My friend Michael Harris has been hard at work producing a documentary film on the plight of the dozen or so Pumas still inhabiting the Santa Monica Mountains ringing Los Angeles....As many of you know, these "Cats" are penned in by multiple impassable freeways and the result of this is inbreeding and the beginnings of genetic malformities in the cubs that are being born to "cousin parents".......................Michael is in Post-Production on his insightful film,,,,,,,,,,He is seeking contributions for editing and finishing up this project................His email and phone number is below should you want to contact him about his work and interest in donating to his cause.

From: michael ;michaelharrisblue@hotmail.com
Date: November 19, 2014 at 3:08:54 PM EST
To: "rick.meril@gmail.com" <rick.meril@gmail.com>
Subject: ... the 'ghost cats' of the santa monica mountains!

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Hi Rick,

Hope this email finds you doing well! It's been awhile since I last touched base about the documentary film. I'm glad to inform you, that after working on this project for the better part of five years... filming has finally been completed, and we've started post production.

I'm working with a really talented editor who has worked as an assistant editor for some of the biggest editor's in the business, and on some major studio feature films. We've been making exciting progress, but editing is taking more time than anticipated, and was budgeted for. So unfortunately, I'm back at fund raising to complete the film. 

It's been a long journey to reach this point, but it's turned out to be fortuitous how things have worked out, well, at least story wise. If completed earlier, there would have been several huge events that wouldn't have otherwise been covered and in the story. P12's crossing of the 101 freeway. The young dispersing male lion who was gunned down in downtown Santa Monica, who was fathered by P12.

Then another young dispersing male found in Griffith Park (P22) who it turned out was also fathered by P12! How this very young lion was able to cross the 405 freeway, navigate his way along the Hollywood Hills for twenty two miles undetected, then had to cross yet another freeway into Griffith Park... is just absolutely amazing.

Sad news to report on P22. He was recaptured a couple months ago to change his GPS collar, and found to be sick. He had lost a considerable amount of weight, had mange disease, and showed signs of rodentiside poisoning. He was treated with an injection of vitamin K to reverse the anti-coagulant, and a topical ointment for mange. Blood analysis would later confirm the presence of rodentiside compounds in his system. 

I'm in need of some additional funding to complete the film. So, I'm reaching for donations. We are right in the middle of editing, and I'm trying to cobble together the funding needed to keep things moving forward. I wanted to see if you might be willing to make another donation, or maybe you know someone who would like to donate to this important cause and help bring this remarkable story to life.

Anyway you can help will be very much appreciated ... Thank you so much for your time, and consideration Rick!

Best regards,

Michael Harris

818-731-2142

P.S. The Felidae Conservation Fund is the project fiscal sponsor. www.felidaefund.org