Monday, September 30, 2013

Lion that snarls like Beyonce: Photographer captures bizarre quizzical look on the big cat's face

By Daily Mail Reporter


Captured mid-roar, this lion appears to be showing its inner-diva as it bears a striking resemblance to American songstress Beyonce.

The incredible photo captures the powerful facial expression as the lion lets it all go and opens up its vocal chords.

And, with his flowing golden mane and penetrating gaze, the big-cat wouldn't look out of place on stage with the wondrous singer.

Diva: This lion showed a striking resemblance to Beyonce when he was captured mid-roar at a wildlife sanctuary in South Dakota, America
Diva: This lion showed a striking resemblance to Beyonce when he was captured mid-roar at a wildlife sanctuary in South Dakota, America
Debra Jones, 47, took the photo at the Spirit of the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, South Dakota, U.S.
Debra, who works as an accountant, was astonished when her pictures of adult male lion Hercules included this amazing snapshot.

Debra said: 'I usually take pictures of the majority of the animals and I was taking shots of Hercules roaring.

Two peas in a pod: Beyonce in her famous pose. The lion above was captured by wildlife photographer Debra Jones, 47
Two peas in a pod: Beyonce in her famous pose. The lion above was captured by wildlife photographer Debra Jones, 47
'It was a lucky snap shot at the end of a very long day.'

Spirit of the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary was founded in 1999  to provide a permanent home for unwanted, neglected and abused animals. 

Prior to establishing the Sanctuary in Spearfish, South Dakota, director Michael Welchynski founded and directed Spirit Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada. 

Spirit Valley was an animal refuge facility for injured and orphaned wildlife and for unwanted domestic and exotic animals.

Along with badgers, birds of prey, moose and Black bears, Spirit Valley was also home to a Barbary lion named Hercule, who needed a permanent home after outgrowing his adopted family’s city apartment, and a Siberian tiger named 'Tane', who was confiscated by Canadian authorities when her owner was caught walking her on a leash in a suburban neighborhood in Saskatchewan.

Upon the invitation of Johanna Meier and Guido Della Vecchia, owners and directors of the Black Hills Passion Play, Michael Welchynski transported some 200 animals, including the lion and tiger, across the international border to establish Spirit of the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Spearfish, South Dakota.

source 

Ghost tiger sired four cubs in Panna



BHOPAL: This is a whodunnit thriller in the deep forests of Panna Tiger reserve of Madhya Pradesh, which was once declared as tiger extinct. Panic buttons were pressed over the wiping out of big cats by poachers. Tigers were relocated to Panna to replenish the reserve. And it was then that a big cat love story was born with a twist in the tail.

In 2011, forest officials were euphoric after four cubs were born to an imported tigress. The reserve was back on the tiger map. It was thought that a trans-located tiger had sired the cubs. But now the ghost of Panna returned after DNA analyses of the cubs proved they were fathered by a tiger, who had been butchered by poachers in 2009. If he was officially dead, then how did he father the cubs?

These four cubs - that gave the state government a reason to cheer after years of infamy - were credited to the account of an introduced tiger T3, the 'hero' of PTR's success story. He had created a record of fathering 19 cubs. Now, his historic record will have to be rewritten - Hero of 15.

The matter came to light after a DNA test conducted by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad. Scientists traced DNA samples of these four cubs to a big cat 'originally' living in Panna before the sudden disappearance of tigers in 2009.

The test was carried out on the suggestion of Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, to assess the genetic diversity and 'paternity assessment of reintroduced tigers in Panna'.

Accordingly, DNA samples of trans-located tiger cubs were collected and matched with a male tiger (T3), which was introduced after 2009.

"We were able to obtain evidence that four cubs were not sired by the introduced male T3. Genetic evidence indicated they were sired by one of the original and probably still existing Panna tigers," reads a letter by CCMB to WII. Copy of this letter was accessed through RTI by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey.

Several samples which included translocated tigers were subjected to a stringent analysis, during which samples of the four cubs matched with the sample of tiger collected in 2006, said sources.

No tigers were found in Panna Reserve in the 2009 census carried out by the state forest department. Reports said there were more than 20 tigers in 2006.

"The news of cubs being sired by ghost tigers may embarrass the PTR staff. They should now be happy that at least one of the missing tiger is back," said Dubey.

Shifted from Pench in November 2009 to the reserve after it lost all its big cats, T3- the lone male tiger lorded over its area with a privilege of being able to choose from four trans-located tigresses. A few days after being shifted to Panna, the homesick tiger had started moving in the direction of Pench, about 400 km away, showing disinterest in the two trans-located females (T1 and T2). 
 

Samburu's lions: how the big cats could make a comeback in Kenya

Jeremy Hance
mongabay.com
September 30, 2013










The Wildlife Conservation Network is holding its annual Wildlife Conservation Expo on Saturday, October 12, 2013 from 10am to 6pm at the Mission Bay Conference Center in San Francisco, CA. The lineup includes 20 prominent conservationists.


Shivani Bhalla will be speaking at the Wildlife Conservation Network Expo in San Francisco on October 12th, 2013.
In 2009 conservationists estimated that less than 2,000 lions survive in Kenya, a drop of 26 percent in just seven years. In addition, the East Africa country continues to hemorrhage lions: around a hundred a year. Poaching, poisoning, and large-scale habitat loss has put lions on the defensive across Africa, but even countries once thought lion strongholds--like Kenya--have seen populations harried to devastation and in some cases local extinction. Shivani Bhalla, a fourth-generation Kenyan, is working to turnaround this trend in Samburu National Reserve.

Bhalla first moved to Samburu in 2002 to study cheetahs for her Master's, but she says, "I didn't see a single cheetah, but did see lions in small groups, in pairs, or on their own. These behavioral patterns I saw in Samburu's lions, which were different from childhood memories of safaris where I saw prides of up to 10 individuals, prompted a shift in my focus."

Her expert understanding of Samburu's lions underpinned her creation of the Ewaso Lions organization in 2007. Ewaso Lions works with local people, most notably the Samburu tribe, to mitigate conflict with lions. The young group's action includes employing Samburu warriors to track wildlife and report predation, kickstarting wildlife clubs for kids, and using safari guides to collect data on lions.


Samburu lion tagged for tracking. Photo by: Ewaso Lions.
Samburu lion tagged for tracking. Photo by: Ewaso Lions.
"Our successful Warrior Watch program, which engages, trains, and helps the warrior-class to become active wildlife ambassadors in their communities, has not only helped us gain a better understanding of wildlife numbers, distribution, poaching, and conflict over a wider area and on a much larger scale than before, but has contributed towards building local capacity and providing these young men with the education to develop and enhance their skills," Bhalla explains.

Today, Samburu is home to 40 lions, the highest number in over a decade. But one of the most surprising things about working in Samburu is not the lions, however important, but the local tribe, which differs from some other notable African tribes by having a more tolerant view of top predators in general.

"Samburu lore indicates that if one’s cow is attacked by a lion, blessings and riches befall that family in all their endeavors. We have found that often the Samburu people would only target lions if they have lost numerous livestock to them. They no longer hunt lions for ceremonial reasons and are beginning to realize their importance to the ecosystem," Bhalla says, adding that, "[the Samburu] are essential in ensuring a future for lions as they are the ones who know the lions—their whereabouts and their needs."

Shivani Bhalla will be presenting at the up-coming Wildlife Conservation Network Expo in San Francisco on October 12th, 2013, an event which will be headed by Jane Goodall.



INTERVIEW WITH SHIVANI BHALLA

Samburu warriors tracking lions with Shivani Bhalla (far right). Photo by: Ewaso Lions.
Samburu warriors tracking lions with Shivani Bhalla (far right). Photo by: Ewaso Lions.

Mongabay: What drew you to lions?

Shivani Bhalla: I have always been keenly interested in wildlife conservation, and have long had a particular fascination for big cats. I am a 4th generation Kenyan and childhood safaris with my parents across Kenya confirmed my passion for animals. Shortly after moving to Samburu in 2002, I heard about a unique occurrence where a lioness had adopted a baby oryx antelope in Samburu National Reserve. My subsequent collaboration with big cat expert Saba Douglas-Hamilton, who was capturing this unusual story on film, gave me a unique insight into the lions of this region. That was the beginning of my current lion conservation and research work in the Ewaso Nyiro ecosystem in northern Kenya.

During this time, I was attempting to research cheetahs in the area for my Master's thesis—I didn't see a single cheetah, but did see lions in small groups, in pairs, or on their own. These behavioral patterns I saw in Samburu's lions, which were different from childhood memories of safaris where I saw prides of up to 10 individuals, prompted a shift in my focus. Within a few months, I identified all the lion prides in the area and used the data in my Master's thesis. This study was a first, since no one had, up to that point, conducted any extensive research into the lions of the Ewaso Nyiro ecosystem. My research revealed that lions moved frequently between the National Reserves and community areas adjacent to the Reserves especially in the wet seasons. It also supported the hypothesis that this region is extremely critical for lion dispersal in all of northern Kenya.

It was evident that there was much more to learn about this lion population and the threats they face, especially as their movements led to increased encounters and conflicts with the local people that live adjacent to the Reserves. So I took this study further, embarked on a Ph.D. and founded the Ewaso Lions Project in 2007.

Mongabay: Lions have undergone a terrible decline in the last century. What have been the primary drivers of this decline?

Lion silhouette in Samburu. Photo by: Ewaso Lions.
Lion silhouette in Samburu. Photo by: Ewaso Lions.

Shivani Bhalla: The African lion population has declined by 30-50% in the past 20 years and lions have disappeared from at least 83% of their historical range in Africa. This reduction in lion numbers is due to habitat loss and conflict with humans, primarily over livestock depredation. With Kenya's lion population now numbering less than 2,000, and with continued losses of approximately 100 lions a year, lions in Kenya could become extinct in the next two decades.

Lions require large areas of habitat for their survival. Their movement depends on the availability of prey and places where they can hide and rest during the day. Due to increased land fragmentation and habitat loss, their movements take them into areas inhabited by people. These encounters often lead to conflict when lions attack livestock, and herders retaliate by fatally shooting, spearing, or poisoning lions and other large carnivores.

The greater Ewaso Nyiro ecosystem in northern Kenya is a key area for large carnivores and supports the country's third largest lion population. This region, which includes parts of Samburu, Laikipia, and Isiolo Counties, serves as a key linkage with carnivore populations further north. Lions in this area frequently move between protected areas and adjacent communal lands, and move into community areas in search of food especially when their natural prey disperses from protected areas during the wet season. During these times, people often experience livestock loss to lions and other predators, and this leads to conflict and eventual retaliation against these carnivores.

Mongabay: How are lions faring in Samburu National Reserve?

Lion cub. Photo by: Ewaso Lions.
Lion cub. Photo by: Ewaso Lions.

Shivani Bhalla: We have been monitoring the lion population in the region since 2002. This includes Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba National Reserves and the Community Conservancies surrounding these protected areas. The population dropped considerably in 2006 and 2007 when we lost an entire pride that left the safety of the protected areas. Only one female returned. At this time, we also had a period where no cubs were born. Subsequently, the population started increasing in 2008 with new births and 100% cub survival. In 2009, the region faced a severe drought—although this was devastating for livestock, people, and herbivores, the lions fared well during this time as they preyed on the weaker animals and carcasses of those that succumbed to the drought. The population has continued to increase since 2009 and we are now monitoring the highest number of lions since 2002—40 individuals.

Mongabay: How do you convince local communities to see lions as assets and not dangerous pests?

Shivani Bhalla: I realized during my years of working within this human-dominated landscape, that local people would not care about the wildlife they live with unless their livelihoods are protected and they realize the value of wildlife to the ecosystems and economic health of their areas. Therefore, I've always valued the importance of combining conservation with development activities, such as spreading awareness, capacity building through training, providing jobs and education, and providing communities with the tools to protect their livestock and alleviate human-wildlife conflict, in order to achieve lasting, long-term solutions to the problems wildlife and people face in this area.

Awareness is the key to ensuring that these local communities see lions as important assets within their landscapes. With this in mind, Ewaso Lions' conservation efforts focus on building awareness and providing tools for coexistence through a variety of community programs that include conservation education, alleviating human-carnivore conflict, and building local conservation capacity. Our community programs include Warrior Watch, Wazee Watch, Boma Watch, and Lion Watch programs; conducting Ranger and Warrior training workshops; holding Lion Kids Camps; providing school support in the form of bursaries and setting up of Wildlife Clubs.

Our successful Warrior Watch program, which engages, trains, and helps the warrior-class to become active wildlife ambassadors in their communities, has not only helped us gain a better understanding of wildlife numbers, distribution, poaching, and conflict over a wider area and on a much larger scale than before, but has contributed towards building local capacity and providing these young men with the education to develop and enhance their skills, as well as educate their peers and community members of the importance of wildlife.

Mongabay: Will you tell us about working with the Samburu tribes? Why are they so essential to lion survival?

Female lions. Photo by: Ewaso Lions.
Female lions. Photo by: Ewaso Lions.

Shivani Bhalla: The Samburu people have always lived with wildlife. They have many legends in which wildlife play a major role and are an essential part of their culture. The Samburu have historically been more tolerant of wildlife than some of the other ethnic groups that live alongside them, and it is this tolerance and benevolence that is critical for ensuring long-term survival of lions and other carnivores in the region.

Samburu lore indicates that if one’s cow is attacked by a lion, blessings and riches befall that family in all their endeavors. We have found that often the Samburu people would only target lions if they have lost numerous livestock to them. They no longer hunt lions for ceremonial reasons and are beginning to realize their importance to the ecosystem. Samburu warriors in particular live in the bush and are the eyes and ears of their communities. They are superb trackers and have a real eye for locating lions. They are essential in ensuring a future for lions as they are the ones who know the lions—their whereabouts and their needs—and now with their help, we can work towards ensuring a secure future for lions in the area.

Mongabay: You recently co-authored a paper suggesting that fencing lion populations may be the best means of protecting them. Will you tell us about this idea? Also, what do you say to other lion researchers who believe this is a flawed strategy?

Shivani Bhalla: In our study area, lions exist in low densities but are found throughout the landscape. The total number of lions in the wider area is quite substantial, and make up probably the second largest lion population in Kenya. Although lion numbers within the protected areas is significant, these protected areas are not big enough to provide territory and resources for these lions, so they are constantly moving into the community areas surrounding the Reserves. Therefore, fencing is not an option for this particular population. Lion movement data shows that lions in this population and in southern Kenya (the biggest remaining population in Kenya) use pastoralist areas extensively. Fencing just the protected areas in these landscapes would lower the overall viability of these populations since it would not allow for wide dispersal and genetic diversity in breeding. Fencing might be an option for very large protected areas, but not for lions surviving in land-use mosaics such as the ecosystem we work in. I am a strong believer of community-based conservation and believe that lions are able to live with people, as long as livestock loss to lions is minimized, people tolerate lions, and safe refuges exist for lions to permeate through human occupied lands.

I was listed as an author since I contributed data towards the paper. However, I believe the conclusions were meant to highlight the potential value of one conservation tool in relevant situations, not to provide a one size fits all solution to lion conservation.



Shivani Bhalla. Photo by: Ewaso Lions.
Shivani Bhalla. Photo by: Ewaso Lions.

Lion with oryx prey. Photo by: Ewaso Lions.
Lion with oryx prey. Photo by: Ewaso Lions.

Tracking team. Photo by: Ewaso Lions.
Tracking team. Photo by: Ewaso Lions.

Investigating dead lion. Photo by: Ewaso Lions.
Investigating dead lion. Photo by: Ewaso Lions.



source: Mongo Bay

Iranian cheetahs threatened by increased poaching – Major conference to be held

Iran Cheetah Conference - 5th October

Tehran will host National Conference of Iranian Cheetahs, organized by the ICS and Iran DoE on 5 October 2013. With various talks to be given by high-ranked Iranian governmental authorities about country's commitment to protect the cheetahs in Iran, the ICS will announce officially final outcome of two years of cheetah monitoring efforts across multiple reserves which has been carried out in partnership with Iran DoE, Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah Project and Panthera since 2011.

Rewards
Meanwhile, more than 15 outstanding game guards together with a few dedicated herders who did not kill the predators despite serious livestock loss they experienced will be acknowledged in the ceremony which is to be attended by the country's vice president and head of Iran DoE, Dr Masoumeh Ebtekar.

Recent surveys in Iran have revealed that the country's cheetah population has sunk to critical levels and is still in decline. Low reproduction in recent years has also increased concerns among experts about the future of the cheetahs in Iran. Accordingly, in order to spread the word among key partners and also to motivate game guards who are the frontiers in cheetah conservation in the country, the conference has been organized and financial incentives have been provided for selected game guards who have been active in anti-poaching efforts within last year.

The conference will be held in DoE's main conference hall in Tehran.
Asiatic cheetah mortality on the increase
September 2013. The critically endangered Asiatic cheetah is under threat from an increased mortality rate due to human causes in recent years in Iran. According to continuous monitoring surveys conducted by the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) and Iran DoE's Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah Project, there has been a recent spike in cheetah mortality.

From 2000 - 2010, when cheetah conservation efforts in Iran were first organized, the mortality rate due to poaching decreased from approximately 2 individuals in the 1990s to less than 1 cheetah each year. 11 cheetahs were killed in road incidents during the 2000s, and 13 other cheetah were killed by humans. In contrast, since 2010, at least 5 cheetahs have been killed by humans in Iran and two more are suspected, indicating 2 to 3 individuals per year are being killed, similar to pre-cheetah conservation efforts in 1990s.

No road deaths
While unlike 2000s no cheetah has been reported to be killed on roads in recent years in Iran; however, increased poaching is very alarming given the critical status of the animal in Iran, the last known population of cheetah outside Africa.
From 2005 - 2010 11 cheetah were killed on different roads. Photo credit Iran Cheetah SocietyFrom 2005 - 2010 11 cheetah were killed on different roads. Photo credit Iran Cheetah Society
Weaker conservation measures
Improved anti-poaching efforts within cheetah ranges, wide-spread community-based educational programs and hiring and motivating game guards were the key factors that contributed to reducing poaching incidents of cheetah in Iran during 2000s. However more recently financial limitations for rural communities, weakened conservation measures and a decreased level of support from development-based governmental agencies are driving the cheetahs toward a gloomy future in Iran, highlighting the urgency of enhanced protection within more than 15 cheetahs ranges across the eastern half of Iran.

The ICS has a comprehensive program to train and to equip game guards and also to keep them motivated to carry out their anti-poaching tasks which is essential for the survival of the cheetah and its prey.

source

Image of the Day

Cute rusty cat by Tambako the Jaguar
Cute rusty cat, a photo by Tambako the Jaguar on Flickr.

Rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus)

Sunday, September 29, 2013

San Antonio tiger cubs' pictures

 
All Photos Courtesy of the San Antonio Zoo
Two Sumatran tiger cubs receive their first medical checkup at the San Antonio Zoo.
    Two Sumatran tiger cubs, born at the San Antonio Zoo early last month, appear to be vocalizing their enthusiasm (top) about their Facebook debut — though they do not yet have names. One of the cubs (above) receives her first medical checkup at the zoo.
     
     


    The two baby Sumatran tiger cubs, both female, that were born at the San Antonio Zoo in early August have made their Facebook debut.

    Pictures of the pair of tiger sisters recently were posted to the San Antonio Zoo's official Facebook page and show a zoo veterinarian examining them with a stethoscope during the cubs' first medical checkup.

    The San Antonio cubs' birth came just a day or two before a pair of Sumatran tiger cubs were born Aug. 5 at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

    Elizabeth Castillo, spokeswoman for the San Antonio Zoo, said the cubs are healthy and weighed 8 pounds each at their checkup. They have yet to be named.

    Sumatran tigers are a critically endangered tiger subspecies, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Less than 400 are estimated to exist worldwide.

    For weeks, not even members of the zoo staff were allowed to be near the cubs while the mother tiger, Kemala, was acclimating to her new offspring. The father tiger, Raguno, has been kept out of the enclosure where the mother and her cubs are being held.

    Dr. Rob Hilsenroff, executive director of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, explained why the mother and her cubs have been kept in relative isolation.

    “They're not going to risk her rejecting the cubs,” Hilsenroff said from the AAZV offices in northern Florida. “They make behavioral judgments on the mother, and if (the mother) feels the stress of anyone getting closer, anyone other than keepers or anyone they're used to smelling, she'll oftentimes kill the cubs or abandon them.”

    Zoos tend to rely on the mother's history with previous litters when making decisions about when to approach the babies and put them on exhibit, but this is Kemala's first litter.

    Zoo officials said the public and the media likely wouldn't be seeing the cubs on display at the exhibit until late October or November.

    The Facebook pictures are the first ones that clearly show the cubs. Previous photos were grainy images from the monitor outside the tiger enclosure.

    source

    Crazy Cat Laws (They are out there)

    Zazza - Nikon D700

     1. All black cats wear bells on Friday the 13th in French Lick Springs, Indiana.

     2. Cats can only be taken on to the street on leads in Lorinc, Hungary. Officials say the measure will protect the public from the “dangerous menace of free range cats.”

     3. Joint custody of a family pet, including cats, is not allowed when a couple divorces in Madison Wisconsin. The feline is legally awarded to whoever happens to have possession of it at the time of the initial separation.

     4. Cats in International Falls, Minnesota are not allowed to chase dogs up telephone poles.

     5. Fights between cats and dogs are prohibited by statute in Barber, North Carolina.

     6. It’s illegal for pet cats to run loose without a taillight in Sterling, Colorado.

     7. Ventura County, California, cats are not allowed to mate without a permit.

    8. Cats living in Cresskill, New Jersey must wear three bells to warn birds of their whereabouts.

    9. Duluth, Minnesota felines may not sleep in a bakery.

    10. California bans cats from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship.

    11. In Zion, Illinois, it is illegal for anyone to give lighted cigars to cats.

    12. Cats may not yowl after 9 pm in Columbus, Georgia.

    13. In Topeka, Kansas, you may not own more than five cats at a time. In Shorewood, Wisconsin, however, no more than two cats can be owned by the same family.

    14.You may not keep a pet cat and a pet bird on the same premises in Reed City, Michigan.

    15. Dogcatchers in Virginia are prohibited from bothering cats while he or she is looking for dogs.



    Please visit Kitten Toob and like them on Facebook; thanks to them for their work on finding these laws!

    Safari park imposes dress code to stop visitors scaring the animals

    Chessington World of Adventures zookeepers say fake leopard print and tiger stripes might cause confusion or fear
    • The Guardian,
    Chessington World of Adventures
    Chessington World of Adventures has banned visitors from wearing leopard print clothing. Photograph: /Solent News & Photo Agency
     
    Visitors to a Surrey safari park have been asked not to wear animal print clothes after concern emerged that fake leopard print and tiger stripes might be confusing or even frightening the animals.
    Zookeepers at Chessington World of Adventures noticed a change in behaviour of animals after the launch of a new attraction which allows visitors to be driven off-road through a 22-acre Serengeti-style reserve, where animals roam free.

    Spokeswoman Natalie Dilloway said: "Animals are getting confused when they see what looks like zebras and giraffes driving across the terrain in a 7.5 tonne truck."
    Keepers reported that some animals had tried to communicate with visitors, while others had run away, fearing they were predators.

    The banned clothes include anything that resembles the skin of giraffes, leopards, cheetahs or tigers.
    The attraction, near Epsom, has even brought in staff to regulate visitors' clothes and is issuing grey boiler suits to anyone they think may be mistaken for an animal.

    Becky Elkin said: "With the gorillas, people often come to see them in fancy dress, which is now 100% banned. Giraffes have also been putting their heads right into the trucks, and one named Kismet has really taken to the sight of different animal prints."

    Animal behaviour consultant Dr Candy D'Sa said colours and patterns can provoke strong reactions in animals. "Certain colourations give warning signals to other animals. For instance the yellow and black stripe of a bee is there as a warning and leopard print or tiger print will trigger some sort of instinct as well.

    "Movement is also a key trigger. Big cats will start getting interested if someone limps past their enclosure because they look weak.

    "Possibly the worst thing you could do is limp past the lion or tiger enclosure in a zebra print outfit."

    source

    Visakhapatnam haven for rescued big cats



    Few people are aware that Visakhapatnam is host to one of the eight animal rescue centres set up in Andhra Pradesh as part of the central government's initiative to provide protection to old and infirm animals rescued from various circuses and zoos round the country. Of these, two are for big cats. Visakhapatnam is lucky to host one such (centre) in the sprawling grounds adjacent to the Kambalakonda forest reserve.

    Driving on NH-5 to Kolkata, one is sure to miss the innocuous looking board tucked away behind the overgrown trees that announces the location of the centre. Once inside, one is treated to the pleasing spectacle of sprawling grounds thick with trees. The two circular structures that house the big cats, 19 lions and 11 tigers, are barely discernible to begin with. Once the eye gets used to the play of sun and shade, one begins to notice the large enclosures fenced with high wire meshes. The air is thick with the smell of antiseptics, spirit, phenol, bleaching powder and the like. All is quiet, other than the chirping of the birds. And then suddenly the air is rent by a distant roar, a grunt or a loud yawn, depending on the time of day; that is how the animals announce their presence.

    Look carefully to the left and one very likely gets to see a tiger lazing in the warm sun, or cooling itself in a puddle of water, depending on the time of the year. If disturbed, the animal will give you a bored look and ignore you. If he/she finds your presence too irritating, it will yawn, swat a couple of flies with its tail, stand up, shake itself and amble away into the shelter with a great deal of dignity and poise. If it is a male, he will spray the nearest tree with urine on its way to the shelter to mark his territory.

    The 11 tigers in the enclosure are, by and large, a quiet lot. They appear to be well settled; tigers adapt to new surroundings better than the lions, we are told. While other tigers take the visitors in their stride and look back with disinterest, a 27-year-old blind male is highly disturbed by visitors and knocks around his cage, his unseeing eyes glassy and bulging. The stench of the animals is, however, overpowering. Tigers are naturally smelly, they can be detected from a great distance even in the wild.

    The lions' enclosure is a different world altogether. The majestic lions have been reduced to skin and bones by years of neglect and abuse; the male lions' manes look scruffy and mangy. Since they 'superannuated,' from 'service' of entertaining a decade or so ago, they have become unused to human association and have become feral. They growl, look away and sit with their backs to you.

    "Don't look them in the eye," one is warned. "They don't like it. They feel challenged." However, some of them are not averse to getting a friendly massage from their caregivers, with whom they appear to be on friendly terms. When their backs are rubbed through the iron grills, they visibly relax and purr with delight.

    The caregivers might be popular with the animals but the veterinary doctor is certainly not. His arrival sets off a full-throated chorus of protests, and the animals withdraw into the farthest corners possible in their cages. The animals are regularly examined, de-wormed, de-ticked and medicated for their sundry ailments. The doctor prods, pricks and examines where it hurts them most, apart from administering distasteful medicines.

    But the worst part of it all is that during that humiliating period of examination the animals are pressed tight into an iron frame, so that they do not attack the good doctor or his assistants and rip off chunks of their body parts. The animal's blood and stool samples are sent to the same poly-clinic that you and I visit. So next time you go looking for your blood report, if you come across a report that reads, "name: Kunal, Age: 20, sex: Male, sample: blood-tiger", don't be shocked!

    The animals get one meal a day. Mondays are fast days when they get no food at all. By Tuesday they are starving; the canny creatures are so smart that they can recognize the sound of the auto rickshaw in which their food arrives. They alert one another with impatient growls till the food is placed before them. While their everyday meals consist of chunks of beef, the senior citizens get an extra packet of milk, stirred with raw eggs and easy to digest chicken for breakfast. Their cells are regularly hosed down with water, the entrances to the cells cleaned with phenol, and the pools in which they lounge painstakingly scrubbed with bleaching powder.

    A tiger or a lion can live up to its 15th or 16th year in the wild. However, in a shelter, with all the care and attention they get, the animals generally live longer. Most of the animals in the centre are old and in the last lap of their lives. Rehabilitating ex-performing cats is a major challenge. Most of them suffer from chronic physical problems as result of poor diet, absence of medical attention, lack of adequate exercise and untreated old injuries. Most of them carry scars picked up as performing animals; they carry visible injuries on their bodies due to repeated electro-shocking while in training.

    Even more distressing is their emotional trauma. They are nervous of spending time in open enclosures and wait patiently at the entrances of their cages to be let in, since that was all they were used to as circus animals. Most animals pace within imaginary confines of their enclosures as they were used to in the circus cages, even though their present enclosures are larger. They are either extremely timid or unnecessarily aggressive as a result of years of abuse.

    It is heartening to see those traumatized and ill-treated animals getting a second chance to a decent life. India is justifiably proud of being the first country in the world to set up a whole ministry for animal welfare. It is worth remembering what Mark Twain said of cruelty to animals -- "Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel. He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it." India has, hopefully, reduced such cruelty, part of it at least; our law bans the use of certain animals for entertainment. That is just a beginning.

    (The writer is a heritage and environmental activist)
     

    Image of the Day

    Relaxed leopard by Tambako the Jaguar
    Relaxed leopard, a photo by Tambako the Jaguar on Flickr.

    Brazilian Family Fights To Keep 9 House Trained Pet Tigers (Images and Story)

    By Amanda Schiavo, Sep 28, 2013
    Wild Tiger
    (PHOTO CREDIT: Reuters) A Brazilian family is fighting to keep their 9 pet tigers.

    Ary Borges and his family live in southern Brazil like most families the Borges' love animals and have an array of cats living in their home. The only difference between the cats owned by the Borges family and the cat that is cuddled up on your lap as you read this is the Borges' cats weigh over 700 pounds and could kill you just as soon as look at you. The Borges family shares their home with nine tigers, two lionesses, a chimp and a Chihuahua.

    The family is now in a heated battle with the Brazilian government over whether or not they can be allowed to keep their big cats. The big cats share a home with the Borges in an industrial neighborhood where many residents believe it is only a matter of time before someone is fatally injured by one of the family's pets. Federal wildlife officials in Brazil are fighting to take the cats away saying Ary Borges. The officials say Borges illegally bred the animals and by doing so created "a public danger."

    Borges began collecting and breeding big cats in 2005 when he rescued two abused tigers from a travelling circus. Borges says he has the right to breed and care for these animals and believes there is no better home from them than with his family. "Sadly there are so many animals dying in zoos that have no oversight. My animals are treated extremely well ... we're preserving and conserving the species," Borges said to the Associated Press. "We have a great team of veterinarians. We give them only the best, but we're being persecuted."

    The federal officials are looking to get an order forcing Borges to have his two male tigers neutered so they can no longer reproduce. The wildlife officials are also looking to revoke Borges' caretaker license, which would mean the removal of the animals from his home. Borges' two daughters also spoke to the Associated Press saying their family loves the animals and say they are no threat to people. The tigers would sleep with the girls until they became too big for their beds.

    Experts believe that people that house big cats in their homes as pets are playing with fire.  Patty finch the executive director of the Washington Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries told AP "It's a very dangerous situation, especially if there are young children around, they easily trigger a tiger's hunting instinct."  The Borges family plans to keep fighting for their animals. "My father would die or kill himself if these tigers are taken away," Borges' daughter Uyara said to AP. "They're everything to us, they're my brothers. We've lived with them day and night for eight years."
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    Photos: Living with tigers, Brazilian man fights to keep “pets”

    Posted Sep 27, 2013
    Ary Borges, who cares for eight tigers and two lionesses, at his family’s home in Maringa, Brazil is in a legal battle with federal wildlife officials to keep his endangered animals from undergoing vasectomies and being taken away from him. While Borges does have a license to raise the animals, Brazilian wildlife officials say he illegally bred the cats, creating a public danger.
    tiger-family-brazil-001.JPG


    Wevellyn Antunes Rocha, from left to right, Maria Deusaunira Borges, Uyara Borges, Nayara Borges (back), Daniella Klipe, Gisele Candido, and Ary Borges gather at the breakfast table with tiger Tom, in Maringa, Brazil, Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. Ary Borges, who cares for Tom, eight other tigers and two lionesses, is in a legal battle with federal wildlife officials to keep his endangered animals from undergoing vasectomies and being taken away from him. (AP Photo/Renata Brito)
     tiger-family-brazil-002.JPG

    The Borges' family pet dog, Little, sits on the back of Tom, as they pose for a photo in their kitchen in Maringa, Brazil, Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. The Brazilian family is now locked in a legal dispute for the big cats, eight tigers and two lions, with federal wildlife officials working to take them away. While Borges does have a license to raise the animals, Brazilian wildlife officials say he illegally bred the cats, creating a public danger.(AP Photo/Renata Brito)

     tiger-family-brazil-003.JPG

    Dan, a two-year-old tiger, drinks from a nursing bottle held by his caretaker Ary Borges, left, at Borges' home in Maringa, Brazil, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. Borges is in a legal battle with federal wildlife officials to keep his endangered animals from undergoing vasectomies and being taken away from him. He defends his right to breed the animals and says he gives them a better home than they might find elsewhere in Brazil. (AP Photo/Renata Brito)

     tiger-family-brazil-004.JPG

    Ary Borges stands with his tiger Tom on a leash in his backyard in Maringa, Brazil, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. The Borges family is now locked in a legal dispute for the cats, with federal wildlife officials working to take the animals away. While Borges does have a license to raise the animals, Brazilian wildlife officials say he illegally bred the tigers, creating a public danger. (AP Photo/Renata Brito)

     tiger-family-brazil-005.JPG

    Ary Borges sits behind his tigers inside a cage at his home's backyard in Maringa, Brazil, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. Borges says it all started in 2005 when he first rescued two abused tigers from a traveling circus. He defends his right to breed the animals and says he gives them a better home than they might find elsewhere in Brazil. (AP Photo/Renata Brito)

     tiger-family-brazil-006.JPG

    A tiger leaps out of a pool inside a cage in the backyard of its caretaker Ary Borges in Maringa, Brazil, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. Ibama, Brazil's environmental protection agency that also oversees wildlife, is working through courts to force Borges to have the male tigers undergo vasectomies so they cannot reproduce, confiscate his caretaker license and obtain the cats. Borges appealed and the matter is pending before a federal court. (AP Photo/Renata Brito)

     tiger-family-brazil-007.JPG

    A tiger handler holds out a piece of meat for a tiger named Tom over a swimming pool in the backyard Tom's caretaker Ary Borges in Maringa, Brazil, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. To date, they've had no problems with Borges' animals attacking anyone or getting loose. (AP Photo/Renata Brito)

     tiger-family-brazil-008.JPG

    A tiger named Tom shakes off water as he swims in a pool in the backyard of Ary Borges, his caretaker in Maringa, Brazil, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. Borges, who cares for Tom, eight other tigers and two lionesses, is in a legal battle with federal wildlife officials to keep his endangered animals from undergoing vasectomies and being taken away from him. (AP Photo/Renata Brito)

     tiger-family-brazil-009.JPG

    A tiger named Tom swims in the backyard of his caretaker Ary Borges in Maringa, Brazil, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. Tom shares the Borges family property with other tigers, lions, a monkey, and a pet Chihuahau named Little inside this makeshift animal sanctuary. (AP Photo/Renata Brito)

     tiger-family-brazil-010.JPG

    The Borges' family pet dog, Little, is placed on the back of Tom, their tiger, for a photo to be taken, in Maringa, Brazil, Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. The Brazilian family is now locked in a legal dispute for the big cats, they have eight tigers and two lions, with federal wildlife officials working to take them away. While Borges does have a license to raise the animals, Brazilian wildlife officials say he illegally bred the cats, creating a public danger.(AP Photo/Renata Brito)

     tiger-family-brazil-011.JPG

    Ary Borges sits with one of his nine tigers in his backyard in Maringa, Brazil, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. Borges says it all started in 2005 when he first rescued two abused tigers from a traveling circus. He defends his right to breed the animals and says he gives them a better home than they might find elsewhere in Brazil. (AP Photo/Renata Brito)

     tiger-family-brazil-012.JPG

    Ary Borges feeds his tiger named Dan at his home in Maringa, Brazil, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. Borges is in a legal battle with federal wildlife officials to keep his endangered animals from undergoing vasectomies and being taken away from him. He defends his right to breed the animals and says he gives them a better home than they might find elsewhere in Brazil. (AP Photo/Renata Brito)

    Rangewide Conservation Program for Cheetah and Wild Dog


    By Rosemary Groom, National Geographic Big Cats Initiative

    When it comes to space, both the African wild dog and the cheetah should be classed as “very needy,” and to add to this they almost always occur at low density. And therein lies one of the greatest challenges for their conservation:  viable populations are rarely found exclusively within the confines of protected areas, or even within single countries.  In fact, while a female cheetah in Serengeti could be expected to have a home range of about 1,000km² [386 square miles], the same area could support many times that number of leopard or lion. Cheetah and wild dog conservation therefore requires management at a geographical scale rarely before considered in terrestrial conservation, and that is exactly what the Rangewide Conservation Program for Cheetah and Wild Dog (RWCP) aims to achieve.

    The RWCP is a joint initiative of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), in partnership with the Cat and Canid Specialist Groups of the IUCN/SSC.  The program, funded by the Howard G Buffet Foundation, in partnership with the National Geographic Big Cats Initiative, was initiated as an innovative rangewide conservation planning process in 2007, and regional conservation strategies have since been developed for the three regions of southern, eastern and north, west and central Africa.  Crucially, these strategies were devised in full collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders and they lay out the conservation goals and actions for cheetah and wild dog conservation.  Subsequently, National Action Plans have been developed for 13 range countries, in order that the responsibility for conservation action is taken on at the national level.

    African wild dogs. Photo courtesy of Rosemary Groom.
    African wild dogs. Photo courtesy of Rosemary Groom.

    Photo courtesy of Rosemary Groom
    Photo courtesy of Rosemary Groom

    The program is making important advances concerning the effective conservation of these wide ranging endangered species at both the regional and range-wide scales.  The breadth of the challenge taken on by the program is reflected in the range of conservation methods employed; these include a comprehensive and regularly updated mapping process, support for all on-the-ground field programs, an innovative education and community outreach program and training of senior wildlife managers from all range states.  Key projects include a review of the policy and legislative environment for large carnivore conservation in southern Africa, the initiation of a study on the illegal hunting and bushmeat trade, and work on the illegal trade in cheetah.  Future activities include an African-wide crowd sourcing program for cheetah and wild dog sightings, a connectivity survey in the Mozambican part of the Greater Limpopo TFCA and a training and mentorship program for a cohort of national carnivore coordinators.

    The program is led by Dr Sarah Durant, one of the world’s leading cheetah experts.  Sarah is based at ZSL and runs various conservation field programs in Tanzania, notably the Serengeti Cheetah Project.  Prof Rosie Woodroffe is the African wild dog advisor and runs a long-term wild dog project in Kenya, also now expanding to cheetah research in the same Laikipia region.  The East African coordinator, Dr Nick Mitchell, has been working in the region for over a decade on land use change and participatory management; he’s based in Arusha in Tanzania.   Dr Rosemary Groom is the current southern African coordinator, based in Zimbabwe, where she lives on-site with a wild dog conservation field project in the south-east lowveld. Excitingly, we will soon be able to claim a continent-wide coverage when we announce the appointment of the third and final regional coordinator, that of northern, western and central Africa. Watch this space!

    Have a look at our website www.cheetahandwilddog.org and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/RangeWideConservationProgramforCheetahandWildDog, or contact cheetah@zsl.org (Rosemary) or cheetah@wcs.org (Nick) for more information.

    Dr Sarah Durant. Photo courtesy of Rosemary Groom.
    Dr Sarah Durant. Photo courtesy of Rosemary Groom.

    Dr Nick Mitchell. Photo courtesy of Rosemary Groom.
    Dr Nick Mitchell. Photo courtesy of Rosemary Groom.

    Rosemary Groom. Photo courtesy of Rosemary Groom.
    Rosemary Groom. Photo courtesy of Rosemary Groom.

    Is China opening the door to the tiger and leopard skin trade?

    Beijing refuses to respond to conservationists' concerns about possible re-opening of trade in tiger and leopard skins

    A Siberian tiger growls at the St-Felicien Wildlife zoo 

    A lack of transparency means it's not clear whether China is allowing the illegal trade in the skins of tiger and leopard skins. Photograph: Mathieu Belanger/REUTERS
    Has China quietly reopened the trade in tiger pelts? The question was posed very publicly on Thursday by the Environmental Investigation Agency, which fears that Beijing may be backtracking on an international pledge to save this critically endangered animal.

    In a press release, the conservation group accused the Chinese government of opening up a loophole in the tiger trade ban by allowing commercial breeding centres to register and sell skins.
    This is a contentious claim on a crucial subject. China won international kudos for prohibiting the trade in 1993, but it remains the main source of demand for illegal tiger products and is under pressure from commercial breeders to relax controls.

    The government has repeatedly re-iterated its commitment to protect the animal and curb illegal sales, most recently at last year's Tiger Summit in St Petersberg.

    But it has been far from forthcoming about its efforts to enforce the ban, verify the legality of tiger products and deal with the huge stockpiles of bones and hides that are accumulating in the country's massive tiger farms.

    Along with the lack of transparency is a problem of trust and either an unwillingness or an inability to communicate with the outside world, as I learned today when I tried to get the government's response to the Environmental Investigation Agency's accusations.

    As is the norm with Chinese government bodies, the press officer at the State Forestry Administration – which oversees tiger conservation - asked for questions in writing to be faxed to his office. When we called to ask when we could expect a response, he admitted that none would ever be forthcoming because senior officials have given up accepting interviews from foreign journalists on wildlife issues because they feel the reporting is too negative.

    Putting aside the long-running argument about foreign media coverage of China, this bodes badly for international efforts to save the tiger, which will not work without a higher degree of transparency, accountability and cooperation both within China and across borders.

    It is far from certain that China really has re-opened the tiger trade, but the government needs to spell out its position more clearly. Lets hope delegates at next weeks meeting of the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species have better luck getting straight answers.

    source

    Saturday, September 28, 2013

    Image of the Day

    Profile of Elvis by Tambako the Jaguar
    Profile of Elvis, a photo by Tambako the Jaguar on Flickr.

    Big cat on a hot tin roof

    Amazing moment a cheetah climbed on top of a jeep full of incredulous tourists on safari

    By Daily Mail Reporter


    It may look scary but these cheetahs were not hungry for human flesh. 

    They jumped on the safari vehicle to get a better view of the gazelle they were hunting in Kenya’s Masai Mara reserve – and the occupants could not believe their luck at getting close-up shots of the big cats. 

    The picture won Yanai Bonneh, an Israeli photographer who was in another vehicle, third prize in National Geographic’s 2013 Traveller Photo Contest.

    Looks like it's tinned food again, dear... This incredible photograph of cheetahs climbing atop a jeep full of tourists in Kenya's Masai Mara game reserve won Yanai Bonneh third place in National Geographic's 2013 Traveller Photo Contest
    Looks like it's tinned food again, dear... This incredible photograph of cheetahs climbing atop a jeep full of tourists in Kenya's Masai Mara game reserve won Yanai Bonneh third place in National Geographic's 2013 Traveler Photo Contest. He won a six-day cruise for two with Schooner American Eagle and Heritage


    Mr Bonneh, who won a six-day cruise for two from Schooner American Eagle and Heritage, said: I was around 15 metres from the tourists and the cheetahs, sitting in the vehicle with my mother and my sister. 

    'They were shocked and amazed, I only realized it was an unusual and spectacular moment, didn't think too much and pulled out my camera immediately and started clicking.'
    This year, more than 15,500 professional and amateur photographers from around the globe entered their works in the prestigious competition.

    The contest features images divided into four categories: Travel Portraits, Outdoor Scenes, Sense of Place and Spontaneous Moments. 

    Judges review the submissions over two rounds, choosing the top three images along with seven merit choices. Another photo is selected by readers.

    source 

    Friday, September 27, 2013

    Image of the Day

    Exclusive video shows a jaguar stalking and killing a caiman in Brazil




    Will Halicks
    National Geographic
    Published September 25, 2013
    Dramatic still images of a jaguar ambushing an unwary caiman in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands went viral on the web this month. National Geographic has exclusive video of the attack that reveals what the pictures only hint at.
    With one bite, the big cat likely delivered an immediate blow to the caiman's central nervous system, leaving the animal unable to fight or flee, according to Luke Dollar, a conservation scientist who helps manage National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative.
    "This guy knew his business," said Dollar. Suffocating an animal with a bite to the neck is a classic big-cat maneuver, but caimans don’t have a discernible neck. So the jaguar—which has the strongest bite of any cat—went right for the skull.
    "This guy got right in the thickest part of the brain case and sunk those teeth in," he said. "And that's pretty amazing when you consider a caiman’s brain is probably the size of a walnut."
    Kedar Hippalgaonkar, of Berkeley, California, shot the footage while vacationing in Brazil with his wife, Parul Jain.  The couple were hoping to spot some jaguars on an eight-hour boat tour of the Pantanal with ecotourism operator SouthWild.
    And did they. The jaguar in the video—known to locals as Mick Jaguar—was the third they’d seen that day. When the jaguar went ashore, Hippalgaonkar said it became obvious that Mick was on the prowl.
    "He's just crawling first, and then you can see him sort of in hunt mode," he said. "You know he’s definitely going for something. Which is why we decided to wait there, before all the other boats came."
    His footage reveals a predator picking its way along the riverbank in search of potential prey.
    "He makes no noise whatsoever, even when he's swimming," he said.
    The tour's boatman, who had logged thousands of hours watching jaguars, told Hippalgaonkar he’d never seen anything to rival Mick Jaguar’s stealthy strike.

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    Cedar Grove Cats are on the prowl













     







































    (Top) One of Cedar Cove’s many tigers does a little scratching Monday morning as Rockville Elementary first-graders visited the conservatory and education center in May.
    One of Cedar Cove’s many tigers does a little


    Posted: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 
      The facility, which is located about three miles east of Louisburg on Kansas Highway 68, is a popular attraction throughout the year. Families in town for the upcoming Ciderfest weekend may want to also explore Cedar Cove, which features exotic cats ranging from lions and tigers to servals and pumas.

    The facility opened in 2000, and it has grown to feature a variety of animals, including wolves. The facility is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. Saturday feeding takes place at 4 p.m., when visitors can watch the big cats devour large quantities of meat.

    Starting Nov. 1 and going through March, Saturday hours will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with feedings at 2 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children ages 4-12, as well as seniors. Children 3 and under are free.

    The cats are also gearing up for the facility’s seventh annual Halloween celebration in October. The event is called “Prowl-O-Ween,” and it will feature a haunted house on October 26 and 27.
    Many updates have been made to the facility over the past few years, so if you’ve visited the cats at Cedar Cove before, you’ll have to be sure to stop back in and see them again. Steve Klein, senior curator, has put in a lot of hours working on the improvements.

    The Cove’s two lions, male Tonka and female Shanta, continue to be popular stars at the facility. Their pen features a lot of running room and several wooden platforms made by Eagle Scouts for the two lions to climb on.

    Cedar Cove rests on 11 acres of land donated by the George Criswell family about three miles east of Louisburg on Kansas Highway 68. The not-for-profit 501©(3) organization is dedicated to the preservation of endangered species and educating the public on their plight.

    To learn more about Cedar Cove, visit www.saveoursiberians.org, or the Facebook page, which includes photos and videos of the frisky felines in their homes, at www.facebook.com/CedarCoveParkStaff, or simply by searching for “Cedar Cove” in the search box

    source