Saturday, June 28, 2014

This Is How Big Cats Stay Cool! (VIDEO)



Paulina Lam
June 27, 2014

Summer is here and it can get pretty hot outside, especially if you’re living in Tampa, Fla. But, thankfully, the big cats residing at Big Cat Rescue know how to cool off. They sit in the shade, take naps in cool dens, and go for a swim in the pools. They also get to cool down with big cat popsicles!


As part of Big Cat Rescue’s enrichment program, these cats get to escape the summer heat with popsicle treats, like Bloodsicles, Sardini Martini, and Poultry Pops. The ingredients for the treats are simple, blood and water, sardines and water, raw chicken and water. Then, freeze. Doesn’t sound so appetizing, does it? But it sure is enjoyable for the big cats at the rescue.
From yogurt cup-sized popsicles to 5 gallon bucket-sized popsicles, there’s a favorite popsicle for the over 100 cats residing at Big Cat Rescue. Watch in the video above as each cat enjoys his or her summer treat!
 source

Your Daily Cat

Lion with head on the log

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Your Daily Cat


Fighting Persian Leopards


Amur Leopard marking territory

Four Big Cat Videos




Lion Debate


 
Feeding Tiger cubs 



Tiger stalk

Pumpkins

Judge sets 2018 deadline for effort to save lynx

Created: 06/25/2014 
KAALtv.com
By: MATTHEW BROWN 


BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday set a 2018 deadline for the government to complete a long-delayed recovery plan for imperiled Canada lynx in the Lower 48 states.

Wildlife advocates had asked U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy to push the government into faster action on the snow-loving big cats, which were added to the list of threatened species in 2000.
But after federal officials said budget issues and competing priorities were slowing their work, Molloy indicated Wednesday in an order that he was reluctant to second-guess them. He said the January 2018 deadline proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was reasonable. "It will not disrupt the Service's other recovery work, but will also set a date certain by which the Service will be required to take action," the judge wrote.

Molloy also ordered the agency to submit semi-annual progress reports each January and July.
Federal officials were forced to come up with a timeline for the recovery document when Molloy last month expressed frustration with the government's track record of delays on the issue. The judge said the "stutter-step" approach by federal officials since the animal first gained protections necessitated court intervention. Advocates wanted the recovery plan done by the end of 2016.

Lynx dwell in the forest, where they are rarely seen, and there's no reliable estimate of their population. They range across parts of 14 states in the Northeast, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Lakes and the Cascade Range of Washington and Oregon.

Federal wildlife official say that lynx face a relatively low degree of threat compared to other protected species. They have proposed large areas in Montana, Wyoming and other states as critical habitat for the lynx. The recovery plan would detail the additional steps needed to ensure the species' long-term survival. But a coalition of conservation groups sued the government last year for not completing that document more than a decade after lynx received federal protections. The plaintiffs in the case are Friends of the Wild Swan, Rocky Mountain Wild, Biodiversity Conservation Alliance and the San Juan Citizens Alliance.

source

Ten Amazing Small Wild Cats


A serval kitten. (© Anup Shah/Corbis)

Forget the lions and tigers, these prowling felines have much more to tell us about the natural world

smithsonian.com

Big cats get the lion’s share of our attention. We admire their power, felicity of movement, and striking coats of spots and stripes. But the majority of cat species alive today are small – there are more than thirty species of little cats that prowl landscapes from the Sahara Desert to Siberian forests. And while they might look like the moggies that purr and cuddle on our laps at home, these cats are wildly different, adapted to mimic the calls of their prey, spring astounding distances into the air, and blend into the jungle so thoroughly that even scientists have trouble finding them. Here’s a look at some of the world’s cats that are smaller, but in no way lesser:

Southern Tigrina, Leopardus guttulus

None
(Trigo TC et al.)
Researchers didn’t even know this species existed until last year. Genes were key to detecting the cat’s existence. Found in the tropical rainforest of southern Brazil, Leopardus guttulus was thought to be a population of a particularly adorable feline named the oncilla. But a study of the cat’s genetics showed that it wasn’t interbreeding with oncilla populations and had become genetically distinct despite looking quite similar. Leopardus guttulus is a “cryptic species” given away by DNA.

Margay

The margay is among the many small, spotted cats of Central and South America, but this nocturnal hunter has a clever ability that hasn’t yet been seen in any of its neighbors.
Margays are adept at hunting among the rainforest trees, where they try to nab anything from frogs to squirrels. But the cat is also capable of setting a trap. A 2009 study reported that a margay mimicked the call of a small monkey called a pied tamarin to lure the primate closer. The cat’s attempt was foiled that time, but the fact that the margay tried to fool the monkeys shows that it’s a very clever kitty.

Bay Cat

Borneo’s bay cat is so elusive that it took over a century before researchers got a chance to study a live one in detail. Covered in striking, rust-red fur with white under the tail and face stripes, this cat was officially named  in 1874 on the basis of a skull and torn skin sent to England by the famous naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace. Naturalists didn’t have a chance to study a live one until a bay cat was captured in 1992, and the cat remains so difficult to find that researchers know very little about how this secretive cat actually lives. The fact that the cat is so difficult to find is all the more frustrating because conservationists list the felid as endangered. The deforestation of Borneo may wipe out the bay cat before scientists get a chance to find out more about it.

Serval

None
(Gallo Images/CORBIS)
Found among the grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa, the serval looks like a cat on stilts. Immediately recognizable by its long legs and large, rounded ears, this graceful felid’s stretched-out look is perfectly suited to detecting and pouncing on prey in the tall grass. Capable of jumping 12 feet into the air, servals can nab fleeing birds in mid-air and get the drop of scurrying small mammals. And this cat’s genetic legacy isn’t restricted to the savannah. Cat breeders have created a domestic cat-serval cross called the Savannah cat, and they’ve become accepted enough that The International Cat Association now recognizes them as a championship breed.

 

Pallas’ Cat

(harlie Harding/Robert Harding World Imagery/Corbis)
These felines are the original grumpy cats. Found over a wide swath of central Asia, Pallas’ cats have short ears and fluffy faces that give them a perpetually miffed look. That’s befitting their temperament – like many other small felids, Pallas’ cats are mainly solitary hunters that wait in ambush until an unwary pika or partridge comes within pouncing range. Sadly, though, these puffy cats are coming under increasing threat. While currently listed as near threatened, continued hunting, accidental poisoning, and habitat degradation complicate the Pallas’ cat’s future.


Jaguarundi

Small, it may be, but the jaguarundi has a close connection to bigger cats. Genetic clues indicate that this cat’s ancestor arrived in the Americas sometime between 8 and 8.5 million years ago. That ancestral species kicked off an explosive radiation of New World cats, including the genus Puma – the genus to which the Jaguarundi belongs. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because the wide-ranging cougar belongs to the same genus and is the jaguarundi’s closest living relative. The family connection isn’t quite so apparent at a glance, though. Found in grasslands and forests from Texas to Argentina, the jaguarundi only gets to be about 30 inches long and sports coats of either rust red or gray.

Flat-headed Cat

Southeast Asia’s flat-headed cat is one of the oddest looking felids. The combination of big eyes and little ears give this multi-colored cat a civet-like appearance, but that cute muzzle also hides a set of conical canines much longer than would be expected for such a small cat. The felid puts those teeth to work on wriggling fish and other slippery aquatic prey in the forests of Sumatra, Borneo, and the Malay Peninsula, although how long it may keep doing so is unclear. A 2010 assessment of the cat’s chance at survival noted that over 70 percent of its habitat has been destroyed by human settlement and agriculture, and researchers expect that the cat’s populations will keep shrinking as development continues. If the flat-headed cat is to be saved, conservationists have little time left.

Iriomote Cat

While technically a subspecies of Asia’s leopard cat, the Iriomote cat is peculiar in that it is only found on the Japanese island of the same name. At 109 square miles around, the island offers limited space for the solitary, brown- and gray-mottled cats. That presents conservationists with a frustrating problem. The Iriomote cat is currently listed as critically endangered, with less than 250 of these unique cats still in the wild. Separated from other leopard cat populations by the sea, the challenge is to find a place for these rare felids to survive in the forested hills of their home.

 

Sand Cat

The sand cat is certainly a contender for the most extreme little felid. Rather than inhabiting forest or grassland, these tawny cats inhabit arid deserts in northwestern Africa and southwest Asia. And befitting such harsh environments, the sand cat has some peculiar adaptations that it allow it to live where other cats could not. In addition to a dense coat of fur that insulates them from chilly nighttime temperatures, the sand cat has peculiar strands of black hair on their paws to protect their toes from searing sands. Their special feet can frustrate researchers, though. In addition to keeping their feet safe, the special hairs make the sand cat’s tracks nearly invisible.

Wildcat

Compared to other small cats around the world, the wildcat looks rather plain. They’re not so different from the purring felines that live in our homes. There’s a good reason for that. Wildcats are the probable ancestors of the housecats, with the genetic trail for the split between wild and domestic cats going back to about 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent. The cats live elsewhere – from western Europe through southern Africa and Asia. Wildcats are a little larger, are stockier, and have longer tails than their domestic descendants, but they are the recognizable template from which our domestic moggies descended.

source

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Your Daily Cat

Standing Amur leopard

Amur Leopard

Zoo Banishes Woman For Feeding Lions Cookies

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
NBC News Channel   |  June 24, 2014

A Woman causes a stir at a Memphis Zoo after she nearly climbed into the lion’s cage in order to serenade and feed the big cats. WMC’s Janice Broach reports.


Monday, June 23, 2014

Wyoming study finds cougars avoid wolf territory


Posted: Jun 22, 2014 
 
JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) - New research in Wyoming finds that mountain lions go out of their way to avoid wolves.

The research conducted by the Teton Cougar Project finds that the cats In Jackson Hole spend a disproportionate amount of time in parts of their territory that are far from wolves and tend to distance themselves from wolves.

The study was published in the Journal of Zoology in late May.

Cougar Project team leader Mark Elbroch says because wolves select top-tier territories with the most available prey, subordinate mountain lions are being pushed away from the most productive parts of the landscape.

Elbroch tells the Jackson Hole News & Guide (http://bit.ly/UoEM0p) that there's a reduction in lion habitat in the sense that they are prioritizing habitat differently.


source

Rumours abound of lion in Central Australia

23 June, 2014
A lion expert is playing down Facebook rumours that one of the big cats is roaming around Central Australia.


Charlie Manolis from Crocodylus Park, a wildlife park that houses lions in Darwin, said there was not enough large prey to sustain a lion in Australia's desert. "There have always been sightings of large cats," Mr Manolis said. "It is just that some of the ferals cats can be quite large," he said.

Mr Manolis was responding to rumours aired on Facebook that lions have been spotted in locations far apart in the Northern Territory. "They first spotted them up at Tennant Creek, somewhere there, and then someone saw it in Alice Springs," explained former ABC producer Michael Murdoch who now runs the local store in Santa Teresa, about 80kms from Alice Springs. "Someone saw it at Hermannsburg, but it hasn't been spotted in Santa Teresa yet," he said.

Mr Murdoch said the rumours have continued for a couple of months, and initially many people were scared of coming across the lion, but now most people seemed to agree it was untrue. "It was a Facebook story that got out of control," he said.

If a lion was to be confirmed in the NT deserts it would not be the first time an exotic animal has turned up in the Territory unexpectedly. In 2009 a pygmy hippopotamus was shot dead during a pig hunting expedition in the Douglas Daly district, about 200kms south of Darwin. In 2011 authorities in Darwin were left searching for a lioness after three separate reports that one of the big cats had crossed the Stuart Highway near Darwin.

Four lions broke loose from a circus performing at Mindil Beach in Darwin in 1986, with one of the animals escaping into the nearby Botanic Gardens, causing four wedding parties to scatter, and another attacking a camel.

source

Can you spot the leopard?

We promise you it's in this picture somewhere! How big cats use their camouflage to disappear into the background and hide in plain sight in India

  • Big cat conservationist spent months documenting the lives of 21 leopards in Rajahstan, India
  • Adam Bannister found that the leopards could move close to human settlements due to their camouflage
By Daily Mail Reporter
Leopards are considered one of the deadliest predators in India thanks to their amazing ability to blend into the background before launching a surprise attack on its victims. These images show the true extent of their camouflage, almost disappearing into the surrounding nature in a leopard camp in India.

Big cat conservationist Adam Bannister spent several months documenting the lives of 21 leopards for a a research project at the Sujan Jawai Leopard Camp in Rajasthan, and found that they often move very close to human settlements due to their ability to hide in plain sight.

Can you see it:  A leopard spotted in the Sujan Jawai Leopard Camp, Rajasthan, India managed to nearly completely disappear into its surroundings
Can you see it: A leopard spotted in the Sujan Jawai Leopard Camp, Rajasthan, India managed to nearly completely disappear into its surroundings

Found it!: The leopard from the top picture has been circled - hiding at the foot of a rock among the dry grass
He said: ‘Leopards are responsible for numerous deaths in India, so when I heard about a village where people and leopards lived such in close quarters without incident, I had to see it for myself. ‘I have worked with the big cats in three continents, and experienced human-wildlife conflict first-hand and this area is truly unique in terms of how humans and leopards co-exist. ‘They see them more in a spiritual context. And there are still many more leopards out there - I'm sure of it.’

An easier one: The white markings on the tail of this leopard makes it less of a hassle to spot
An easier one: The white markings on the tail of this leopard makes it less of a hassle to spot


Another tough one: The big cats are ambush hunters and rely on their patterns to be able to blend into the background and surprise their prey
Another tough one: The big cats are ambush hunters and rely on their patterns to be able to blend into the background and surprise their prey


Tiny cat: The leopard in this picture is easier to locate as it is silhouetted against the grey sky
Tiny cat: The leopard in this picture is easier to locate as it is silhouetted against the grey sky

Double trouble: Not one, but two leopards can bee seen roaming on the rocks in this photograph from Rajasthan, India
Double trouble: Not one, but two leopards can bee seen roaming on the rocks in this photograph from Rajasthan, India


Peekaboo: The leopards' amazing camouflage is not just useful for hunting squirrels as in this picture, but provides necessary cover against their natural predator - man
Peekaboo: The leopards' amazing camouflage is not just useful for hunting squirrels as in this picture, but provides necessary cover against their natural predator - man


Spot the cat: These images were captured by big cat conservationist Adam Bannister during a research project at the Sujan Jawai Leopard Camp in Rajasthan, India
Spot the cat: These images were captured by big cat conservationist Adam Bannister during a research project at the Sujan Jawai Leopard Camp in Rajasthan, India


Big project: Mr Bannister spent several several months documenting 21 leopards surrounding the village in Rajasthan
Big project: Mr Bannister spent several several months documenting 21 leopards surrounding the village in Rajasthan


Your Daily Cat

Sunday, June 22, 2014

#Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge rescues three #bigcats


Posted: Sunday, June 22, 2014 
Several months ago, perhaps a year or more, it came to my attention about big cat rescues at Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge in Tyler that helped so many abused large cats
Recently I received information about three more of the large cats that had been rescued and taken to Tiger Creek. Here are the stories about these three incredible cats.

Pepe: Pepe was rescued with seven other lions from Mexico. He was malnourished and had a severe case of ringworms and mange and his stomach was bloated with intestinal worms. All eight lions had to compete for food and they were fed chicken bones and backs, not enough meat to keep them healthy. Pepe was one of the lucky ones, as he survived but his brother died shortly after being rescued due to kidney failure.

Amara: She had been purchased by an individual who thought it was fun to have the tiger cub fight his Rottweiler dog. When she was only a few days old, this person would force her to fight for her life, daily. One day, fearful for her life and safety, she nipped at the owner’s wife. The owner kicked her across her cage and continued to hit her every time he entered her care thereafter. Finally, the authorities took Amara away from this abusive owner and sent her to Tiger Creek as a rescue cat.

Tin Cup: This little cougar was picked up from the wild by some local dogs. When the dogs brought the little kitten back home with them, the owners didn’t know what to do. They searched for signs of the mother, but never could find her. Since there is no program to release cougars back into the wild, they were told to euthanize the kitten. Their hearts wouldn’t let them do that, so they called the refuge to take him. Tin Cup loves people and enjoys all the attention from the Tiger Creek staff.

Sadly, Pepe, Amara and Tin Cup are not the only great cats in need. There are so many others that need help. The organization receives several calls a month, begging them to take in an animal in need of a loving home. Most of the cats had been abused, neglected or simply thrown away by their owner.

In 1997, Brian Werner and Teri Werner established Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge on 25 acres of land purchased years before. They cleared the land and build habitats for the unwanted large wild cats. In 1999, the organization was opened to the public. The refuge receives animals that have been abused, neglected or displaced. For example, when a drive-through safari closed down, Tiger Creek took in eight big cats that didn’t have anywhere else to go. Other cats have come to them from circus acts, roadside attractions and owners who did not provide them with proper care.

At Tiger Creek, there is no breeding or selling. A top-quality home is provided for the cats for the rest of their lived.

The facility is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, weather permitting. It is located at 17552 FM 14 in Tyler. They can be reached at (903) 858-1008. Their website is tigercreek.org. Tax exempt donations can be sent to PO Box 4968, Tyler, Texas 75712.

source

New York State law tames Tinder guys with tigers

Popular trend ... There have been countless internet memes about guys on Tinder posing wi
Popular trend ... There have been countless internet memes about guys on Tinder posing with tigers. Source: Supplied
 
NEW York State legislators have passed a bill banning people from posing for photos while hugging tigers. But what will that mean for guys wanting to score a date on Tinder. 

Manhattan Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal explained that she introduced the legislation to increase safety at travelling circuses and county fairs that allow the public to get up close and personal with their big cats.

But the Upper West Side Democrat acknowledges proudly that the bill would also destroy a trend now prevalent among users of dating apps — men snuggling with tigers in reckless attempts to look brave or cuddly or, even more implausibly, both in their dating-profile photos on online services like Tinder and OKCupid.

“They can still pose with bears and monkeys,” the assemblywoman told the New York Post . “They just have to take big cats off their list.”

Tamed ... It seems to be very popular for guys to pose with tigers on Tinder.
Tamed ... It seems to be very popular for guys to pose with tigers on Tinder. Source: Supplied
 
The wacky bill puts a crimp in what has become one of the most annoying internet memes this year.
The bizarre craze has even inspired a Tumblr blog called “Tinder Guys with Tigers” that collects ridiculous photos of men clutching at the jungle beasties.

Ms Rosenthal says the legislation was needed because there have been seven instances in 15 years in which a tiger escaped or hurt New Yorkers.

The justification fails to mention that there were only two big-cat maulings at travelling shows in the state in the past 10 years.

Illicit tiger touchers would face fines up to $US500 ($532) — even if it’s only a cub.

“I feel bad now,” cracked Ms Rosenthal’s staffer Lauren Schuster. “We’re killing bros’ dreams and chances of being laid!”

Dating-app users defended the use of tiger selfies as an online mating strategy.

“I’d like to think that the women of New York are intelligently discerning and can look beyond one hopefully funny photo,” said a Tinder user named David, 32, who declined to give his last name.

Not in New York ... A new law will ban people from posing with tigers in photos.
Not in New York ... A new law will ban people from posing with tigers in photos. Source: Supplied
But animal-rights groups insisted online daters looking to improve their image should be made aware of the dangers of getting too close untamed animals.

“Hopefully, people will realizs that it doesn’t say anything positive about yourself to pay to pose next to a wild animals in captivity,” said Kelly Donvan, a program officer for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Others say the bill, while well meaning, will be difficult to enforce if New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signs it into law.

“Proving where it took place seems almost impossible to regulate, and some people might even do it as an act of defiance, like idiots who pose with drugs on public social networks,” said Brooklyn resident Alana Massey, a copywriter. “I don’t think this is an especially thoughtful crowd that is buying into this industry.”

A spokesman for Governor Cuomo said the bill was under review.

source 

At Wylie #bigcat refuge, memories of last summer's distemper outbreak still sting




Sheila, a 6-year-old female African lion, rests on a bed within her enclosure at In-Sync Exotics in Wylie. Rafiki (left), a 7-month-old lion, is among the 60 felines there. After last year’s distemper outbreak, the sanctuary is taking additional steps to protect the cats. Last summer’s virus was believed to have been transmitted by infected raccoons.Photos by Andy Jacobsohn/Staff Photographer

Tributes to Bengal tigers Harley and Lucca, two of the eight big cats who died during last year's distemper outbreak, are on display at In-Sync Exotics. Andy Jacobsohn/Staff Photographer


Rafiki, a 7-month-old lion, rests in the afternoon at In-Sync Exotics, which was founded in March 2000 by Vicky Keahey. Andy Jacobsohn/Staff Photographer

By DANIELLE GROBMEIER
Staff Writer
Published: 21 June 2014

WYLIE — Lisa Williams was making her usual rounds at In-Sync Exotics, escorting visitors through the habitats that house more than 60 large felines. But Tuesday’s tour was different. That morning, Kiro, a white tiger, had died. His habitat stood empty. A sign with his name and picture, hung on the enclosure’s chain link fence, was just a humble reminder of the feline that used to play in the sanctuary’s pools and make “chuffing” sounds at visitors and staff members.

Hugs and tears among the sanctuary’s staff were not unexpected. A year ago, Kiro was one of the first cats at In-Sync to contract canine distemper. He survived the initial viral infection, and the sanctuary hasn’t determined whether his death was related to the 2013 distemper outbreak that killed eight big cats and made more than 20 others sick. The volunteers still refer to the virus as “the d-word,” their euphemism for an epidemic that reduced powerful predators to frail and dying animals.

Williams remembered last summer’s 24-hour watches over sick cats and the “pills and pills and pills” that she had to keep feeding them. Many of the cats who survived the virus still longingly look to Williams for affection and playtime. “I love you!” she said to Rafiki, a lion, while playfully rattling an old Folgers can near him.

Williams, who’s volunteered at In-Sync for five years, said it’s important that no one mistake the big cats for pets; however, the bond between the staff and the animals is special. A lion will snuggle up against the fence around its enclosure to get close to Williams. Cincinnati, a tiger, likes to play peekaboo with Williams, peering at her over the rim of his large, metal bathtub.

Williams can distinguish the cats by minute facial details, and she even knows how each one walks.
She gestured to one of the enclosures, which is shared by several tigers. It used to house one who died in the distemper episode. “This is where Lucca’s was,” Williams said, pointing to an empty spot between three cats’ pictures on the fence. Though In-Sync’s cats had been vaccinated against feline distemper, there is no vaccination to protect cats from the canine version of the virus. She said she knew the epidemic was worsening last year when she stopped hearing coyotes around the sanctuary. Coyotes are canines, susceptible to distemper. Since the outbreak, In-Sync has taken precautions to avoid lightning striking twice.

The sanctuary administered vaccines that guard against the ferret version of distemper, in the hope that it might help protect the big cats from the canine strain. Additionally, employees use a bleach foot bath when entering and exiting the cats’ habitats to avoid tracking debris from one enclosure to another.

Williams said the sanctuary expects to break ground later this summer on an on-site veterinary clinic, where felines can receive medical treatment without leaving home. During last year’s distemper outbreak, the sanctuary had to transport its sick animals to a nearby vet in Wylie. The new clinic will also include space where infected animals could be quarantined. Last summer, In-Sync had to make do with makeshift quarantine areas.

Normally, felines don’t contract canine distemper. The virus was believed to have been transmitted last summer by infected raccoons, who would scurry across the chain-link tops of the cats’ enclosures, sometimes defecating. The raccoon feces, in turn, could have infected cats who ate the grass or played in areas where it landed.

More than two decades ago, a far more destructive distemper outbreak struck the Wildlife Waystation animal sanctuary in California’s Angeles National Forest. The sanctuary, just north of Los Angeles, was forced to close for about a year after canine distemper claimed 17 big cats in just three months.
In all, about 65 of Wildlife Waystation’s felines were affected by the illness at once, said Martine Colette, the sanctuary’s founder and director. “By the third day [of the outbreak], we knew we had something horrific on our hands, and we took the appropriate precautionary measures,” she said. “It still did not help.”

There, too, raccoons and other native wildlife were suspected of spreading the virus. The year the epidemic struck, there had been a boom in the raccoon and skunk population, Collette said. A similar boom was observed last summer in parts of Collin County near In-Sync Exotics. The boom was followed by a swift decline in the population, as distemper ravaged raccoon gazes. Plano Animal Services saw about 170 raccoons die during an outbreak from January to March 2013.

Cliff Moore, owner of Animal Services Inc., said these boom-bust disease cycles are a hazard for any wildlife population. “We recognize when it’s fixin’ to happen,” he said. “It hurts, there’s no doubt about it.” Animal Services Inc., based in Van Alstyne, contracts with cities and other jurisdictions to manage wildlife problems.

In-Sync Exotics was founded in March 2000 by Vicky Keahey, a veterinary technician. Nine years earlier, someone had abandoned an 18-month-old cougar at the veterinary office where she worked. She turned to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for advice on how to care for a cougar, and established a rapport with people there. A few years later, when parks and wildlife officials found themselves with a cougar on their hands, they asked Keahey if she would take it in. By the time she acquired her third big cat, a Bengal tiger, in 1998, she decided to form a nonprofit and start In-Sync.

Despite the tribulations brought on by last summer’s outbreak, Williams said, the sanctuary earlier this year rescued 11 tigers and three cougars. And in late May, it took in several lions. “One of them is a lion cub, and he’s so stinkin’ cute,” she said.

All of In-Sync’s cats have tested negative for canine distemper, and Williams hopes the scourge of 2013 is far behind, never to return. “There still is that little fear in the back of your brain that the cats who seem to have beaten it will come down with more symptoms,” she said. “My God, I hope it has ended.”

source

Your Daily Cat


Walking oncilla

The oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus)

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Your Daily Cat


Walking Persian leoaprd

Walking Persian leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica)

All cats hate baths…even the big ones!

But the man washing this lion got lucky 

  • The man is reportedly a Yemeni lion breeder
  • Footage shows him bathing the impatient lion with soapy water
  • He drags the big cat by the leg, washes his genitals and pushes his head down
By Daily Mail Reporter
It's difficult to understand how this man didn't get his face ripped off.  Not only did he come face-to-face with a fully-grown lion, he washed the big cat with a soapy sponge like it was a car. The incredible viral footage shows the man, reportedly a Yemeni lion breeder, forcefully scrubbing the animal's head, belly and even genitals - and the lion generally didn't seem to mind. 

Scroll down for video

Incredible: A man believed to be a Yemeni lion breeder is captured on film washing a fully grown lion
Incredible: A man believed to be a Yemeni lion breeder is captured on film washing a fully grown lion


Cornered: At one point, the man had the lion up against the concrete wall and scrubbed its head fiercely
Cornered: At one point, the man had the lion up against the concrete wall and scrubbed its head fiercely

 
At one point, the giant creature jumped up in protest but the fearless man yelled and pushed its head down before resuming the wash.  The man later dragged the lion by its leg when it tried to edge away.  El Arabiya News reported the scene may not be unusual in Yemen, known as a breeding hub for wildlife animals which are sold to rich collectors in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the Emirates.
 
According to a 2013 Guardian report, animal husbandry has become popular and profitable in Yemen, where the price of lion cabs can reach more than $13,000 (50,000 Saudi riyals) each.  'Animal trafficking represents an enormous opportunity to people in one of Yemen's poorest regions,' the reporter Joe Sheffer wrote. 'A loose network has sprung up, trading not just lions but also cheetahs, leopards, gazelles, hyenas and monkeys.'

Unbelievable: When the impatient lion tries to edge away, the man grabs him by the leg and drags him towards the bucket
Unbelievable: When the impatient lion tries to edge away, the man grabs him by the leg and drags him towards the bucket

Death wish: When the lion roars and tries to shrug free himself from the washer, the man pushes his head down and orders him to 'sit down'
Death wish: When the lion roars and tries to shrug free himself from the washer, the man pushes his head down and orders him to 'sit down'



Brave: Incredibly, the lion allowed the man to scrub his genitals and didn't flinch
Brave: Incredibly, the lion allowed the man to scrub his genitals and didn't flinch


Where's the rubber ducky? The big cat appeared to relish the wash, lying on its back with its legs in the air to let the man scrub his belly
Where's the rubber ducky? The big cat appeared to relish the wash, lying on its back with its legs in the air to let the man scrub his belly
 source


Friday, June 20, 2014

Your Daily Cat

A tiger and his ball

Experts: Florida panther population is rising

A female panther is relased back into the wild at Green Glades West near Big Cypress Preserve.(Photo: Democrat files)

There may now be as many as 180 endangered Florida panthers roaming in the wild, and state wildlife officials are exploring programs designed to encourage private landowners to welcome the big cats on their property.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists updated their population estimate for the panthers during the agency's meeting this week in Fort Myers.

The panther hovered on the brink of extinction in 1994 when just 20 to 30 panthers remained. After years of conservation efforts, including the introduction of a handful of pumas from Texas to southwest Florida, the number of panthers rose was estimated at 100 to 160 adult cats.

The commission documented the births of 21 panther kittens last year.

Panthers once ranged throughout the Southeast, but most are currently found south of the Caloosahatchee River in Florida. Now that 180 adult panthers may be sharing that area, officials say more large tracts of land will be needed to sustain a healthy panther population. "Due to the expansive habitat needs of the Florida panther, the continued growth of their population presents a unique challenge to the FWC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service," said FWC Commissioner Liesa Priddy. "As panther range expands, impacts on private landowners will continue to increase."

State officials say they are working to mitigate conflicts between panthers and people as the number of the cats increases. In the 2012-2013 fiscal year, the commission documented 25 cases of domestic livestock or pets being preyed on by a panther, including 15 calves on commercial cattle ranches. "We know panthers can prey upon pets and livestock, and we strive to find solutions that work for people who experience these very real losses," said Thomas Eason, director of the commission's Division of Habitat and Species Conservation.

Collisions with vehicles are the primary cause of panther deaths. Fifteen of the 20 panther deaths reported last year occurred while panthers were crossing highways.

source

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Your Daily Cat

Lying and posing on the big branch

Beautiful lynx with pretty eyes

Big cats find home in Frierson, La.

Jun 18, 2014 

Written by: Dave McNamara, Heart of Louisiana
FRIERSON, LA (WVUE) - 



Of all the animals you might expect to find in the forests of Louisiana, lions and tigers should not be on that list.  However, you will hear some unusual wild animal sounds coming from the woods near the town of Frierson, La.


A gravel lane in rural north Louisiana is usually quiet, until the neighbor's cats start to growl.
Jenny Senier is taking care of fourteen big cats. The lions, tigers, panthers, cougars and servals never had a chance to grow up in the wild. They will now live out their lives in an exotic cat sanctuary called 'Yogie and Friends.' "They were all captive born animals. Once they've been imprinted with a human, there is no way that you can ever put them into the wild," said Senier.



Some of the big cats were house pets or a sideshow. "They're pulled away from their mother when they are born and they're dragged around to do photo-ops with people that will pay to have their picture taken with them - which is really very stressful on them," said Senier.



The wild animals were the victims of people who wanted them as pets and then realized that a cute lion or tiger cub quickly grows into something they cannot handle. "I hear people talk a lot," said Senier. "[They] say 'I'd love to have a pet tiger or I would love to have a pet lion. I just want to cuddle with them.' They're not cuddly. When they are looking and saying ‘I want to get a pet, I can do it, I have 10 acres, I have the money, I can build for it.' - But you can't. Finally it is illegal in Louisiana."
Beautiful African servals ended up here when their owners divorced. "They can jump straight up from a standstill more than 10-feet straight up," said Senier.



Senier has had as many as 21 big cats at Yogie and Friends. Now, they are down to just 14. The individuals who run the sanctuary hope that the need for this kind of facility will eventually go away.
Once a week, the gates are open to the public so people can learn more about the big cats and understand why a place like this shouldn't be needed. "Why do you need all of these exotic animals when there are plenty of domestic animals that are used to humans and want to be around humans? These animals were not meant to be in this kind of environment," said Senier.



She said that zoos have their own breeding programs and do not want these large stray cats.  So this sanctuary will tend to their needs, keeping the animals as stress free as possible and providing a peaceful home until the number of resident cats eventually drops to zero.
For more information on the exotic cat sanctuary, click here. 


source

WSMV Channel 4