Author Archives: ursusrising

Jaguars and mountain lions are the two apex feline predators in United States history. Jaguars were common in the American southwest. Cougars overlapped that range and expanded far to the north and south. Jaguars were driven to local extinction in the United States. Cougars were essentially eliminated in the east. the situation for both catsContinue reading “Formal Petition Filed To Bring Jaguars Back To United States Southwest To Roam Their Old Homelands; Impact On Mountain Lions Uncertain”

P-22 has met his end, according to reports quoting the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Euthanasia was administered at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park the morning of December 17, according to numerous sources. It was described as “compassionate euthanasia” although that term was not defined. In my experience veterinarians often perform a twoContinue reading “Old Age, Recent Injuries Mandate Euthanasia For Mountain Lion P-22; State Still Has Large Cougar Population”

P-22, who was captured yesterday because he was showing signs of distress, is in bad shape and may be facing euthanasia, it was announced today. The report was made via a news conference about the cat. He is apparently malnourished and may have been hit by a car. Car accidents are a prime dangers forContinue reading “Tests Aren’t Complete But P-22 May Be At End-Of-Life”

Who is P-22? Probably the most famous cougar outside (perhaps) of Pete Puma. That Warner Bros. character had trouble with Bugs Bunny. But Pete is probably a distant second. Sadly, time may be catching up to the famous cat whose photos near the Hollywood Sign brought him international recognition. He was captured December 12 inContinue reading “Is Time Catching Up To P-22? Famous Feline Has Attacked Pets; Is In Captivity Now And Will Have His Health Evaluated”

The future of wildlife is in human hands, for better or worse. Education is one of the keys to raising children willing to work to protect wildlife. To that end the Wildlife Learning Center (WLC) is offering a learning camp during winter school break. WLC is experienced at teaching children about wildlife as it hasContinue reading “Winter Camp Offered by Wildlife Learning Center; Fun And Education To Help Protect Wildlife”

It is something of a cliche that DNA and genetic manipulation is the future of human medicine. However true that proves to be we will see. But DNA testing and manipulation is certainly a major key in the struggles to prevent extinction – and perhaps reverse it. It is also a major player in theContinue reading “More Novel Uses For DNA: Analysis May Help In Efforts To Save Sumatran Tigers”

The battle to save the world’s wild tigers is increasingly turning to technology. There are probably fewer than 5,000 tigers left in the wild and efforts to save them have been hampered by difficulties in tracking and counting them. This is where technology and science are coming into play in the struggle to prevent extinction.Continue reading “Science And Technology Work Together To Save Wild Tigers In Sundarbans Wetlands”

Not only did the Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine) disappear in 1936 but the remains of its last known representative vanished too – thought to have been discarded. But according to the BBC the remains were simply misplaced and have been found in a museum cupboard. The thylacine died in 1936 in the Hobart Zoo at aContinue reading “Remains Of “Last” Tasmanian Tiger Found; May Help Reverse Extinction Of Marsupial Predator?”

No one is quite sure why but the Snow Crab population in the Bering Sea has dropped from an estimated 8 billion animals to abut 1 billion of the highly favored crustaceans. Diners are expected to go without as Alaska has suspended legal fishing this year. According to Field and Stream magazine the drastic dropContinue reading “Bering Sea Snow Crab Population Dwindles, Predation, Overfishing and Warmer Waters May Be To Blame”

Recently we have posted on intriguing discoveries under Antarctic ice that upend previous thinking. The first was the discovery of the wold’s largest ice fish nesting grounds. These grounds cover 92 square miles in the forbidding Weddell Sea. That sea is located on the north coast of Antarctica. Ice fish are highly unusual for aContinue reading “Newly Discovered Wildlife Reservoir Under Antarctic Ice May Be Vaster And More Varied Than First Believed”