The hunt for British Big Cats attracts far more newspaper column-inches than any other cryptozoological subject. There are so many of them now that we feel that they should be archived by us in some way, so we should have a go at publishing a regular round-up of the stories as they come in. Curated by Carl Marshall and Olivia McCarthy
Saturday, 28 February 2015
NEWSLINK-Hopeful Signs of Recovery for the World’s Rarest Big Cat
While poaching and environmental degradation have had disastrous effects on animal species across Asia, one highly endangered cat has seen a small but important rise in its numbers, researchers say.
The Amur leopard, which was once found across the Korean Peninsula and parts of Russia and China, is now considered the rarest big cat, with just a few dozen existing in the wild. But their numbers in Russia have risen from just 30 in 2007 to nearly double that in the latest count, according to the conservation group WWF.
The group said 57 were found in Land of the Leopard National Park in the Russian Far East. The park, which was established in 2012, is in Primorsky Krai on the finger of land west of Vladivostok, where Russia, North Korea and China meet.
An estimated eight to 12 Amur leopards live in China, the WWF says. Chinese researchers counted 13 Amur leopards between April and June 2013 in the Hunchun Siberian Tiger National Nature Reserve, in the Chinese province of Jilin just across the border from the Russian park. Results of a new survey of the leopards in China will be published in a few months and will show their population has increased, said Wang Tianming, a researcher at Beijing Normal University, without giving specifics.
“The number of leopards in China is extremely hopeful, higher than anything that’s been reported in the media,” Dr. Wang wrote in an email.
There are many uncertainties preventing a precise count of Amur leopards. The cats often -READ MORE-https://www.ibcworldnews.com/2015/02/28/hopeful-signs-of-recovery-for-the-worlds-rarest-big-cat/
VIDEO-Daktari: The Complete First Season (Preview Clip)
WHY THIS VIDEO DUE TO LION WITH A BRAIN TUMOUR BEING A STAR IN PROGRAMME
Saturday, 21 February 2015
NEWSLINK-Big cat burglars hunted after 'tame' TIGER, leopard and jaguar worth £100k are stolen from breeder
Police are hunting a team of sophisticated big cat burglars after a tiger, leopard and a black jaguar worth almost £105,000 were stolen from a breeding farm.
The thieves reportedly smashed security cameras and disabled an alarm before using a dart gun to knock out the animals at the property in Saudi Arabia.
Empty syringes were found in the big cats' cages in place of the beasts.-READ MORE-http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-
news/big-cat-burglars-hunted-after-5167376
news/big-cat-burglars-hunted-after-5167376
Thursday, 19 February 2015
NEWSLINK: Man-eater on prowl shot dead
|
The
Hindu
|
Man-eater
on prowl shot dead
It
had sustained injuries on its shoulder and legs in a fight with another big
cat. The injury perhaps resulted in the carnivore looking for soft targets
such
NEWSLINK: Norms flouted while declaring tiger man-eater
Norms
flouted while declaring tiger man-eater
Only
big cats that stalk humans or feed on dead bodies can be declared
man-eaters. Only after exhausting all these options, should the chief wildlife
NEWSLINK: Man-Eater Tiger Shot Dead In India One Week After It Killed Two People
Man-Eater
Tiger Shot Dead In India One Week After It Killed Two People
Tigers
are the largest members of the cat family and are the largest of the big
cats. A highly endangered species, only two species of the tigers
remain ...
NEWSLINK: Little lion cub needs a helping hand from his mum to cross a muddy river
|
Mirror.co.uk
|
Little
lion cub needs a helping hand from his mum to cross a muddy river
This
lion cub is within a whisker of sliding down a muddy river bank… until mum lends
a helping paw. The big cat had been crossing the river with its
NEWSLINK: Mining resumption scares away leopards from Ballari forests
Mining
resumption scares away leopards from Ballari forests
The
big cat population is spread in the mining areas of Sandur and Gudekote,
the Daroji Bear Sanctuary in Kudligi taluk and the mining areas of
US SIGHTING: MYHRE: Mountain lions are on the comeback trail
|
Sioux
City Journal
|
MYHRE:
Mountain lions are on the comeback trail
I
had no way of warning him there was a big cat nearby. My sighting of that
lion took place less than two miles east of St. James, Neb., a few miles
NEWSLINK: PETA urges USDA action against wildlife refuge
PETA
urges USDA action against wildlife refuge
...
uniformly regulates the possession of big cats." An Indiana state
legislator also has since called on federal investigators to update the public
on what
NEWSLINK: Lion hunter: Little girl bags a big cat
Lion
hunter: Little girl bags a big cat
Aspen
Rush, 13, left, holds up the head of her first mountain lion, a 121-pound tom.
Her twin sister Jaden, right, is also an avid hunter and was with
Wednesday, 18 February 2015
US SIGHTING: Shropshire Man Says He Has Seen Big Cats
Shropshire
Man Says He Has Seen Big Cats
Shropshire
man says he has seen big cats. Big cats have twice been seen by
Sam Evans roaming the countryside in Shropshire. -> Read more
US SIGHTING: Man who set up fox trap returned to find something A LOT more terrifying
Man
who set up fox trap returned to find something A LOT more terrifying
...
had visited the trap with his wife, as the couple do each day, but were
astonished when instead of the usual fox, they found a big cat
instead.
NEWSLINK: Great Outdoors: Mountain lion hunters more selective
|
Rapid
City Journal
|
Great
Outdoors: Mountain lion hunters more selective
The
mountain lion walked directly toward Colson's blind, set up near the spot where
the big cat had presumably stashed a recent kill, and
turned ...
NEWSLINK: Upgrade keeps sanctuary gates closed
Upgrade
keeps sanctuary gates closed
Meanwhile,
Mr Weekes revealed former park operator Mr Busch is planning to move between
four and eight big cats from the sanctuary to a new
UK SIGHTINGS: Caught on Cam: Man frees trapped mountain lion
Caught
on Cam: Man frees trapped mountain lion
Although
he didn't intend to trap a cat this big, lessons were surely
learned. Casey says, "Hopefully they learn that these mountain lions are not
the ...
NEWSLINK: Rare Saharan Cheetah Captured on Camera: Photos
Rare
Saharan Cheetah Captured on Camera: Photos
Extremely
rare photographs of the elusive Saharan cheetah have just been released by
scientists who are studying the big cats in Algeria. The
photos ...
UK SIGHTING: Call to find out the truth about the 'big cats' in North Wales
Call
to find out the truth about the 'big cats' in North Wales
From
St Asaph to Bala there have been sightings of what appear to be large
cats. Over the years, it has been speculated that these animals belong
NEWSLINK: Man v/s big cat: Clashes leave leopard dead, 2 injured
Man
v/s big cat: Clashes leave leopard dead, 2 injured
The
big cat then ran away and took shelter in shrubs nearby. Meanwhile, as
news of the beast's presence spread, more villagers, forest officials
and ...
NEWSLINK: Ringling Brothers circus trainer has dedicated his life to big cats
Ringling
Brothers circus trainer has dedicated his life to big cats
Also
along for the ride: Alexander Lacey and his Big Cats – 19 lions and
tigers, and a leopard named Mogli. We spoke to the big-cat trainer
about ...
Saturday, 14 February 2015
NEWSLINK-Frozen Lion Semen Gives Hope to Big Cat Conservation
Worried about the fate of big cats around the world? Researchers have now revealed that many endangered species may find salvation from an unlikely source - that being frozen semen.
According to a study recently published in the journal Theriogenology, researchers from Berlin have successfully created embryos from African lions via assisted lab-side reproduction.Amazingly, unlike most "test-tube" reproductive cases, the researchers didn't simply use fresh sperm and healthy egg cells taken straight out of a pair of healthy adults. Instead they used immature egg cells from a young lioness and the frozen sperm of an African lion which had been stored in a cryobank for some time.READ MORE-http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/12619/20150209/frozen-lion-semen-gives-hope-big-cat-conserva
tion.htm
tion.htm
www.ifaw.org/united-states
What better way to make people love and conserve tigers and other big cats than by allowing them the opportunity to hold and Read more »
This week, the U.S. government ended its public comment period on a proposal to list the African lion as a Threatened Read more »
After four decades of protection, the bobcats of Illinois nearly became targets for hunting and trapping when the state Read more »
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW; www.ifaw.org) today released its new PROTECT PSA campaign. The series, Read more »-http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/taxonomy/term/37
http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/tv-guide/16-02-15/big-cat-week
One of the standouts of Nat Geo Wild's Big Cat Week, Dinner with Big Cats follows wildlife tracker Boone Smith as he observes a group of lions in South Africa's Nambiti Game Reserve. Boone's ultimate plan is to lock himself in a 4x7ft clear acrylic box – which has been draped with camouflage and a dead wildebeest – so that he can get right in the middle of the action when the lions take the bait and decide to feed. David Blaine – you need to up your game!READ MORE-http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/tv-guide/16-02-15/big-cat-week
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NEWSLINK-BIG CAT LOVE
Zoo InternQuest is a seven-week career exploration program for San Diego County high school juniors and seniors. Students have the unique ability opportunity to meet professionals working for the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, and Institute for Conservation Research, learn about their jobs, and then blog about their experience online. Follow their adventures here on the Zoo’s website!
I’m a born and raised California girl who fell in love with the animal kingdom from a very young age. Growing up in San Diego, I was easily drawn in by the spectacle of the San Diego Zoo, and having that access only encouraged my love for animals to grow stronger. Just talk to me about animals and you’ve won my heart! I love all different species, but my favorites are lions, tigers, leopards and cheetahs because while they are dangerous predators it’s so easy to see both their grace and fierceness at the same time.
I’m a lover of good jokes, hot tea, and cheeseburgers. After playing indoor volleyball competitively for three years, I now play mostly on the beach for fun. Let me just say there is no place more relaxing than the beach. In an ideal world, I would love to be at the beach every day taking pictures, soaking up the sun, and swimming in the salty waves.-READ MORE-http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/2015/02/10/big-cat-love/
NEWSLINK-BIG CAT NEWS-BORN FREE
14 February 2015
Categories: Homepage News, Big Cats Campaign News
Achee and Sinbad, two lions rescued by the Born Free Foundation, have shown great interest in each other for years. Was now the time to unite Sinbad and Achee?
Read More
5 February 2015
Categories: Homepage News, Big Cats Campaign News, Rescue News
After 11 years at our Rescue Centre in Shamwari, adopted lioness Ma Juah has passed away.
Read More
5 February 2015
Categories: Homepage News, Big Cats Campaign News
It’s always heartening when those engaged in wildlife conservation can report good news for an endangered species, especially one beset by such formidable threats, and now there are reassuring signs that India’s tiger numbers are...
Read More
1 February 2015
Categories: Homepage News, Big Cats Campaign News, Rescue
Rescued lionesses Maggie & Sonja are settling in at our Big Cat Rescue centre in Shamwari-read more-http://www.bornfree.org.uk/campaigns/big-cats/news/