Tiger fight gets catty
2003-09-09 22:49
Philippolis - A London banker is threatening Discovery Channel with a $50m lawsuit if the channel broadcasts a film about tigers, which was produced in Philippolis.
This is the latest development in the cat-fight between the Varty brothers, well-known figures in environmental circles and founders of Londolozi, and their international backer and the South African Trust for Chinese Tigers.
Stuart Bray, a London banker, contributed the lion's share to establish the Tigermoon Sanctuary outside Philippolis in 2002. Bray had a 75% share and the Varty brothers 25% with the option to buy the majority stake in the venture.
Bray alleges that the brothers mismanaged his contribution by, among other things, buying two "reject tigers". "These two tigers were not endangered and have no value for nature conservation. A film was made that I never approved."
Bray says the film has as little relevance to tiger conservation as a Disney animated movie. "The manipulation of animal behaviour for a documentary is also unethical."
The Varty brothers claim that their Bengal tiger is an endangered species, "but even if it wasn't the case, the film contributes to the sub-species debate".
Genetically similar
The film investigates the possibility that all tigers are genetically similar and merely adapted differently.
"The film is an experimental project to determine whether tigers that were born in captivity can be released into the wild successfully," the Varty brothers say.
They apparently started filming 18 months before meeting Bray. The Vartys say they only used their own land outside Philippolis for filming purposes.
"None of Bray's funds were used." A forensic report showed that there was no mismanagement.
Bray is openly accusing the brothers of stealing $4m, but, according to the Vartys, he only invested $3.2m. "It's not so much about nature conservation, but rather about Bray making a profit." Land grabbing apparently played an important part in this.
Last week, the Vartys filed a charge of fraud, theft and breach of copyright against Li Quan, Bray's wife and founder of the South African Trust for Chinese Tigers.
100 tigers remaining
The Free State High Court ordered Bray and Quan on April 25 not to interfere in the Vartys' Bengal tiger project. "Quan ignored this and should therefore be charged with contempt of court," the brothers claim.
After months of negotiations, Bray and Quan managed to bring only two Southern Chinese tiger cubs to the National Zoo in Pretoria.
There are less than 100 of these tigers remaining. The aim is to breed them in South Africa where the necessary expertise exists. Their offspring will be taken back to China to coincide with the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008.
The Vartys, however, doubt whether the tigers will ever be taken back to China because there is no suitable reserve.
The South African and Chinese governments support the breeding of Southern Chinese tigers in South Africa.
"Bray and Quan simply used us. After the Chinese government agreed to the project - because of our hard work and good reputation - they wanted to kick us out."