirement (the horses’ owners are reimbursed, enough to enable them to buy a younger, stronger working horse.) The “old gray mares” are living on the edge of Canada Honda now, and have a very gentle job, giving rides one afternoon/week to children with disabilities.
Canada Honda is our first major effort into large-scale land conservation.
Again, we hope this project and our aims have caught your interest, and that you share our hopes of success. We are more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
With great hope for Leo and his small piece of the planet!
Paulette, Pedro, Brian and Susan
Friends of Leo
Organizer and beneficiary
Susan Hamovitch
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY
Brian Peterson
Beneficiary
