Thursday, 1 March 2018

PHOTO: Security video shows cougar peering into Wisconsin home

A security system recorded a cougar peering into a window of a home in Brookfield.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources confirmed the cougar sighting on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018.
Officials believe the cougar is one-and-a-half-years old and weighs about 50 pounds, according to a report from our Milwaukee partner station WISN.

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NEWSLINK: Feds say lynx no longer need protection, despite bleak outlook

Lynx (16276659784).jpgThe federal government announced in January that it plans to remove the Canada lynx from the Endangered Species list.


The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently completed an analysis that it says shows the species has recovered, but environmental groups say low population numbers and growing threats to habitat mean the species needs protection now more than ever.


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PHOTOS: Dudley Zoo animals can't get enough of aftershaves and perfumes

Animals are falling for the Lynx Effect in a big way at a Black Country zoo.
The residents of Dudley Zoo can’t get enough of their aftershaves and perfumes which have got them purring with delight.


Whether it be Yves Saint Lion or Roarmani – different animals prefer different scents, according to the keepers.


They have been spraying it on posts and climbing frames around the animals’ enclosures as part of an animal enrichment programme at the Castle Hill attraction.

Keepers say the strong scents from the fragrances encourage ‘natural behaviour’ among its animals.


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Wednesday, 28 February 2018

NEWSLINK: Similipal, Satkosia on tiger trail

Panthera tigris tigris.jpgAs tiger enumeration across the country kicked off on Friday, Satkosia and Similipal, the two notified tiger reserves of the State, got down to the job armed with increased manpower and technology as mandated by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).


The first phase of the enumeration includes carnivore sign survey for three days, starting Friday. Apart from Satkosia and Similipal, the enumeration is being conducted across all forest divisions.In Satkosia Tiger Reserve, a total 212 forest personnel have been engaged for the enumeration.

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NEWSLINK: Death of female jaguar hard for researchers as numbers continue to decrease

JaguarSleeping.jpgAn adult jaguar has been found run over and left dead on the side of a highway not far from Playa del Carmen.


The tragic event occurred in the vicinity of kilometer 10 of the road known as Ruta de los Cenotes. The female jaguar, whose numbers are decreasing quickly, was hit by a vehicle and left for dead on the side of the road.


She was discovered by locals and reported to officials who regretted reporting the death of the cat. Raul Padilla Borja, wildlife activist in Riviera Maya made the official report last week, documenting her death with video in hopes of raising community awareness about the nocturnal jungle animals.

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NEWSLINK: Belfast zookeeper's dog helped raise abandoned lion cub

With almost 30 years' experience as a zookeeper, Linda Frew from Belfast Zoo has helped to socialise animals including bears, primates and big cats.

As a keen supporter of the Dogs Trust, her Dr Dolittle-like devotion continues at home - she has adopted 10 rescue dogs over the years and fostered countless others.

Linda's two loves combined in 2007 when Lily, an endangered Barbary lion cub, was abandoned by her mother Fidda and father Qays.

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Tuesday, 27 February 2018

ARTICLE: Wild Ideas: No cougars in Virginia... so far

The mysterious cougar has long had a near-mythical place in the minds of humans, and despite no hard evidence that this big cat is still in Virginia, people here continue to report seeing them.
Recently reclassified as in the genus Puma, the cougar (Puma concolor) has many other common names — puma (as scientists tend to prefer), mountain lion, red tiger, deer tiger or panther. In 2011, wildlife biologist David Kocka, with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) co-authored an article on the status of cougars in Virginia for “Virginia Wildlife,” which is published by VDGIF. When he spoke about “mystery” animals at last year’s “Woods and Wildlife Conference", cougars took up half of his talk.
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