Monthly Archives: April 2022

Orange County Zoo, which recently rescued two mountain lion kittens from Thousand Oaks, will open a new habitat for the kittens and other feline rescues according to a news release from the zoo. The new habitat will span about two acres of zoo land and is the biggest single improvement in the zoo’s history. TheContinue reading “Orange County Zoo Large Mammal Habitat to Open May 13; Will House Orphaned and Rescued Mountain Lions And a Jaguar”

The ongoing slaughter in Ukraine is devastating human and animal populations across the country. Earlier we reported on efforts to evacuate animals from war-torn areas. Today the news is much grimmer. At least two animal caretakers who stayed behind to aid animals housed in a zoo have died. The zoo says they were killed byContinue reading “War in Ukraine Claims Lives of Animal Rescuers; About 300 Dogs Die of Starvation; Zoo Residents May Be Euthanized”

Cheetahs are iconic predators known for their incredible speed. They are also the most endangered of African cats. Their numbers have fallen drastically due to human interaction. The worst aspect of that is the theft of cheetah cubs. The cubs are stolen at a very young age while the mother hunts. They are stolen toContinue reading “Theft of Cheetah Cubs Pushing Fastest Feline Closer to Edge of Extinction in The Wild”

Concerned about overcrowding of threatened Asiatic lions in the Gir forest, Indian officials have recently completed a study of the population density of the lions and their prey. The report estimates that the Gir forest contains about 15 lions per 100 square kilometers. Prey animals are estimated to number about 1,000 in the same area..Continue reading “Indian Officials Complete Population Density Survey of Endangered Gir lions and Their Prey; Results Place Focus on Overcrowding Issues”

Once wide-ranging, Asiatic lions are now reduced to a remnant population in India’s state of Gujarat. There are an estimated 560 individuals, and Indian state and local wildlife authorities are faced with mounting challenges as the region changes. As a whole, India is faced with increasing challenges in protecting its wildlife as the country urbanizesContinue reading “Overcrowding Stresses India’s Asiatic Lions Facing Serious and Mounting Challenges to Survive”

Leprosy is now being observed in wild chimpanzees for the first time. The outbreak in two different areas of West Africa puzzles researchers and veterinarians. So far leprosy has been confined mostly to humans. It does not appear humans are spreading the disease to chimps, leading experts to question what they know about the disfiguringContinue reading “Leprosy is Striking Wild Chimpanzees for the First Time – Wildlife Advocates Uncertain How Chimps Catch the Disease”

South Korea has reached an agreement with animal rights organizations to end the practice of bear bile “farming” and release could be imminent for hundreds of bears held on “farms.” The announcement came at the end of last year and bear rescue groups are working to rescue bears. Bear Bile farming is the the practiceContinue reading “South Korea Announces End to Bear Bile Farms, But Practice Continues Throughout Asia”

Until the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic the most I knew about pangolins was that they were scaly and cute. In the early days of the pandemic they were blamed, along with bats, for the transmission to humans of the virus. They are considered a delicacy in Asia and they can transmit illnesses. WhatContinue reading “Jackie Chan, Wild Aid and Nature Conservancy Join Forces to Protect Pangolins”

Since the 1990’s Australian conservationists have been trying to rescue Tasmanian Devils from the ravages of Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD). The cancer is fatal in more than 80 percent of cases. The disease is a virus induced cancer exclusive to the species. It has been under extensive study for over 10 years. Early researchContinue reading “Possible Ray of Hope in Tasmanian Devil’s Battle Against Deadly Facial Tumors”