The story of wild cats decline and extinction —The sanctuaries and reservations — facts that are not well known
On the planet, there are 38 species of cats. Most, like the margay, are relatively small. But some — the lion, tiger, leopard, snow leopard, cloud leopard, jaguar, lynx and cheetah — are large. Cheetahs, which do not have retractable claws, are members of their own genus, called Acinonyx.
Small and medium-sized cats are members of the genus Felis. Big cats are found worldwide in habitats as diverse as the mangroves of India or the forests of the western United States.
Massively hunted during the last centuries, today they are mostly victims of habitat destruction and reduced to small isolated populations, which further weakens their survival. In addition to high-profile species such as lions and tigers, which are attracting international attention, several little-known wildcat species are in danger of disappearing before they are even better discovered.
The Lion, one of the best-known felines- Panthera Leo
The lion is a large cat belonging to the genus Panthera and the family Felidae. The lion is the second-largest cat species in the world after the tiger.
Currently, wild lions are found in much of sub-Saharan Africa and India. Before 2017, the two main types of lions were thought to be African and Asian lions. The former was thought to be a group of seven subspecies of lions still existing on the African continent, while the latter was thought to be a single subspecies of lion living in Asia :
African largest predator, the lion, nicknamed the “king of animals”, is one of Africa’s best-known felines.
This fawn with its sandy-colored coat is easily recognizable by its imposing mane. Muscular and sized for hunting, it can crush the bones of prey with a single paw strike. It occupies the entire African continent, from the southern savannas to the Saharan forests. The population of African lions is now estimated at 30,000 individuals, spread across the savannah.
Unlike other African felines, the lion lives in groups, or in pride packs of 3 to 30 individuals. Its main functions are to defend the territory and the group, while the lioness is in charge of hunting. Like other African felines, a lion is opportunistic: it often steals prey from other predators. It eats up to 7 kg of meat per day, while a lioness consumes 5 kg.
Members of pride usually spend the day in several scattered groups that may join together to hunt or share a meal. A pride consists of several generations of female lions, some of which are related, a small number of breeding males and their young. The group can range from 4 to 37 members, but the average size is about 15 members. Each troop has a well-defined territory consisting of a central area strictly defended against lion intrusion and a peripheral area where some overlap is tolerated. When prey is abundant, the territory can be as small as 20 km2, but if the game is scarce, it can be as large as 400 km2. It is known that some prides have been using the same territory for decades, passing it on between females. Lions proclaim their territory by roaring and marking their scent. Their characteristic roar is usually emitted in the evening before a hunting night and again before dawn. Defecation and rubbing against bushes leave different olfactory traces.
The Asiatic lion
There are only a few hundred Asian lions in the wild, and they live only in the Gir Forest in India, in an area smaller than Greater London.
There is little difference between the Asian lion and the African lion (Panthera leo leo). The Asian lion’s mane is less bushy than that of its African counterpart: it is common for the ears to be exposed rather than buried in the hair. Another point of differentiation is a pocket of skin (a gusset) that extends under the belly to the hind legs, which the African lion rarely develops
The Asian lion generally has a thicker coat and a longer tuft of hair at the tip of its tail.
The color of their fur ranges from brown, grey or sandy to heavily speckled black. These lions have a less developed mane than the African subspecies, so their ears are always visible.
The weight of adult male Asian lions ranges from 160 kg to 190 kg, while that of females ranges from 110 kg to 120 kg.
The Leopard — Panthera pardus
The leopard is one of the five “big cats” of the genus Panthera, which is native to Asia and is one of the six lines of the Felidae family. Fossils of its ancestors dating back to the Pleistocene era (3.5–2 million years ago) have been found in East Africa and South Asia. The modern leopard is thought to have evolved in Africa 0.5 to 0.8 million years ago and spread to Asia 0.3 to 0.2 million years ago.
There are nine subspecies of leopards, distributed from Africa to eastern Russia. And although 11 percent of the leopards alive today are considered melanic, most of them are found in Southeast Asia, where tropical forests provide abundant shade.
Leopards are well known for their habit of hauling their prey into a tree, where they can consume it at leisure for several days. Their prodigious strength enables them to lift carcasses heavier than they are: there is a record of a young giraffe weighing 125 kg hidden at a height of 5.7 m. This behavior only occurs regularly when the cats face competition from other large predators, notably lions and hyenas.
In Southeast Asia, an adult leopard was found in the stomach of a 5.5 m Burmese python.
Leopards generally avoid humans, but may occasionally target humans as prey. This has occurred most often in India.
The African leopard is one of the largest cats in Africa. It inhabits forests, mountains, and grasslands. It’s an endangered subspecies, not least because of the fur trade. This black-spotted fawn on a fawn or rust-colored coat is often confused with the cheetah. Its rosettes serve as camouflage to track its prey. Leopards live from the savannah (Kenya, Tanzania) to the sub-Saharan tropical forests (Gabon, Congo, etc.). They can also be found in the Namibian desert or in Botswana.
People tend to think of leopards living in the savannahs of Africa, but a rare subspecies has adapted in the Russian Far East, in the temperate forests that make up the northernmost part of the species’ range:
Black panthers are melanistic leopards, melanism being a hereditary genetic trait. They are generally only found in equatorial forests, especially in the Malay Peninsula and — in Africa — on mountain slopes such as Mount Kenya. Cross-breeding of Melanic Leopards produces a much smaller litter than that of normal Leopards.
Jaguar, Panthera onca, also called el Tigre americano, the bigest New World member of the cat family (Felidae), once found from the U.S.-Mexican border southward to Patagonia, Argentina. Its preferred habitats are swamps or wooded regions, but jaguars also can be found in scrublands and deserts. The jaguar is virtually extinct in the northern part of its original range and survives in reduced numbers only in remote areas of Central and South America; the largest known population exists in the Amazon rainforest.
A solitary predator, the jaguar is a hunter of stems and shrubs; its name comes from the Indian word yaguar, which means “he who kills with a single bound”. The jaguar is fast and agile and is a very good climber. They penetrate freely into the water and seem to enjoy swimming. Also active during the day, jaguars hunt mainly at night. Capybara and peccaries are their favorite prey, but they also take deer, birds, crocodilians and fish. Cattle are sometimes attacked in areas where ranches have replaced natural habitat. Jaguars are wild fighters when cornered, but they do not normally attack humans.
The Tiger
The Tiger, Panthera tigris, the most important member of the cat family (Felidae), rivaled only by the lion (Panthera leo) in strength and ferocity.
Tigers live alone and aggressively mark large territories to keep their rivals away. They are powerful nocturnal hunters who travel many kilometers to find buffalo, deer, wild pigs and other large mammals. Tigers use their distinctive fur to camouflage themselves (no two tigers have exactly the same stripes). They lie in wait and get close enough to attack their victims with a quick spring and a fatal leap. A hungry tiger can eat up to 60 pounds in one night, although it usually eats less.
Despite their fearsome reputation, most tigers avoid humans, but a few become dangerous man-eaters. These animals are often sick and unable to hunt normally or live in an area where their traditional prey has disappeared.
Females give birth to litters of two to six young, which they raise with little or no help from the male. Cubs cannot hunt until they are 18 months old and stay with their mother for two to three years when they disperse to find their own territory.
The tiger is endangered from the Russian Far East through North Korea, China, India, Southeast Asia to the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
The Indian, or Bengal Tiger (P. Tigris tigris), the most numerous accounts for half of the tiger population. Males are larger than females and may attain a shoulder height of about 1 meter and a length of about 2.2 meters, excluding a tail of about 1 meter; weight is 160–230 kg and southern tigers are usually e smaller than those of north.
The Siberian Tiger is the largest big cat, which can weigh an astonishing 660 pounds and stretch more than 10 feet from nose to tail. It is one of six surviving tiger subspecies. Tigers have been hunted extensively as trophies and for use in traditional Chinese medicine and are listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List.
They live mainly in the birch forests of eastern Russia, although some exist in China and North Korea. Although their northern climate is much harsher than that of other tigers, these animals have certain advantages. The northern forests offer the lowest human density of any tiger habitat and the most complete ecosystem. The vast forests also allow the tigers to have much more space to move around, as Russia’s timber industry is currently less extensive than that of many other countries.
The Cheetah
The cheetah is the fastest land animal and Africa’s most endangered cat. Uniquely adapted for speed, the cheetah is capable of reaching speeds greater than 110 kilometers per hour in just over three seconds. At top speed, their stride is seven meters long. The cheetah’s unique body structure: flexible spine, semi-retractable claws, long legs and tail allow it to achieve the unbelievable top speed of 110 km/hr (70 mph). The cheetah’s body is narrow with long slender limbs.
Cheetahs’ footpads are hard and less rounded than the other cats. The pads function like tire treads providing them with increased traction in fast, sharp turns. The short blunt claws, which are considered semi-retractable, are similar to that of a dog. The claws work just like the cleats of a track shoe helping for traction when running to increase speed.
This large feline is a daytime hunter that benefits from furtive movements and a characteristic spotted coat that allows it to blend easily into the tall, dry grasses. Before setting off, cheetahs use their exceptional sight to scan the prairie environment for prey, especially antelopes and hares.
When the time is right, a cheetah runs after its prey and tries to knock it down. Such pursuits cost the hunter an enormous amount of energy and are usually completed in less than a minute. If successful, the cheetah often drags its prey to a shady hiding place to protect it from opportunistic animals that sometimes steal its prey before it can eat it. Cheetahs need to drink only once every three or four days.
Female cheetahs usually have a litter of three young and live with them for a year and a half to two years. Young cubs in their first year are learning from their mother practicing hunting techniques. Male cheetahs live or alone or in small groups, often with their littermates.
Most wild cheetahs are found in East and Southwest Africa. These populations are under pressure as the open grasslands they favor disappear in the hands of human settlers.
The Lynx
There exist some fears that it may soon become the first cat species to become extinct. It has bounced back from decline and extinction in Europe but it is still critically endangered in some areas, such as in the Voges, in the Palatinian forest, the Bohemian-Bavarian forest and the Balkans.
The lynx does not respect national borders. Lynx populations and subpopulations are present in 11 distinct regions but only 4 of them prevented the lynx from extinction in the last century: Scandinavia, Baltic-, Balkan- and the Carpathian regions.
In north-west Europe the lynx disappeared completely. I
The lynx is dependent on this prey that their populations fluctuate with a periodic plunge in snowshoe hare numbers. Eurasian lynx can hunt deer and other larger prey.
Humans sometimes hunt lynx for their beautiful fur.
The Canadian lynx eat mice, squirrels, and birds, but prefer the snowshoe hare. Canada lynx live in forests building their dens under the fallen trees, tree stumps, rock ledges, or thick bushes. They are territorial animals, and males live alone most of the time. Due to their big eyes and great hearing, Canada lynx are excellent night hunters. They are not very fast runners and they are sneaky when it comes to catching prey. Usually, they find a hiding spot and wait for prey to come near — then they pounce.
Lynx will prey too on small mammals, birds and sometimes even large animals like caribou.
The Eurasian Lynx looks as cute and cuddly like the domestic cat, being just a little larger but it is as fierce as a predator can be. In fact, the Eurasian Lynx is capable of taking down an animal 4 times its own size and it can jump more than 4 times its height.
In a harsh and cold habitat, the Eurasian Lynx species shows a stable population trend and a higher survival rate.
The Cougar — Puma, Mountain Lions
Pumas are solitary cats and have the most important ranges of all wild terrestrial mammals within the occident. Their range extends from Yukon, Canada to the Southern Andes in South America.
Puma is that the fourth heaviest of the New World cats after the lion, leopard, jaguar and tiger. Adult Pumas are slender and agile cats who measure 2.4 meters (8 feet) in length from nose to tail (tail length is 80 centimeters (33 inches). They stand between 60–76 centimeters (2–2.5 feet) tall at the shoulder and weigh around 53–72 kilograms (115–160 pounds) in males and 34–48 kilograms (75–105 pounds) in females.
Pumas have plain colored fur ranging from tawny to silver grey or reddish-brown. Pumas have round heads and upright ears. There are 5 retractable claws on their forepaws plus one dewclaw and 4 on the back paws. Pumas have muscular necks and strong jaws.
Pumas are territorial animals and territories depend upon the terrain, vegetation and therefore the abundance of prey. Pumas are reclusive and can avoid areas where there are human settlements. Female territories are usually half the dimensions of male territories which may measure between 58 to 386 square miles.
Females mark their territories using scrape marks, urine and feces which are also used to attract mates. Males may scrape together a little pile of leaves and grasses then urinate thereon as how of marking their territory. Adult pumas only meet for breeding.
Pumas are vocal cats and are documented for his or her low-pitched hisses, growls, purrs, and screams. As they have the largest hind legs in the cat family, pumas are able to leap very high up to 5.4 meters (18 feet). Horizontal jumps can measure between 6 and 12 meters (20–40 feet). They are in no time cats and may run at speeds of 35 miles per hour, although it’s best adapted for brief, sharp, powerful sprints. Pumas are good climbers and swimmers.
Pumas are classed ‘Near Threatened’ by the IUCN. The total breeding population of pumas is a smaller amount than 50,000 individuals and continues to decline. Pumas haven’t any particular threats from other animals besides humans, although it interacts with other large predators like the gray Wolf during which it competes for prey. In some parts, it’s going to need to compete with the Jaguar and therefore the American alligator. When the puma and jaguars range overlaps, jaguars will dominate the larger prey and therefore the puma will take the smaller prey.
Cougar hunting is prohibited in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, and Uruguay.
The Cougar can’t be legally killed in California except under very specific circumstances, like when a private is said a public safety threat.
Gracious, independent, and majestic, felines know how to melt our hearts. Forget for a moment the lions, tigers or panthers, because these other creatures who reside in the four corners of the globe and are, for the most part, unknown to the general public, won’t leave you breathless.
Few will remain insensitive to the beauty and grace of these felines. From the biggest and scariest to the smallest and most adorable, virtually all the wild cats in the world are nowadays threatened with extinction.
Black-footed cat
He is one of the smallest cats in the world and to meet him, you will have to go to southern Africa. It rarely weighs more than 2.5 kg and measures up to 50 cm, including its tail. With its stocky appearance, spotted coat and ferocious reputation, this predator is very fond of small mammals and birds that it hunts all night long. Its name comes from its feet covered with black hair that protects it from the burning desert soil.
The Fishing cat
As its name suggests, the Fishing Cat is semi-aquatic but its adaptation to the water is mainly due to its way of life. Its legs are only slightly webbed and its teeth are not well adapted to catch slippery prey. Mainly nocturnal, the Fishing Cat is an excellent swimmer, capable of diving to catch the prey it pursues. It is also perfectly capable of swimming long distances. It is also an excellent climber. Although they are generally not aggressive, they can nevertheless defend themselves if necessary.
Otter cat
The jaguarondi, also called otter cat, is a small feline with a black, grey-brown or red coat. It lives mainly in Mexico and South America. Easy to tame, it was used as a domestic cat by pre-Columbian populations and could be the only feline to live in couples.
Margay cat
The margay, also known as the tiger cat, is a small feline that is mainly found in the tropical forests and bush environments of Central and South America. Secret and elusive, it lives mainly in trees where it feeds on birds and lizards. It waits until night to hunt on the ground. It hunts rodents, young deer, sloth and poultry.
The most endangered subspecies
THE IBERIAN LYNX
The Iberian lynx, one endangered population,, struggles to survive in the mountains of Spain, far from the cold northern forests where most lynx live.
As its name suggests, the Iberian Lynx lives in Spain (mainly in the south, in Andalusia in the Sierra de Andújar and Doñana National Parks).
For about ten years, this feline has been threatened with extinction. Following a disease, its preferred prey (wild rabbit) has practically disappeared from its hunting area. Although prohibited, poaching remains a major threat. Finally, its living space is gradually shrinking. Fortunately, thanks to a conservation program (Life Lince), the population has decreased from 94 to 312 individuals in 10 years.
THE AMUR LEOPARD
The Amur leopard is a solitary animal. Agile and strong, it carries and hides its prey so that it is not taken by other predators. It has been reported that some males stay with the females after mating, and may even help raise the young. Several males may follow a female and fight over her. They live for 10 to 15 years, and in captivity for up to 20 years. The Amur Leopard is also known as the Far Eastern, Manchurian or Korean Leopard.
Classified as Critically Endangered since 1996 by the IUCN, this subspecies of panther lives mainly in south-eastern Russia and north-eastern China. In 2012, 200 Love Leopards would be living in captivity and only 40 individuals would remain in the wild. Like the Iberian lynx, it is threatened by the reduction of its prey, hunting, and habitat loss.
THE CLOUDED LEOPARD
The clouded leopard, Neofelis nebulosa, an endangered species, roam the hunting grounds of Asia. It is found in the primary tropical rainforest throughout Southeast Asia. However, due to habitat loss and poaching, the clouded leopard is becoming less and less common. In 2013, the population is estimated at 10,000, which is still small. In addition, one of the three species (Taiwanese Nebula) has become extinct. As a result, 277 individuals are captive for further protection.
THE CARACAL
Located mainly in Africa and South Asia, the caracal is not protected by hunting in South Africa because it is considered a “problem animal”. In 2009, only 18 caracals were kept in captivity.
THE ASIAN CHEETAH
Also known as the Iranian cheetah, this feline is in great danger of extinction. Living in Iran and Pakistan, the Asian cheetah is a victim of juvenile capture, hunting and destruction of its natural habitat. Today, there are only 60 in the deserts of Iran and Pakistan.
THE BAY CAT
The golden cat of Borneo, about the size of a domestic cat, also known as the bay cat, has a uniform red or gray coat with a long tail. It is also one of the least known felines on our planet. Because of its legendary discretion, it took researchers more than a century to observe it properly: they named it so after the discovery of a skull and pieces of skin.
Even today, they still know almost nothing about its way of life. It is assumed that it inhabits primary forests and hunts small animals such as rodents. Classified as “endangered” by the IUCN, the bay cat is protected throughout its territory. The main threats to the species are poaching and deforestation.]
This feline lives on the island of Borneo and there were fewer than 2,500 of them in 2008. But according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, this number is expected to drop by 20% in the next twelve years.
THE SNOW LEOPARD
Snow leopard, large long-haired Asian cat, named Panthera uncia. The snow leopard lives in the mountains of central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, ranging from an elevation of about 1,800 meters in the winter to about 5,500.
Located in 12 Central Asian countries, the snow leopard is hunted illegally for its fur. It is estimated that fewer than 6,500 remain due to poaching and loss of natural habitat.
During the last decade, one snow leopard (Panthera unci) has been killed on average every day, according to the Snow Leopard Conservation Organization. The cat is a victim of habitat destruction, depletion of its prey due to poaching and illegal trafficking or global warming. Today, only 3,920 to 6,390 individuals remain, living in the mountains of Central Asia between Tajikistan, Mongolia and China.
THE AFRICAN GOLDEN CAT
Living in the tropical forests of West and Central Africa, the African golden cat is threatened with extinction due to deforestation and lack of prey. According to the latest estimates in 2005, there are still nearly 10,000 living individuals.
THE SUMATRAN TIGER
The Sumatran tiger, Panthera tigris Sumatra, is a member of a critically endangered species. Sumatran tigers are distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coat. The last remaining Sumatran tigers, estimated to number less than 400 today, survive in the vast forests of Sumatra. Accelerating deforestation and rampant poaching mean that this noble creature could eventually disappear like its counterparts in Java and Bali.
In Indonesia, anyone caught hunting tigers could face prison sentences and heavy fines. But despite increased efforts to conserve tigers, including strengthening law enforcement and anti-poaching capacity, there remains a significant market in Sumatra and other parts of Asia for tiger parts and products. Sumatran tigers are rapidly losing their habitat and prey, and poaching is an ongoing threat.
It lives on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and has been listed as endangered by IUCN since 2008 as its population did not exceed 679 individuals. This is believed to be mainly due to deforestation and hunting.
THE MALTESE TIGER
Also called “blue tiger”, this feline is as rare as it is mythical. It is hunted to satisfy the needs of traditional Chinese medicine. Present in the mountains of the province of Fujian, in the south of China. According to scientists, this tiger does not exist. But according to various testimonies, it does exist and is on the verge of extinction.
THE ANDEAN CAT
This feline species is found in South America but due to the disappearance of its prey and the reduction of its habitat, it is considered to be in danger of extinction. The population is less than 2,500 individuals.
THE SAND CAT
Although it can be found in Central Asia, the desert cat, also known as the sand cat, lives in the Sahara Desert, one of the most hostile places in the world. It’s one of the smallest cats in the world, measuring no more than 90cm. Its tail is longer than its body. The desert cat can go a long time without drinking, getting its water needs from its food.
HERE YOU CAN VISIT THESE CATS VIRTUALLY IN SOME OF THE MOST FAMOUS WILDCATS SANCTUARIES AND RESCUES IN THE WORLD :
“One of the world’s largest accredited sanctuaries for exotic cats, is a leading advocate for ending the abuse of captive big cats and saving wild cats from extinction. We are the most hated, feared, and lied about by circuses, backyard breeders, roadside zoos, cub petting pimps a pseudo-sanctuaries because we are the most effective at ending the abuse of big cats. We wear that as a badge of honor.
We are home to lions, tigers, bobcats, cougars, servals, caracals, jaguar and other species most of whom have been abandoned, abused, orphaned, saved from being turned into fur coats, or retired from performing acts.”
“Our Mission is to provide the best home we can for the cats in our care, end the abuse of big cats in captivity, and prevent the extinction of big cats in the wild.”
“Advocate no more wild pets”
“Say no to cub petting”
“Say no to white tigers”
“Say no to hybrid cats”
“Situated in the heart of South Africa, close to Bethlehem, LIONSROCK is located about 2–3 hours distance from Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Durban. A previously existing park, FOUR PAWS made the decision to take over the area in 2006 after an intensive search for an appropriate location for a sanctuary of this kind. Named after a prominent rock in the center of the area called “Lionsrock”, the sanctuary is currently home to more than 100 animals, mainly big cats rescued from zoos, private captivity or the entertainment industry.
With an area consisting of approximately 1,250 hectares, huge demands were placed on the local team during the early days. The newly acquired big cat sanctuary required massive structural changes in order to bring the area up to FOUR PAWS` high-quality standards.”
“Our Mission
To provide a lifetime refuge for abandoned, abused, and neglected big cats with an emphasis on tigers, lions, leopards, and cougars.”
If you are interested you can find more information and details on my Facebook Page:
