There have been few sightings of the endangered Persian leopard in the Caucasus region over the past 20 years: just three in Georgia and 10 in Armenia. But scientists and conservationists are alert to one Persian leopard in particular, whom they’ve named Aren and who is presumed to have journeyed 240 kilometers (150 miles) through […]
Tag: leopards
It’s a cat – but it’s a strange cat with long legs and a tiny head. It can leap 10 feet high, go off like a rocket at 50mph and has the weirdest ears ever
Caracals are creatures that cultivate anonymity. A sleek and mysterious wild cat, is known for its striking appearance and agile hunting skills. What is a caracal? A caracal is a medium-sized beautiful wild cat with a sandy coat and some freckling (often faint) on the belly and the insides of the legs. It has large, […]
Vulture conservation project to target illegal killing and poisoning in Chad
Conservationists are launching a project to protect dwindling vulture populations in Chad amid a Central Africa-wide decline. Run by the nonprofit Sahara Conservation, the project is part of a larger EU-funded LIFE EV Safe Return program that focuses on protecting the endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus). Egyptian vultures migrate from their breeding sites in the […]
Why do cats purr? It’s not just a sign of happiness…
Do all cats purr? Purring is not only seen in domestic cats. Cats can be divided into those that can purr and the cats that roar. These sounds are mutually exclusive due to the structure of the larynx – often known as the voice box. In smaller cat species, such as cheetahs, cougars, domestic cats, […]
A new cat species was just discovered. Several more may follow
Editor’s note: Last week, the description of a “new” cat species from Bolivia made headlines around the world. The tilcayo (Leopardus tilcayo), a small spotted cat from Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forests, was described as the first new living cat species discovered in more than a century. Unlike several cats recognized as new species in recent […]
Nepal’s high-altitude wildernesses & wildlife are increasingly under threat (commentary)
Changes like increasing geological and glacial instability driven by the warming climate are a growing concern across the Himalayas. Our hearts go out to the thousands of families across Nepal, China, and around the world grieving their loved ones and searching for those missing after the recent catastrophic flash flood at the Nepal-China border. Though […]
Study analyzes danger of parasites to Bengal tigers in South Asia
A typical roundworm measures roughly 2.7% of the average length of a Bengal tiger or weighs just three-millionths of one percent of the largest of the world’s big cats. Though these parasites do not pose a major threat to Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris), researchers across South Asia, the cat’s native range, warn that parasitic infections […]
Vietnam seizes 1.2 tons of ivory, plus big cat bones, hidden in timber shipment
Authorities in Vietnam have intercepted more than a ton of elephant ivory along with big-cat bones in a shipment from the Republic of Congo. Gia Lai provincial authorities announced that the haul of 1,193 kilograms (2,630 pounds) of ivory and 79.3 kg (175 lb) of bones was uncovered at Quy Nhon Port in early August. […]