Measuring up to almost two metres (6 feet) long, the giant otter is the largest of its kind. Found in the Amazon, Orinoco and Río de la Plata River systems of South America, these highly social creatures build underground burrows which can house large family groups. They primarily eat fish (such as perch, catfish and […]
Tag: pumas
Study busts big bad myth that wolves are growing fearless of humans
After years of being hunting to near-extinction, wolves are making a comeback in some of their historical ranges in Europe and North America. With their return comes a growing concern that the predators are moving too close to human settlements, becoming bolder and less fearful of people. Researchers set out to see if that’s true, […]
The missing lynx: how the rise of border walls has split up wildlife populations
The lynxes of the Białowieża forest once freely prowled through 1,420 sq km (548 sq miles) of ancient woodland. Then, in 2022, the habitat was abruptly sliced in two. Poland built a 115-mile (186km) wall across its border with Belarus to stop refugees and migrants entering the EU. About 15 lynxes were left stranded on […]
Police arrest couple for breeding and selling exotic cats in Spain
Police have arrested two people suspected of breeding and selling exotic cats in Spain. Officers detained the pair at a property in Manacor, on the island of Majorca, after finding 19 exotic cats including a desert lynx and two servals, according to a statement from the Guardia Civil on Monday. “The detainees sold different animal […]
Deadly Encounter: Mountain Lion Attacks Spark Controversy
Last March, two young California men were searching for shed deer antlers in the Sierra foothills east of Sacramento and were startled by a young mountain lion walking toward them, no more than 10 yards away. Experts say the best thing to do when a mountain lion approaches is to raise your arms to make […]
Highways prevent pumas from reclaiming their eastern U.S. range: Study
Pumas are unlikely to recolonize much of their historical range in the eastern U.S., a new study finds. It’s not a lack of habitat or food keeping out the pumas, also known as cougars or mountain lions. It’s the highways. Historically, pumas (Puma concolor) ranged coast to coast across nearly all of the Americas, stretching […]