It would be one of the 10 largest countries in the world. It also would be the 6th least dense country in terms of human population. It is the birthplace of many of the world’s greatest rivers – the Yangtse, Yellow, Ganges, Indus, Amu Darya, and others – that provide life-sustaining water to hundreds of millions of people. All of the mountains on earth that soar above 7,000 meters (23,000 feet) – well over 100 of them – are found here.
This huge, remote, and incredible region is the home to the snow leopard.
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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
Monday 31 October 2016
PHOTOS: Meo the snow leopard visits the vet at Melbourne Zoo
Meo the snow leopard is getting old. At age 14, she's at risk of arthritis, diabetes and kidney disease.
So, on her way from Big Cat Row to a new temporary residence behind the scenes at Melbourne Zoo on Monday, Meo swung by the vet surgery for a routine check-up.
"She looks great for her age," says veterinarian Dr Sarah Frith, after giving Meo a general check-up: eyes, ears, teeth and blood samples. "Her teeth are fantastic, eyes excellent and her coat is in good condition."
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So, on her way from Big Cat Row to a new temporary residence behind the scenes at Melbourne Zoo on Monday, Meo swung by the vet surgery for a routine check-up.
"She looks great for her age," says veterinarian Dr Sarah Frith, after giving Meo a general check-up: eyes, ears, teeth and blood samples. "Her teeth are fantastic, eyes excellent and her coat is in good condition."
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REPORT: Poaching driving snow leopards to extinction
With possibly as few as 4,000 snow leopards surviving in the wild, a shock report from TRAFFIC has found that hundreds of the endangered big cats are being killed by poachers each year across their range in Asia's high mountains.
According to the report there could be as few as 4,000 of the cats left in the wild as they are being illegally shot and trapped in alarming numbers.
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According to the report there could be as few as 4,000 of the cats left in the wild as they are being illegally shot and trapped in alarming numbers.
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NEWSLINK: Is Kansas becoming overrun with mountain lions?
Last month a bowhunter got a surprise when he checked a motion-activated trail camera in Rawlins County, in northwest Kansas. Amid the pictures of deer were two unmistakable images of the same mountain lion.
“I was really, really excited to catch one in photos that clear,” said Justin, who prefers only his first name be used. “I knew it was a pretty big deal.”
It was an even bigger deal when the photos hit social media. Suddenly, it seemed Kansas was over-run with the tawny-colored predators.
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“I was really, really excited to catch one in photos that clear,” said Justin, who prefers only his first name be used. “I knew it was a pretty big deal.”
It was an even bigger deal when the photos hit social media. Suddenly, it seemed Kansas was over-run with the tawny-colored predators.
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NEWSLINK: Big cat census in VTR from November
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)-mandated third annual tiger census in Bihar's Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) is likely to commence from the first week of November even though the census results of last year are still not out.
At least 250 pairs of 'camera traps' will be installed over an area of 899 sqkm in the reserve for collecting census data over a period of 90 days. The number of tigers at the state's lone tiger reserve officially stands at 28, according to 2014 census.
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At least 250 pairs of 'camera traps' will be installed over an area of 899 sqkm in the reserve for collecting census data over a period of 90 days. The number of tigers at the state's lone tiger reserve officially stands at 28, according to 2014 census.
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SIGHTING, QUEBEC: Could a cougar be roaming the Off-Island?
It was the dogs that tipped Neil Munroe off that something out of the ordinary was skulking around his parents’ four-acre small farm in St-Lazare’s Chanterel neighbourhood.
Munroe had come home around 4 a.m. after a long night at work, and said his dogs and his neighbours’ animals were going “berserk” when he pulled up in the driveway. It wasn’t the usual barking at squirrels or passersby walking with pets, Munroe said.
“It was something that they really, really didn’t agree with, you know.”
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Munroe had come home around 4 a.m. after a long night at work, and said his dogs and his neighbours’ animals were going “berserk” when he pulled up in the driveway. It wasn’t the usual barking at squirrels or passersby walking with pets, Munroe said.
“It was something that they really, really didn’t agree with, you know.”
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Thursday 13 October 2016
SIGHTING, PHOTOS, UK: Dog suffered horror wounds after being savaged by a 'puma' on country walk, owner claims
A dog nearly died from horrific injuries inflicted in a savage attack by ‘the Beast of Bucks’.
Rescue pooch Daisy was being taken for a walk by owner Carlos Romero, from High Wycombe, in woodland near local beauty spot Tom Burt’s hill when she was attacked by a ‘black panther’.
Terrified Carlos believes his beloved pet was pounced upon by a jungle lion as the area is a hotspot for sightings of big cats. In 2001, experts confirmed prints found on Wycombe Heights Golf Centre were those of a puma. Since then, locals have reported several sightings of a black big cat in the area, leading it to be nicknamed the “Beast of Bucks”.
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Rescue pooch Daisy was being taken for a walk by owner Carlos Romero, from High Wycombe, in woodland near local beauty spot Tom Burt’s hill when she was attacked by a ‘black panther’.
Terrified Carlos believes his beloved pet was pounced upon by a jungle lion as the area is a hotspot for sightings of big cats. In 2001, experts confirmed prints found on Wycombe Heights Golf Centre were those of a puma. Since then, locals have reported several sightings of a black big cat in the area, leading it to be nicknamed the “Beast of Bucks”.
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SIGHTING, UK: Panther on the prowl? Harpenden man spots a big cat near Luton Airport
Iain MacDonald told the Herts Advertiser: “I had a rather interesting experience whilst out jogging on Sunday (9/10/16), to the north of Harpenden, when a big cat – I am pretty sure it was a panther – crossed the road directly in front of me.”
It is the latest in a string of recent alleged sightings of a panther as this paper has learned that three weeks ago, one is believed to have been spotted in nearby Hitchin, only 15 miles away.
Iain explained that on Sunday, “I was jogging, out towards Luton Airport, in Chiltern Green.
“I was running along a quiet country road, with hardly any cars, where there was woodland on each side and this animal loped across the road, about 50 metres in front of me.
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It is the latest in a string of recent alleged sightings of a panther as this paper has learned that three weeks ago, one is believed to have been spotted in nearby Hitchin, only 15 miles away.
Iain explained that on Sunday, “I was jogging, out towards Luton Airport, in Chiltern Green.
“I was running along a quiet country road, with hardly any cars, where there was woodland on each side and this animal loped across the road, about 50 metres in front of me.
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SIGHTING, AUSTRALIA: Illawarra 'panther' spotted at Seacliff Bridge escarpment selfie spot
The sun had fallen behind the escarpment on Sunday as Alex Vourliotis headed higher up the sea-facing slope at Coalcliff, his spirits buoyed by fine weather and the postcard-worthy sight of Seacliff Bridge snaking away below.
The Albion Park personal trainer and his partner Tanaya Webb had made a leisurely visit to the scenic spot, so the two could get a photo together.
But they beat a hasty retreat home; Mr Vourliotis with a racing heart and a firm belief that he had seen for himself the Illawarra ‘panther’ – the big, black cat said to roam the region’s green border.
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The Albion Park personal trainer and his partner Tanaya Webb had made a leisurely visit to the scenic spot, so the two could get a photo together.
But they beat a hasty retreat home; Mr Vourliotis with a racing heart and a firm belief that he had seen for himself the Illawarra ‘panther’ – the big, black cat said to roam the region’s green border.
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Wednesday 12 October 2016
ARTICLE: No justice for Cecil: Lions STILL being killed and sold after famous cat's death
There had been hopes that the lions would be “uplisted” to Appendix I of CITES, particularly after the killing of Cecil by an American dentist last year had highlighted their vulnerability.
Instead, the summit kept the lions on Appendix II.
Although there was a proviso added that trade in their bones, claws, teeth and skull will be prohibited, this only covers wild lions and means body parts from animals killed in South Africa’s infamous “canned hunts” can still be sold on the open market.
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Instead, the summit kept the lions on Appendix II.
Although there was a proviso added that trade in their bones, claws, teeth and skull will be prohibited, this only covers wild lions and means body parts from animals killed in South Africa’s infamous “canned hunts” can still be sold on the open market.
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NEWSLINK: Black magic horror as lions are poisoned and mutilated in spate of killings
It is believed witch doctors could be using the body parts for a traditional Zulu healings or that they are being sent to the lucrative Chinese medicine market.
Lions are being poisoned and mutilated in a spate of black magic killings in South Africa, it emerged today.
The revelation came as an international summit in the country refused to ban the global trade in the big cats’ body parts.
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Lions are being poisoned and mutilated in a spate of black magic killings in South Africa, it emerged today.
The revelation came as an international summit in the country refused to ban the global trade in the big cats’ body parts.
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Thursday 6 October 2016
ARTICLE: Lawrie McFarlane: Excuses for shooting cougars are inexcusable
Of the world’s five surviving big-cat species, four are either endangered, or likely to face a future confined to zoos and game parks.
There are only 3,200 tigers left in the wild, and they have the misfortune to live in some of the most densely populated countries on Earth.
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There are only 3,200 tigers left in the wild, and they have the misfortune to live in some of the most densely populated countries on Earth.
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NEWSLINK: CITES ‘fails to protect lions’, says Born Free
Born Free Foundation believes CITES has failed to adequately address one of the main threats to African lions in its decision to reach a compromise agreement on controlling the trade in lion parts and products, but failing to deal with trade from captive bred lions.
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Wednesday 5 October 2016
ARTICLE: Wildlife officials ignore return of mountain lions to the Blue Ridge Mountains
There are mountain lions in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the eastern United States, but wildlife officials still call them extinct and haven’t done much to support their populations. Numerous sightings, videos, and DNA tests on captured animals point to the existence of a small population of the cats in Tennessee, where they were previously declared extinct. Despite evidence of their existence, mountain lion habitat is not officially protected, leading environmentalists to accuse wildlife officials of negligence that could further endanger the animals.
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VIDEO: Prowling big cat? Looks like a house cat, wildlife biologist says
Lady's Island resident Ben Tanner, a hunter, set up cameras to capture whatever it was he and his neighbor were hearing around their home at night since August 2016. They captured this image around 2:30 a.m. Sept. 8,, shown here first in real time, then in slow motion.
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