Sumatran Tigers get in the Halloween spirit

By Chris Willmott

Thursday 30 October 2014 

IT MIGHT just look like a traditional Halloween game, but introducing items such as ropes, poles, or in this case a carved pumpkin, into the Sumatran Tiger Reserve at West Midland Safari Park is an essential and important part of the Park's animal enrichment program.

Whilst not quite sure whether she was facing friend or foe in the tiger pool at first, it wasn't long before eight-year-old Hujan coaxed the bobbing pumpkin closer to dry land and made a grab for it. Once she had the terrified looking article gripped tightly in her jaws, she proudly carried it off to a quiet part of the reserve to find out exactly what was what.

'Hujan' - meaning rain in one of the dialects spoken in her native Indonesia - has never been timid of water and was even named after the torrential storms that were raging on the day of her birth.

West Midland Safari Park have two Sumatran Tigers and the long-term plan is for the pair to breed to help secure the future of this seriously rare species of which it is thought, there are no more than 350 left in the wild today. This presents a real possibility of them facing extinction by the end of the decade.

Director of Wildlife, Bob Lawrence, said, " The carnivore keepers at West Midland Safari Park are always looking at innovative ways to enrich the lives of their big cats by stimulating natural behaviours without risking any of their nine lives. Eighty years ago, wild tigers still had all their nine lives - today the Sumatran tiger is one of only five tiger species left. Whilst tigers are synonymous with water, don't be fooled, they really do mean business."

Hujan and her mate Emas can be seen throughout half term in the Sumatran Tiger Reserve, which is included in the standard admission charge of £17.99 for adults, £12.99 for children and includes a free return ticket. Theme Park rides are charged extra in all cases. Further information is available from the Park's official website www.wmsp.co.uk or by telephone 01299 402114.

West Midland Safari Park is open daily until Friday, November 7.

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Happy Hallowe'en from Through Golden Eyes!!!

Sumatran tigress looking scary by Tambako The Jaguar

Two little lions on a big journey home

Two lion cubs are coming home to Mother Africa, having never known the feeling of the wind in their fur.

Aletta Gardner | about 24 hours ago

CAPE TOWN - Two very special little cats will touch down in Johannesburg on Friday. They’re a pair of lion cubs, who’ve never felt the wind in their fur, or the grass beneath their feet.



Their human carers have dubbed them Yame and George. The two little guys were being used as a tourist attraction at a theme park in Spain. For a price of €10, people could handle them and have their pictures taken with the cubs.


But when one of these holiday snaps found its way to the Campaign Against Canned Hunting (CACH), the organisation felt compelled to get involved. They found the cubs in a shocking state; malnourished, stunted, and stressed from repeated handling.

CJ and Luis Munoz, the organisation’s representatives in Spain, say the cubs’ owner fed them nothing but milk in a deliberate bid to stunt their growth. “The first thing that we noticed was that the cubs were small for their age and we knew immediately it was because of their diet. The abusive owner had been denying the cubs everything that they needed to grow strong bones and get bigger. She was keeping them as small as she could to continue exploiting them for profit,” they explained.



The authorities were alerted, but since the woman could produce nothing more than some papers showing she had bought the cubs from a circus in France, she could not prove that they were born in captivity. The cubs were impounded. CACH took them to Madrid, where they underwent intensive big cat rehab, whilst their human carers looked for a new home for them.



There was nowhere for them in Europe, and things were looking bleak – until CACH made contact with ‘Lion Whisperer’ Kevin Richardson, who agreed to give the cubs a home on his 1,300 hectare sanctuary in South Africa.

CACH managed to raise nearly $15,000 (around R160,000) to bring the cubs home. But that wasn’t the end of the story. Getting clearance for them to leave Spain and come home to Mother Africa was a bureaucratic minefield all of its own, with vaccinations, exit and entry permits and CITES papers all a requirement.
 

WATCH: Yame and George (who were initially named Spain and CACH) recover in their sanctuary in Spain.

It’s been a long road for these two little sons of Africa, and the difference in them is remarkable. Their carers say they’re playful, lively, and getting stronger by the day. There are thousands of exotic animals around the world that are not so lucky, and CACH believes if Yame and George hadn’t been found, they probably would have died, or wound up in one of the many canned lion hunting establishments.

While Yame and George will never be able to be released in the wild, they will experience the next best thing at their new home.

The Kevin Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary provides a haven for predators at the Dinokeng Game Reserve.

His mission is to highlight the link between cub petting and the ‘canned’ hunting industry through education.

The sanctuary provides the animals in its care the ability to live out full lives, in an open and natural environment, by providing cutting edge enrichment programmes and healthcare. 

All photographs courtesy of the Campaign Against Canned Hunting.

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Legendary panther spotted on Austinmer bush track

By JOSH BUTLER

Oct. 31, 2014

Manii Versoza on the Sublime Point Track at Austinmer. Picture: KIRK GILMOUR

It is the legend that will not die - possibly because it has nine lives. The Illawarra’s black panther has been spotted again.

Austinmer resident Manii Versoza, on a regular walk on the Sublime Point track on Thursday morning, said a jet black animal ‘‘the size of a labrador’’ with a ‘‘long, swooping cat tail’’ rushed out of the bush and crossed the track around a metre in front of him. ‘‘Any closer and he would have jumped on me,’’ said Mr Versoza, a retired sergeant and officer in charge of the Illawarra police rescue squad. ‘‘I thought it was a big tree kangaroo or feral cat but with the big tail, and how lightning fast it was, it wasn’t that. This thing should be in a zoo.’’

With extensive recovery and rescue experience in the Illawarra bushland, Mr Versoza said some areas was dense and quiet enough for a big cat, or several, to live undiscovered. ‘‘I guarantee there is a big black cat out there. There must be others,’’ he said.

Big cat sightings are not uncommon in the Illawarra.

A famous warning scrawled on a sign at the entrance of the Wodi Wodi track near Stanwell Park reports a 100 kilogram black cat was spotted on December 31, 2012.

Many others have reported spotting glimpses of a hulking black shape roaming the wilds of the Illawarra, but little more than hear-say evidence has been reported in the region.

West Wollongong resident Jenny Causer is a believer, however. While on a bushwalk on Mount Ousley around 20 years ago, she reports seeing a huge black cat burst out of bush - a cat the same size as a large rottweiler she was walking with. ‘‘It was long and lopey, with a long thick solid tail. Jet black,’’ Ms Causer said.

Mr Versoza has no doubts about what he saw. He said the encounter will not stop him from walking on the Sublime Point track, but said others should be aware of what may be hiding in the dense bush.
‘‘It blew me away, but I am concerned now. It is alarming, there must be others around,’’ he said.

Experts back big cat

File picture.

The bushland panther is one of the most enduring legends of the Australian bush, but more than a few experts believe the big cat stories are more than  just fiction.

Dr Ricky Spencer, Senior Lecturer with the Native and Pest Animal Unit at the University of Western Sydney, believes the panther legend may have a grain of truth. ‘‘Years ago, I would have thought the people making these reports were nutters. However, recently I’ve heard reports from wildlife biologists and naturalists who say they’ve seen these things,’’ Dr Spencer said.

Panther sightings have been reported along the east coast  from Victoria to Picton, and the legendary beasts are said to roam the Blue Mountains and Penrith. The most recent sighting was at Goulburn in early October.

Theories include escaped circus animals, or exotic pets released into the wild by a collector.
One school of thought states the American military sometimes carried panther cubs as mascots, with several such cats let loose by troops stationed in Australia in the 1940s.

Dr Spencer said such theories are ‘‘a bit far-fetched’’, but offered a more mundane explanation. ‘‘There is a lot of stuff imported into Australia illegally, and from what I’ve heard, maybe some escaped,’’ he said. ‘‘I’d say 99 per cent of sightings are a feral cat or swamp wallaby, but there are enough credible reports to at least look into it.’’

Michael Williams has pursued the panther stories for a decade. With partner Rebecca Lang, Mr Williams published the book Australian Big Cats; an Unnatural History of Panthers in 2010, after collecting sightings, DNA results and historical records. He is convinced such beasts roam the Australian bush, and said his website received about 10 big cat sighting reports a year from the Illawarra. ‘‘These things are out there. What they actually are, is the million-dollar question,’’ Mr Williams said. ‘‘Whatever it is, it is real.’’

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Safari Lion Zoo in Chile lets the brave tickle a big cat's belly

October 31, 2014

A lion lies on the cage for a tourist at the Safari Lion Zoo in Chile. Photo: AFP

Rancagua, Chile:

Dare ya, double dare ya, to tickle a lion's belly.
A zoo in Chile gives thrillseekers a chance to do just that, albeit while comfy and snug in the safety of a cage mounted on a safari truck.
Atop it, lured by a slap of fresh red meat, is the mighty heaving feline.
Welcome to the Safari zoo in Rancangua in central Chile, where vehicles takes visitors on a drive through a two-hectare enclosure that is home to six lions.
Travellers ride inside the caged-in back of the truck.
Then it's up to the lions to decide what they feel like doing: ambling up for a sniff, climbing atop to eat the meat and look at the cowering humans below, or even lying down for a rest.
Then, just stick a brave finger through the metal grates and there you are, touching the king of the jungle's tummy.
Safari park is the first of its kind in Chile and one of few in Latin America.
The idea is for people to see animals in their natural habitat, in effect with people caged up rather than the majestic animals themselves.

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FOUR PAWS Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands provides the treats without having to perform the tricks

Halloween Pumpkins for Big Cats

FOUR PAWS Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands provides the treats without having to perform the tricks

African Leopard Bakari plays with pumpkin in FOUR PAWS sanctuary in the Netherlands

Rescued from circuses and zoos our big cats do no longer have to perform tricks to receive treats 

 

Boston, Massachusetts (PRWEB) October 30, 2014 

With Halloween approaching, costumes of witches, zombies, ghosts and Jack O’Laterns everywhere around, the big cats in the Dutch rescue center FELIDA are celebrating their own little Halloween party. Lioness Noor, lion Giovanni and leopard Bakari were thrilled with their new enrichment: big Halloween pumpkins.

Like any other enrichment the pumpkins help the animals to rediscover their natural behavior, that has dulled during years of living in poor conditions. Presenting new items and scents help to alleviate boredom and improve the general well-being of the animals.

Lioness Noor originally comes from a zoo and has been in the sanctuary since 2006. Noor examined her Halloween pumpkin critically from all sides before she finally grabbed it and carried it delightedly back and forth in her enclosure.

Lion Giovanni used to be a tourist attraction in Italy, where travelers would have their picture taken with him. In 2005, at the age of one, he became too big and heavy to be carried and was handed over to the rescue station. Giovanni also relished in his Halloween surprise – he nibbled at it for so long the pumpkin finally broke into small pieces.

Bakari, an African leopard was also very pleased with his vegetable snack. He was born in a German zoo, were visitors could take pictures with him. When the zoo was no longer interested in him, he came to the rescue center. This playful animal needs to be challenged and the pumpkin turned out to be a target that could be pounced on over and over again. As a result, the pumpkin was soon pulverized.

About FELIDA
FELIDA is a FOUR PAWS rescue centre for big cats in the Dutch village of Nijeberkoop. The center was founded approximately 20 years ago as In October 2013, the Vienna-Austria and Boston-MA based FOUR PAWS took over the center and started implementing necessary changes to improve the animal welfare situation. In the future FELIDA will become a transit station for big cats, as well as, a permanent center for those animals that cannot be transferred anymore meeting the FOUR PAWS standards for animal welfare and safety. There are currently 2 lions, 15 tigers, a black jaguar, and two leopards at FELIDA.

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'Morris the Cat' is back. Make room, 'Grumpy Cat.'

Advertising star Morris the Cat sports wearable technology in new commercials.

By Robert Channick
October 30, 2014

'Cats rule the Internet,' company says

Move over "Grumpy Cat." Morris, the original finicky feline and star of countless TV commercials, is back to take his place among digital "It Cat" contenders online. Created by Chicago-based Leo Burnett in 1969, Morris -- as cats do -- has had several lives as the spokescat for 9Lives cat food. The latest incarnation is a digital-only campaign with all the contemporary accoutrements: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts, a blog and an interactive video, hoping to connect with cat fanciers online.

Merv Griffin interviews Morris the Cat in 1985 on The Merv Griffin Show. (Joan Adlen Photography / Getty Images)

"We wanted to reboot Morris for the older consumers who are very fond of him, but also bring him back in a way that's culturally relevant for today's consumer," said Carrie Schliemann, business director for cat food and snacks at Big Heart Pet Brands. "Cats rule the Internet, and online is where consumers are right now."

Morris, and 9Lives, are owned by San Francisco-based Big Heart, formerly part of Del Monte Foods, which launched in February as the nation's largest stand-alone pet food company. Big Heart's other products include Milk-Bone, Meow Mix, Natural Balance and Kibbles 'n Bits. The privately held company generated revenue of $2.19 billion last year, according to financial statements.

The relaunched campaign with the iconic orange tabby began this month, a $2 million ad budget with sky high social media aspirations. The campaign is the work of San Francisco-based digital agency Evolution Bureau, with the support of FCB Chicago, among others. Chicago-based Starcom is heading up media buying.

Morris, the world's most famous and beloved cat. Can't wait!

Morris -- originally known as Lucky -- was discovered and adopted by animal trainer Bob Martwick at the Hinsdale Humane Society in Illinois. Martwick, who worked extensively in the advertising business, took the cat to an audition for a 9Lives commercial and, well … a star was born. "He jumped on the table … and he walked right up to the art director, the big cheese, and bumped him in the head. And then Morris just sat back," Martwick said according to his 2001 obituary in the Los Angeles Times. "The art director said, 'This is the Clark Gable of cats.'"

The original Morris made dozens of TV commercials from 1969 until his death in 1978. The spots featured actor John Erwin voicing the thoughts of the caustic cat, who would barely tolerate the playful entreaties of his owner until she said don't be finicky and offered up 9Lives.

The cat with attitude spawned countless media appearances, including a role in the 1973 movie "Shamus," starring Burt Reynolds. He also paved the way for other feline stars from "Garfield," the cartoon cat created in 1978, to "Grumpy Cat," the reigning online cat star who recently inked a movie deal.

The new Morris campaign will be looking for similar social traction to help sell a variety of 9Lives products. While Morris will still have attitude, he is cast as choosy more than finicky, Schliemann said. "The old Morris was more finicky and could be a little bit negative at times," Schliemann said. "We're re-establishing Morris as much more positive. He's a discerning cat, but discerning in a positive way."

The inaugural offering is an interactive video called "Cat's Eye View," in which Morris dons wearable tech glasses and leads viewers on a wisecracking journey through his house, ending as the TV commercials of yore, with an eager dash to his bowl for his 9Lives.

An EVB copywriter provides the voice of the new Morris, who also shares another important link to the original storyline. The new feline star was also rescued from a shelter, Schliemann said.

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Calls for Australian cats to be kept indoors

Nardine Groch and Sara Phillips ABC Environment 31 Oct 2014

Desex her, microchip her and keep her indoors. She will be safer and so will our native species.

With feral cats killing as many as 75 million Australian creatures every day, there are new calls for cat ownership rules to be tightened.

LISA PRESTON LOVES her little cat, Lulu. The small and round - "like a bowling ball" - black cat likes nothing more that to hide in cardboard boxes or spend hours just lazing about the house. "She's particularly lazy. Curiosity will not kill her. She doesn't care what goes on past the house!"

However when Lulu moves on to the great windowsill in the sky, Lisa will not replace her.
Lisa has signed up to Christmas Island's cat eradication program. From 2009, all cats on Christmas Island have been required to be microchipped and desexed, and when they die, or leave the island, they won't be replaced.

Feral cats are the same species as domestic cats (Felis catus) and have been identified in a CSIRO study as the primary cause of recent Australian mammal extinctions. Christmas Island's famous birdlife is also vulnerable to uncontrolled cats. "I'm involved in tourism. Birding is a big drawcard to the island. Not only for the native wildlife but also for the migratory birds that we get. Birds are our business. I love cats. I'm a big cat lover. I'm a responsible cat owner. But I understand that they don't belong here. I am resolved that when my latest one passes, I can't adopt another one," says Lisa sadly. It's a strategy that has precedent in Australia, with Queensland banning the keeping of rabbits as pets for more than 100 years.

Federal Environmental Minister Greg Hunt recently told Background Briefing that he wants to focus on feral cat eradication, announcing a 10-year plan to control them. "Right now we have the best part of 20 million oversized, over hungry, ferocious predators in the wild and that's what we have to deal with," he said. "Although, making sure that we have very solid and safe protocols with our councils for ensuring that [domestic] cats are registered and microchipped and sterilised I think is very important," Mr Hunt said.

Similar to Christmas Island, a 'last cat' policy has also been proposed for Kangaroo Island to increase the effectiveness of the cat by laws under the Dog and Cat Management Plan which already require all domestic cats to be registered, microchipped, desexed and confined to an owner's property 24 hours a day.

Acting Regional Manager of Natural Resources Kangaroo Island, Martine Kinloch says feral cat eradication on the island is more feasible now that domestic cat management is under control. "If we ever get to the point of eradicating feral cats we don't have to run the risk of reinfesting from the domestic pool. We have strong community motivation and interest to eradicate cats and the local council are also on board to help support the program." she said.
And it's not just on Australia's islands. The call for tighter restrictions on cat ownership is being echoed across the country as councils cotton on to the carnage stray cats can cause.

Legislation in most states allows councils to set local cat by-laws around whether desexing, microchipping and registration are compulsory. In many councils in Australia cats are not required to be desexed or microchipped or confined, meaning if the cat escapes or runs away, there is little chance it will be returned to its owner, and may breed in the wild.


Listen to Background Briefing's feature on feral cats

The WA State Government has attempted to stem the flow of cats escaping to the bush through the Cat Act (2011), making it mandatory for cats to be registered, desexed and microchipped. The new laws came into force in 2013 with a minimum of fuss for cat owners. Tasmania is also in the process of beefing up cat ownership laws.

Some local councils have chosen to pursue mandatory 24-hour cat confinement, a measure that was recently proposed for the entire ACT after a report found that domestic cats prey on 67 local species of wildlife around Canberra.

TV's 'Bondi Vet', Dr Chris Brown, says 24-hour cat confinement is worth considering. "Cats cope a lot better than what we think when it comes to being confined, they certainly need their outdoor time and cats do enjoy that but if you set up your indoors in the right way then certainly cats can be happy as indoor cats."

The Yarra Valley Shire in Victoria which takes in the Dandenong Ranges National Park began a 24-hour cat curfew this month but retired Sherbrooke forest Parks Ranger John Lloyd says that lack of council enforcement could be a problem. "I was disappointed when the Shire said they were not going to enforce the curfew too much, we need to make the cat trapping program high profile so that people know that if they let their cats out, there is a good chance they will get caught. I really think that Parks Victoria and Yarra Valley Shire need to work together on a joint cat program." Mr Lloyd says.

Dr Brown agrees that councils need to be involved but also says that the main responsibility lies with individual cat owners. "Councils have their own responsibility but they have to inspire people as it is going to come down to the individual, we need to start on the home front and make sure that we don't make the problem any worse. The most important thing is increased accountability by people, so desexing should be compulsory; microchipping absolutely; and at the very least you should be keeping your cat indoors at night," Dr Brown says.

Every cat a wanted cat

An additional benefit of greater cat control is a reduction in stray and unwanted cats. WA saw a 25 per cent drop in the number of strays being handed in after the Cat Act came into force. In Victoria, the RSPCA says state and local governments spend around five million dollars a year managing domestic cats.

RSPCA Victoria's Shelter Manager Liz Walker says that of the 10,831 cats brought into their shelters last year more than 8,000 were strays. "On average, RSPCA Victoria gets in 208 cats per week. And we only take in around 40 per cent of cats across the state. People who have cats or are feeding stray cats need to be accountable and owners who still let their cats out all the time need to understand the bigger picture," she says.

Dr Brown points out that indoor cats are often healthier, live longer, and are more comfortable than outdoor cats. "Probably the most reassuring statistic for people is that the average lifespan for a cat that is kept indoors alone is 14 years and for a cat to be let outside as much as it likes the average lifespan is just four years."

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Donate food, meet the big cats

By Janine Dorsey |

Published: October 30, 2014 

Big Cat Habitat

 

Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary is hosting a family-friendly ‘Wild-O-Ween’ festival all Halloween weekend featuring free admission for kids.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from noon until 5 p.m., kids ages 12 and under will be admitted free to ‘Wild-O-Ween’ with a donation of nonperishable food items for All Faiths Food Bank.
The kid-friendly event is not scary and features food, games, prizes and pumpkin toss for the bears and big cats.
Regular daily admission is $15 for adults and $7 for children under age 12. Parking is free.
The non-profit sanctuary is home to over 100 lions, tigers, bears, primates, tortoises and birds.
Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary is located at 7101 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota.
For more information, call (941) 371-6377

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Lions and tigers spending winter living at north-east farm

The Lions at the farm

By Joshua King

The arrival of five fearsome big cats has drawn crowds to a north-east farm.

It was revealed yesterday that The Circus High School, near St Combs, Fraserburgh, will play host to two lions and three tigers over the winter.

And while the revelation may have come as a surprise to some, and a shock to some animal rights groups, the arrival of the beasts is not unusual for the site.

The lions prowl their farm cages

The creatures are owned by lion tamer Thomas Chipperfield, whose
 family have trained animals for centuries. Land owner Bobby Russell is also an animal trainer.

When it emerged the circus animals were being kept on the north-east property, some people took to social media to vent their views on animal welfare.

However, last night Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “To date, we have not received any calls to our animal helpline in relation to these big cats.

“It is for the local authority to ensure the owner has a Dangerous Wild Animals licence and that all health and safety requirements are being met.”

And Aberdeenshire Council has confirmed everything is above board.

Head of protective services and waste management, Ian Robertson, said: “An application for licence under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act was submitted to Aberdeenshire Council’s environmental health service and a vet and two officers have visited the premises.

“We are satisfied with the health, welfare and security arrangements in place and the enclosures, which are approved and licensed by DEFRA, will be inspected on a regular basis.”

One of the three tigers staying 

at the farm over the winter

Nevertheless, welfare group Animal Defenders International (ADI) has criticised current legislation which allows wild animals to be kept in captivity for use in circuses.

ADI president Jan Creamer, who is currently leading a mission to rescue big cats and other wild animals from circuses in South America, said, “It is very sad that whilst we are rescuing lions from circuses in Peru and Colombia, having secured bans there, the future for these big cats looks bleak, unless Scotland and England press ahead and ends the unpopular and outdated use of wild animals in circuses.

“It is shameful that we have fallen behind 28 countries who have now taken action to help circus animals.”

Nobody from The Circus High School was available for comment last night.

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Trick or Treat for big cats in FELIDA

Erin Timmer 

2014-10-29

The big cats in the Dutch rescue centre FELIDA just seem to celebrate their very own Halloween party – with their new enrichment: big Halloween pumpkins. Like any other enrichment the pumpkins help the animals to rediscover their natural behaviour, which has dulled during years of living in bad keeping conditions. Presenting new items and scents help to alleviate boredom and improve the general well-being of the animals.

 

Leopard Bakari loves his new enrichment tool - a big Halloween pumpkin!
© VIER PFOTEN | Jeanine Noordermeer

Big cats from bad keeping conditions

Lioness Noor originally comes from a zoo and has been in FELIDA since 2006. Lion Giovanni used to be a tourist attraction in Italy, where travelers would have their picture taken with him. In 2005, at the early age of one, when he became too big and heavy to be carried, he was handed over to the rescue station. Bakari, an African leopard was also much pleased with his vegetable snack. He was born in a German zoo, were visitors could take pictures with him. When the zoo was no longer interested in him, he came to the rescue centre.

 

Lioness Noor has obviously some fun with her Halloween pumpkin. © VIER PFOTEN | Erin Timmer

 

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Your Daily Cat

Close walking caracal by Tambako The Jaguar

Nepal Accelerates Efforts To Protect Rare Himalayan Snow Leopards

 

 

By Ben Guarino

October 28, 2014

There are fewer than 7,000 snow leopards scattered across the planet. Of these, an elusive 350 to 500 live in Nepal, spending their time prowling the heights of the Himalayas. Although many of these cats live in Annapurna Conservation Area, an almost 3,000-square-mile protected preserve, they are not free from conflict with humans.

(Land Rover Our Planet/Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

Nepalese residents who live near Annapurna, in response, have undertaken a campaign to conserve the snow leopard. A major source of strife between the Nepalese and the leopards stem from predation on livestock — such as the Chauri gai, a cross between a hill cow and a yak. But residents are now building protective sheds, rather than taking lethal retribution toward cats who are predatory by nature. Funds will also go toward compensating farmers who have lost animals to the leopards, as well as education to raise awareness, Nepalese news outlet Kantipur reports. It’s a critical measure for the "dwindling number of the endangered snow leopard" in the area, says Sudip Adhikari, a wildlife management officer in the Manag area.

(Tambako the Jaguar/Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

Snow leopards are notoriously solitary animals, preferring to spread out over wide ranges. For nearly 50 years, there was no sign of leopards on the Nepalese half of Mount Everest until a photographer snapped a shot of a cat in 2005.

On the Tibetan side, camera traps recently captured 27 photos of the snow leopards — a heartening sight of the cats in habitats that the International Union for the Conservation of Nature notes run "along politically sensitive international borders."

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Thailand tiger park reopens despite tourist mauling

Phuket's Tiger Kingdom reopens its enclosures as Australian tourist says he does not blame the tiger that mauled him

PETA hopes the incident will educate more tourists about the plight of tigers. 

By Lee Cobaj

29 Oct 2014

Tiger Kingdom in Phuket has re-opened to the public following the mauling of an Australian man inside one of its enclosures last week. The park had closed for two days after Paul Goudie, 49, from Melbourne, was left needing surgery and dozens of stitches to his stomach and legs after entering the cage of a large male tiger for photographs.

Despite the life-threatening nature of the attack and major concerns about the welfare of the animals, tiger tourism looks set to continue on the holiday island. Tiger Kingdom told Telegraph Travel today that all facilities were fully open and that it would cost 900 THB (£17) to pose with a small tiger and 1000 THB (£19.25) to enter the cage one of the larger animals. Visitors would be accompanied by a handler and restricted to a maximum of ten minutes. It appears that no new procedures have been put in place since Mr Goudie was injured.

In a video interview with local newspaper, The Phuket News, Mr. Goudie apportioned no blame to the tiger and said he hoped the cat’s life would be spared. A spokesperson for Tiger Kingdom,

Tanawin Boonpang, reportedly claimed that the attack was a result of the big cat’s overprotective nature. He suggested that the tiger was trying to defend a staffer whom Mr Goudie had reached out to when trying to stand up.

Animal welfare groups, however, have condemned Tiger Kingdom, with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) describing captivity as a “living hell” for the cats.

“Tiger Kingdom - which has long been the subject of intense scrutiny for its treatment of the animals imprisoned within its walls - gives people the warped idea that these animals are little more than cuddly kitties who can be used and abused for our entertainment.

“But captivity does not extinguish all the genetic drives that tigers are meant to follow. “Attacks by captive big cats on people - which occur with staggering regularity - illustrate the profound level of stress, anxiety and agitation these animals experience every day of their lives. In captivity, they cannot engage in any of the activities that give their lives meaning.”



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Iberian Lynx running out of lives

Por: James Bryce | 29 de octubre de 2014

 

For the iconic Iberian lynx, 2014 is already a record-breaker. Sadly, for the world’s most endangered wild cat, the landmark is nothing to celebrate. So far this year, 19 animals have been killed following collisions with cars, the highest annual total since records began.

Add to that a further 14 which suffered the same fate last year and an average of 1.5 are dying on Spanish roads every month. That represents a staggering 10% of the entire species (based on a recent global population estimate of 332).

The elusive creature favours dense woodland, and scrubland away from human activity, feeding almost exclusively on rabbits. But a 40% decline in its main source of prey due to disease has forced the cats to travel further afield in search of food. This has resulted in a greater number of lynx encountering vehicles on roads in Andalucía, where the species’ two known breeding populations live. It’s happening so frequently that road deaths have become the biggest cause of non-natural lynx mortality in Spain.

Conservationists claim the deaths are having a catastrophic effect on lynx numbers and have lobbied for road improvements aimed at protecting the felines. They have been highly critical of the Andalucían regional government, which they accuse of failing to fulfil its obligations under EU law.
Andalucía’s public works ministry, for its part, has pledged €1 million for the construction of specialised lynx crossings and for the upgrading of existing roadside fencing. The work, which has yet to start, must be completed by March 2017.

The regional government department is a partner in Life Lince, an EU-funded lynx conservation scheme, which aims to restore the cat to its traditional range across Spain and Portugal.
Today the species is restricted to the Sierra Morena and Doñana National Park, but once roamed large tracts of Castilla la Mancha and Extremadura, as well as Portugal.

But the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) blames authorities for a three-year delay in agreeing to improve four lynx-death ‘black spots’ on roads in Andalucía. The issue came to a head earlier this month when the campaign group wrote to the European Commission outlining its concerns. The letter states that Spain has a duty as a member state of the EU not to obstruct corridors that allow the geographical distribution of the Iberian lynx. It also accuses the regional government of failing to install crossings that allow for the safe passage of the lynx, and of not maintaining fencing.

“It is unacceptable that the European Commission is investing great efforts in the conservation of the lynx, through the largest project ever created, and that outcomes are being compromised because of the public works ministry,” said Juan Carlos del Olmo, secretary general of WWF Spain. “We have been demanding for some time that the necessary measures be urgently implemented so that the lynx and other protected species can cross highways safely,” he added.

Despite the recent decline, lynx numbers have increased steadily in recent years, from a low of 94 in 2002 to more than 300 in 2014, due largely to concerted conservation efforts. But the distinctive animal, which remains on a list of critically endangered species, faces an uncertain future.

Let’s hope the next record to be broken by this alluring creature is of an altogether more positive nature.

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Picture credit: El País

GoPro: Lioness Hunts Down a Buck

 

Published on Oct 27, 2014

 

With a GoPro on her back, Meg the Lioness takes down a waterbuck in the wild plains of South Africa.

Your Daily Cat

 

Big brother playing with young sister by Tambako The Jaguar

'Safari Live' to Premiere Sunday, November 2 on Nat Geo Wild

Written By Sara Bibel

October 27th, 2014

via press release:

NAT GEO WILD EMBARKS ON AN UNPRECEDENTED THREE-MONTH

LIVE AFRICAN SAFARI FROM NOV. 2 THROUGH JAN. 31

As Part of Nat Geo WILD’s 5th Annual BIG CAT WEEK, Safari Live Brings Viewers

to the African Bush in Real Time to Experience the True Callings of the Wild

 

Safari Live Premieres on Nat Geo WILD Saturday, Nov. 29, at 9 AM ET;

Prior to Broadcast Watch Daily Safaris Live Online Every Morning at 9 AM ET and at

10:00 PM ET Beginning Sunday, Nov. 2 via WILDSafariLive.com

 

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oct. 27, 2014)  

Africa is far and pricey for most to travel to. But that’s not stopping Nat Geo WILD from bringing Africa to you. Beginning Saturday, Nov. 29, at 9 a.m. ET on Nat Geo WILD, Safari Live gives viewers a front row seat on daily safari rides as we explore the natural habitat of lions, giraffes, elephants and more. National Geographic Channel will also simulcast the adventure beginning Monday, Dec. 1, at 9 a.m. ET for a week. And for those who can’t wait until Nov. 29 to grab their cameras, Safari Live will be available to watch online starting Sunday, Nov. 2, at 9 a.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET at WILDSafariLive.com

 

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U.S. weighs listing African lion as threatened species

An African lion makes a grumpy face as a light rain starts to fall Thursday morning at the Lincoln Park Zoo in September 2014. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune / September 4, 2014)

Reuters

October 27, 2014

WASHINGTON—

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday proposed listing the African lion as threatened after a study showed the big cats were in danger of extinction in the foreseeable future.

A listing as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act would bar trafficking of the species as it faces dwindling habitat in Africa and more competition with humans.

African lions, or Panthera leo leo, are found across a wide range in the continent, but about 70 percent, or 24,000, of them live in only 10 major strongholds, the service said in a statement.

Listing the African lion as threatened "will bring the full protections of U.S. law to lion conservation, allowing us to strengthen enforcement and monitoring of imports and international trade," Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe said.

The main threats to the African lion are loss of habitat and of the animals lions prey on, and increased conflict with humans, the statement said.

People and farming and grazing activities have expanded into lion habitat and protected areas, putting more livestock near the big cats. As hunters reduce the number of animals that lions feed on, lions kill more livestock, leading to retaliatory killings by humans.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is also proposing a rule that would set up permits for the importation of sport-hunted lion trophies. Sport-hunting is not seen as a threat to the species, the statement said.

The Endangered Species Act bars such activities as import, export, commercial activity, interstate commerce and foreign commerce. It also heightens awareness of listed species and can provide financial aid to efforts to conserve them.

The proposal to list the African lion as threatened follows a 2011 petition from a coalition of organizations. The Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comments for 90 days on its proposal.

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Rare $20,000 cat roams in Brandywine Hundred, DE

A domesticated, exotic cat was spotted Saturday night in Brandywine Hundred. The cat is declawed 

and has been missing since Oct. 17. 10/27/2014

 

Terri Sanginiti and Esteban Parra, The News Journal

October 28, 2014

 

(Photo: SUBMITTED)

Richard Todd began walking, driving, even hanging chicken on a string shortly after his family's exotic pet cat, Boo, slipped out of the house 11 days ago.

"Originally I was just putting chicken down, but the foxes kept taking it," Todd said. "So I started hanging it up. I put some hooks, hanging it up with bells on them and the chicken hanging."

Although Boo has been spotted several times in Brandywine Hundred, the cat has not fallen for the chicken bait. Todd's trail cameras have not captured images of the distinctive first-generation F1 Savannah, a rare cat valued at up to $20,000.

Given Boo's breed, anyone who encounters the 35-pound feline might be in for a serious fright, because he resembles a miniature leopard. The 8-year-old domesticated cat has a small head, large ears, elongated neck and long slender legs with a pale yellow coat with natural black spots.

Boo was purchased from a breeder in El Paso, Texas, and is a cross between an African serval and an Egyptian Mau. His front paws are declawed and he's a domesticated pet who poses no risk to children, cats or dogs, Todd said.

"He doesn't normally come outside except to eat grass," Todd said. "And whenever he's gotten out, he's always come back the next day."

Todd said he reported the cat missing after an Internet posting identified the animal as a "wild bobcat" roaming north of Wilmington and he worried someone might shoot him. The posting has since been removed.

"I called the Brandywine Zoo and state and county police," said Todd, who is offering a reward for the cat's safe return.

New Castle County police and firefighters searched unsuccessfully for two hours Saturday in a wooded area near the Glenside Farms development after a caller reported seeing a large cat in their side yard, county police Sgt. Jacob Andrews said.

The cat walked through the yard then headed across Silverside Road into the woods.
Todd said the cat was seen near Forwood Elementary School at 1900 Westminister Drive about 7 a.m. Monday.

The family purchased Boo because he resembled an African serval, which Todd and his wife had seen running wild in Africa, where his wife lived previously. So disappointed by Boo's disappearance, Todd's twins skipped their 13th birthday dinner Monday.

Boo has a younger stepbrother at home, Shaka, who is an F6 (sixth-generation) Savannah who cost $6,000. Boo even has his own Facebook page.

Andrews noted that since the cat is domesticated, its safety is endangered by predators and lack of food outside his home.

There haven't been any reported sightings of big cats in northern New Castle County since the elusive cougar there several years ago, first seen in the Holly Oak area..

Anyone with information on Boo's whereabouts is asked to call police at (302) 573-2800 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333.

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When Cats Take Over the World

Globetrotting couple capture spectacular intimate photos of #lions, #cheetahs, and #leopards

• Andy and Sarah Skinner have visited Africa, India, North America and Arctic to take remarkable photographs
• The married couple from Berkshire have made more than 50 excursions since 2004, and 40 of those to Africa
• Sarah's day job is as a bathroom account manager and Andy works as a heating and plumbing engineer
• Their images include cheetahs bonding, lions fighting, bears playing and a gorilla at its most relaxed

By India Sturgis for MailOnline

Published: 24 October 2014   

For some couples a simple weekend away is enough to make them feel they’ve got out of the house and experienced something special. Not for the Skinners, though.

Husband and wife team Andy and Sarah Skinner have spent the past 10 years travelling the world together to remote locations as they photograph wild animals in their most intimate moments.

The couple from Berkshire have captured some of the most dangerous beasts on our planet going about their daily business in this stunning collection of wildlife images. 

An adorable but wild at heart lion cub patrols a stretch ground in Savuti in Botswana, as photographed by Andy and Sarah Skinner

A serene image of a male leopard relaxing after climbing up a tree with his catch hanging to the left in Maasai Mara, Kenya

Andy and Sarah regularly swap their ordinary day jobs for life on the edge - and have notched up more than 50 excursions to destinations including Africa, India, North America and the Arctic.

Sarah, 40, says it’s a far cry from her day job as a bathroom supplies account manager or Andy’s as a heating and plumbing engineer. 'It's exhilarating, it's challenging. There's nothing better than sitting under the stars and listening to lions roaring. It's so different to what we do. It's a release going into the wild and we really do live two different lives.'

The fearless couple leave no stone unturned when it comes to getting the perfect picture, and have converted a Land Rover into a specialist safari vehicle. 

Look at our teeth ... Sarah and Andy have been married for 13 years and been on over 50 exotic overseas excursions together 

Up close and personal with an adult male lion as he stares into the lens of the Skinner's camera in Kenya

Andy, 40, explains the moment their operation went up a notch.

'We were sitting around a camp fire in Kenya one night and then we decided to ship our own vehicle over,’ he says. 'We bought the car here and completely stripped it down and changed the chassis and the gear box and prepared it for an African adventure. It has a fridge, a cooker and a roof tent. We got it on a container and took it to Mombasa. It's kept there and we use it for all our photography. The vehicle is just how we want it so we have photo mounts and we can focus on different species.'

With their customized equipment they have no problem getting up close to lions, tigers, bears and giraffes in their natural environment - capturing them as they eat, sleep, fight, bond and play. 'We've got a good understanding so we never feel in danger,' said Sarah. 

It's time for a spot of grooming in this charming image of an adult female cheetah with her offspring

'There can be hairy moments but Andy is very capable so I'm always confident that I have got a man that can get us out. Last year, we were sat by a fire in Botswana and we turned around to see a large female hyena stood just a couple of feet away from us. We've had all the big animals come into camp and get really close. Many times we wake up to buffalo or elephants.

'They usually just nonchalantly pass by and generally avoid us. One particular morning we awoke in camp to a buffalo sitting at the base of the ladder to our roof tent. Seemed he just wanted a bit of company and security! So, most of the time it's really exciting.'

Andy and Sarah stand atop their customised Land Rover, which they've turned into a deluxe safari vehicle perfect for photography

A dramatic encounter as female lions (left) attack a males in Kenya - the Skinners say they never feel in danger among the animals

Included in their series of images are heartwarming moments of young lion cubs, such as this cuddly-looking beauty in Botswana

Giraffes decorate the plains as they all walk in the same direction in this shot taken by the couple in Africa

Andy builds the Land Rover which was designed to help them get better shots of wildlife

Andy and Sarah have been married for 13 years after meeting in less than conventional circumstances. 'I saw Andy hanging from a tree because he used to be an arborist,’ Sarah says. ‘Eventually we got together. We both had a real love for wildlife before that. I dragged him to Africa in 2004 and that was the point that we both got hooked.’

The pair have since been to that continent more than 40 times.  

Blue wildebeest scrabble across the Mara River during their migration

Adult female lions with a young cub enjoy some light refreshment in Botswana 

Two unruly offspring fool about with a female lion in Maasai Mara in Kenya

A cheetah surveys the scrub land in front of it from vantage point of a slight rock in Kenya

‘We thought we would probably do it once but we both got bitten by the bug. We got more and more into it and then we weren't satisfied with guided tours so that's when we started self-driving in Kenya.’

Andy adds: 'Both of us love being immersed in natural environment surrounded by wildlife. ‘Every single picture brings with it a memory, and it's great that we can look back and have such fantastic memories. Some of our adventures aren't for the feint-hearted and I would not recommend people just go driving around Africa.'

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