Category Archives: Big Cats
New Study – West African Lion Population Under 400
West African Lion Facing Extinction
According to a new study funded by Panthera and National Geographic’s Big Cat Initiative, there are less than 400 lions in West Africa. Of the remaining lions, an estimated 250 are of breeding age.
“The situation is most critical for the geographically isolated populations in West Africa, where the species is considered regionally endangered.”
Field studies were conducted in 13 large areas where the lions are protected to establish the presence and size of any populations. Another eight areas were evaluated based on interviews and existing data.
Most of the data that was compiled came from track surveys, in which lions were tracked by following their footprints.
The report states that lions in West Africa have undergone a “catastrophic collapse.” They have lost more that 99% of their historic range, with 88% of the current population (approximately 350 lions) living in one single population.
You can read the study here.
Photo Credit: Cubinnigeria Philipphenschel Panthera
Video of Snow Leopards in India
From the Snow Leopard Trust – rare footage from a research camera in the Upper Spiti landscape in Himashal Pradesh, India, shows a wild snow leopard and her grown cubs.
Asiatic Cheetah Family Spotted in Iran
A family of Asiatic cheetahs has been spotted in Iran’s Turan national park. The mother and four cubs were discovered by conservationists at the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation.
The Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) also called the Iranian cheetah, is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The cat could once be found in regions throughout Southwest Asia, including India, Pakisan, Arabia and Afghanistan. Now, only a small population remains in Iran.
“Something that people rarely knew about a decade ago has now become a national cause for concern,” said Morteza Eslami, head of the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS). “When we spoke about Asiatic cheetahs in the beginning, people used to ask if we in Iran had any cheetahs. Now they are asking how many are left.”
The Asiatic cheetah population in Iran is currently estimated at 100. The Khar Turan National Park is located in Iran’s Semnan province. It is the second largest reserve in the country.
The cat’s prey consists mainly of wild sheep, goats and gazelle. Loss of prey is a key conservation concern for the cheetah, along with human conflict and hunting.
The Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) has been mapping the location of the species, collecting data on the cheetah’s habits, and assessing threats to the cheetah’s survival.
The ICS is a non-government organization working to save the “big five” carnivores in Iran, with a focus on the Asiatic cheetah.
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Lion Population Declining in Uganda
In an article written in the Oryx journal, researchers are reporting that the African lion population in Uganda has decreased more than 30 percent over the past 10 years. Reasons for the decline include
“…poisoning by local cattle herders, retaliation for livestock predation and other human-related conflicts.”
Read more about the declining lion population at: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2013/10/24/Conservationists-warn-of-decline-in-lion-numbers-in-Uganda/UPI-62601382643564/#ixzz2iklxrZmw
Poachers Responsible for Karnataka, India Tiger Losses
The Deccan Chronicle has reported that 23 tigers have died over the past two years in Karnataka, an Indian state known for having the largest population of tigers in the country. According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, poaching is the main cause of the loss.
“Of the tigers who died at least 16 are said to have been fallen into the hands of poachers or succumbed to “unknown reasons.” While eight tigers died or were poached in the tiger reserves, six were found dead outside them. Although as many as 14 tigers died in 2012 alone, the state has done little to curb wildlife poaching, say animal conservationists.”
Read more about the Karnataka tigers.
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Rihanna Visits South African Lion Park
Rihanna visits Lion Park in South Africa before performing at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
The Lion Park is a breeding ground and sanctuary for African wildlife, with a focus on the Wild Dog, white lion and cheetah. The lions in the park come from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Northern Gauteng and Botswana. There are currently 80 lions in the park.
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Los Angeles – The Griffith Park Mountain Lion
A 125-pound mountain lion has been living in L.A.’s Griffith Park for the past four years.
Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks in the country. Located just above Los Feliz Boulevard, it covers over 4,300 acres.
The young lion, named P-22, has been living on mule deer, raccoon and coyote. It is believed the wild cat travelled 20 miles to the park from the Santa Monica Mountains. After triggering a camera trap in 2012, the big cat was found and sedated. A GPS collar was attached to the animal to track its movements.
National Geographic photographer Steve Winter has taken several shots of the lion. One will be appearing in National Geographic’s December issue.
Read the entire story here.
Jaguars Seduced by Calvin Klein “Obsession for Men” Cologne
According to a recent article in Scientific American, the best way to lure a jaguar to a camera trap is by spraying the surrounding tree branches with Calvin Klein’s “Obsession for Men” cologne.
The camera traps are used to take photos of the jaguars and collect research data. When a jaguar approaches the trap, infrared sensors trigger the camera.
“Obsession for Men” is described by the manufacturer as a “masculine blend of botanics, spices and rare woods.” One of the scent’s main ingredients is civetone, which is produced from the glands of civets.
The civet, a nocturnal cat-like mammal with raccoon facial features, lives in the tropical forests of Asia and Africa. There are over a dozen different civet species. The civet Viverra civettina is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The animal’s gland secretions have been used to make perfume for hundreds of years. However, the number of perfumes containing civetone has been on the decline since the development of synthetic musk. Channel No. 5 stopped using civet in their perfumes in 1998.
The procedure for removing the secretion, which is extracted every two to three weeks from a sac under the civet’s tail, is extremely painful.
In 2004, the Chinese government killed over 10,000 civet cats in captivity when a man became ill from a new strain of the SARS virus that was similar to the SARS virus found in civets.
In addition to the use of glandular sections to manufacture perfume, civets are also killed for their meat, which is considered a delicacy in Asia.
A coffee made in Vietnam and the Philippines is produced from coffee cherries that have been partially digested by civets. A 2012 investigation found civets being force-fed the cherries and living in horrific conditions.
Are you or someone you know using perfume or cologne with civetone? You may want to start shopping for another product. Check the bottle’s ingredients to find out.