Author Archives: ursusrising

Conservation of Indian lions and tigers has moved into a complicated new phase. As the populations grow new challenges must be met. With tigers the new goal is shifting beyond traditional reserves. Long-term habitat restoration is critical. The Buxa Tiger Reserve is being revived to give tigers additional habitat. For tigers (Panthera Tigris) a lotContinue reading “Lions And Tigers Oh My! India’s Projects Lion And Tiger Have Big Goals In Mind”

We are so used to associating lions with Africa that we forget they once populated Europe and much of Asia., The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo leo) nearly went extinct but now it is a remarkable wildlife conservation triumph. The Greeks and Romans were familiar with lions but by the early 1900s few survived in theContinue reading “Gir Lion of India Population Rising, Lions Moving Out Of Protected Zone To New Areas”

Since the days of the Bear Flag Revolt in 1846 the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horibilis) has been California’s symbol. A grizzly was featured on California’s first flag and its current flag. UCLA and Cal Berkeley are Bruins and Bears. The state seal has one. But the last wild bear was killed in 1924. SomeContinue reading “Return of the Grizzly? California Is Weighing Possible Reintroduction Of Massive State Symbol”

Ambitious conservationists worldwide are writing new playbooks about species conservation. A result is a more aggressive conservation style intended to reintroduce species into habitat from which they have been driven. Today’s prime example is the return of the tiger (Panthera Tigris) to Kazakhstan. This newest effort, launched at the end of July, follows similar effortsContinue reading “Kazakhstan Begins Bold New De-Extinction/Reintroduction Plan Restoring The Caspian Tiger”

Gray wolves. (Canis lupus) have made a remarkable natural return to California.  But if you ask “Who is afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?” You will find many people still are. Wolves once were common in California but by the 1920s, intensive hunting, trapping, and government-backed bounty programs had completely wiped out California’s wild wolf population.Continue reading “Wolves Have Returned To California But Face Many Survival Challenges”

Although critically endangered, four American red wolf (Canis rufus) mothers are doing their best to save their species from extinction. That wolf, one of the world’s most endangered canids, is responding to human assistance in the wetlands of eastern North Carolina. But the threat remains. A remarkable four healthy litters have recently arrived according ttheContinue reading “Four Wild Red Wolf Litters Bring About Two Dozen Pups Into The Extinction Battle”

Jaguars, North Americas’s largest feline, are showing signs of returning to Honduran tropical forests and the hot borderlands of Arizona. The jaguar, one of the most powerful and elusive big cats, is quietly making a symbolic return to two very different landscapes: the tropical forests of Honduras and the rugged borderlands of Arizona. Though stillContinue reading “Jaguars Return To Widely Separate Habitats, May be Reclaiming Ancient Ground”

Efforts to double wild tiger populations may not have succeeded but the population is stable and growing. After a catastrophic century of steep decline, Felis Tigris is clawing its way back from the brink of extinction. In 2010, wild tiger populations plummeted to an all-time low of approximately 3,200 individuals due to rampant poaching, habitatContinue reading “Wild Tigers On The Rebound as Populations Stabilize”

Wolves have been reintroducing themselves to California after a century of local extinction. But a three-year-old female gray wolf (Canis lupus) from the Beyem Seyo pack—known to biologists as BEY03F has come into Southern California. Her original pack is now considered inactive. She is native to Plumas County but has come as far south asContinue reading “Female Wolf Roaming California To Find A Mate And Start A Pack”

The concrete and wildflower tribute to Mountain Lion P-22 has finally found vocal critics even as the long-awaited project nears completion. Officially it is the Wallis P. Annenberg Wildlife Crossing. It was named after Annenberg who is one of the biggest private donors. Annenberg, who died in 2025, gave $25 million yo the project. AContinue reading “Critics Maul Liberty Canyon Wildlife Over-crossing Even As Landmark Project Nears Completion”