Wild Animal News

India is home to many of the world’s wildcats and how to preserve them in a challenging world is a key issue. India has 15 of the approximately 37 cat species. More than any other single country. The country has mounted strong conservation efforts. Recently the focus has been on Indian leopards (Panthera pardus fusca).

India has about 14,000 leopards but the big cats face enormous challenges as India modernizes and urbanizes. According to The Times of India the problem is reaching Prime Minister Marendra Modi’s desk.

According to the paper:

“After multiple incidents of leopard attacks across the state, including the recent killing of a leopard that caused the death of three in Pune, conservationist group NatConnect Foundation appealed to the Prime Minister by launching an online petition that drew support from more than 630 citizens, including ecologists, educators, and biodiversity volunteers, reflecting rising public anxiety around frequent leopard encounters.”

NatConnect director B N Kumar said the root issue lay in the fragmentation of forests and disruption of traditional wildlife corridors. Expanding settlements, highways, quarrying zones, and tourism projects steadily encroached on leopard habitat, forcing the animals to move across farms, village peripheries, and even highways. “Leopards are not straying into human spaces by choice. Their landscape is shrinking around them,” Kumar said. He added that reactionary measures such as capturing or relocating leopards often worsened the situation. “

Prime Minister Modi has taken serious interest in Indian wildlife. India is home to about 70 percent of the world’s wild tigers. Leopards and other wild cats are receiving increased protection. The country has also embarked on a controversial project to reintroduce cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) into the country.

According to the paper that had an unexpected result when a leopard died after what was called an “encounter” with a cheetah. But balancing the needs of different animals is difficult. For example, India’s extraordinary success in increasing tiger numbers has had mixed impacts. Efforts to landscape wildlands to make the land more attractive to tigers backfired. The efforts made the land less favorable for leopards. Whatever policy changes the prime minister implements will be controversial.

Leopards are probably fifth among the big cats in size. Tigers (Panthera tigris ) are the largest cats followed by lions (Panthera leo). Jaguars (Panthera onca) leopards and mountain lions are the next three. Leopards and mountain lions (Puma concolor) are smaller than all but the smallest jaguars. Leopards and mountain lions overlap in size. The biggest mountain lions (puma councolor) are larger than the biggest leopard.

India has been determined to solve habitat problems even to the point of moving villages to accommodate tigers. But issues of human leopard interaction are not easily solved. Many conservationists are now questioning top Down conservation. That is where a government imposes rules. The newer style is more bottom up. It focuses on the benefits people and leopards can get from each other and builds a partnership. Partnerships between wild animals and people are most successful. One key example is eco tourism. The more tourists come to see leopards the more the local community benefits.

Another example is retraining people to hold jobs that benefit humans and animals. Snow leopards (Panthera Uncia) are benefitting in some parts of their range by a unique program. Encouraging herders to switch to raising honey is a powerful tool. The herders get a new lucrative business. Losses of domestic animals drop. Both sides benefit.

Norway’s arctic fox rebound appears to be pulling the predator back from the verge f extinction. It is also proving the value of innovative conservation efforts, according to recent reports.

Vulpes lagopus was almost extinct 20 years ago. Numbers were under 100 and falling. Today there are an estimated 300 of the foxes. An exciting increase but about 10 percent of what conservationists hope for.

Norwegian conservationists began a captive breeding program. Reared arctic foxes are released into the wild. So far the plan is working. Feeding stations also help. Dog food can tide the foxes over in times of scarcity and when lemming populations are low.

Vulpes Vulpes crucigera or the European red fox is the principal enemy. An arctic fox is about the size of a cat and not a match for its aggressive cousin.

Lemmings, Lemmus lemmus are small highly social rodents found in the Arctic. Many people believe they commit mass suicides by jumping off cliffs.. That is a myth propagated by a Walt Disney documentary titled white wilderness.

The octopus is an amazing animal and under a good deal of scientific scrutiny. Recently a possible example of octopus teamwork has emerged as researchers believe the cephalopods team up with fish to hunt.

According to an article on ChipChick on MSN the discovery was made in the Red Sea and researchers believe that the eight legged creatures use fish to help them find prey. They also apparently shoo away fish that will not participate in the hunt.

Evidently the fish can find potential prey hiding in areas they can’t reach and they can signal the octopus which can reach the prey. According to Smithsonian magazine:

“With the octopus leading the charge, fish scout for hidden prey and signal where to capture a smaller fish or mollusk. But if freeloading fish are hovering around, looking to benefit from the hunt without contributing, the octopus punches them away, according to new research.

“The octopus basically works as the decider of the group,” Eduardo Sampaio, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and lead author of the study, told  Nature News’ Helena Kudiabor.

The study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, brought a new type of collective behavior to light. Octopuses, often thought of as solitary creatures, led a group of various species of fish and discerned which ones were and weren’t helping.”

The octopus is a far more complex animal than has been thought. There is evidence that they have an active dream state, which surprises neurologists.

Every 60 minutes or so, the animals underwent rapid changes of skin colour lasting about one minute, together with changes in breathing rate, as well as body and eye movements.

When the team tapped on the tanks and watched how the animals responded, they found the octopuses showed different reactions depending on whether they were awake, in the quiet stage of sleep, or in the active stage.”

Nature can be reached here.

It is still impossible to know exactly what is going on. There are other explanations, such as fine-tuning their coloration. But the parallels with human sleep are interesting. As with the researchers who thought octopus dreams may be night mares, the researchers feel no certain answers have been found.

In the previous research an octopus showed behavior that could be consistent coming out of a bad dream.

Pallas” Cat, sometimes dubbed the “original grumpy cat” due to its unusual appearance, appears to be alive and well in Iran. Pallas cat kittens have recently been photographed, a hopeful sign, according to Iran Front Page.

According to Iran Front page:

“According to the head of Kerman’s Department of Environment, one of the local environmental volunteers succeeded in observing two Pallas’s cat cubs in the mountainous area of Rabor County, capturing an image of one of them.

Due to the considerable distance between the two cubs, photographing the second one was not possible.

“Officials sa”y this rare sighting suggests a potential increase in the local population of this vulnerable species, which is known for its reclusive nature and declining numbers across its native range in Central Asia and parts of the Iranian plateau.”

“The Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul), also known as the manul, is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN due to habitat loss, prey depletion, and other environmental pressures. The species is extremely difficult to monitor due to its solitary behavior and elusive presence.

Conservation experts in Iran consider repeated sightings of the animal in Kerman a positive indicator and are calling for heightened protection measures to safeguard its habitat and support possible population recovery in the region.”

Pallas cats (Otocolobus manul) are native to Central Asia. They live in fragmented populations in, Russia, China, Iran and Mongolia. The Indian subcontinent and several other central and South Asian countries have populations as well, The cats are about two feet long and under 10 pounds in weight.

Since the cats are reclusive and thought to be rare, numbers and exact habitat are conjectural. Recent discovery of the cats on the slopes of Mt. Everest were of great interest to scientists.

The cat was named after naturalist Peter Simon Pallas who first described it. It is frequently known as a manul. This cat has attracted considerable public and scientific attention. Much conservation effort has been awarded to it. The recent completion of the cat’s genome is expected to greatly improve conservation success. About 60 zoos worldwide are involved in breeding and conservation efforts

Project Cheetah is about two years old and appears to have the green light despite several setbacks and serious criticism. The goal is to reintroduce cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) to India more than 70 years after they were driven to extinction in that country. The effort follows in the footsteps of the much more successful Project Tiger which since 1973 has steadily brought Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris) from the verge of extinction. India now has about 3,500 tigers, roughly 75 percent of the world’s wild population.

“Cheetahs for the breeding centre being built in Gujarat’s Bunni grasslands will also be brought from Kenya, the director general of the International Big Cat Alliance, S P Yadav said,” According to The New Indian Express. Kenyan cheetahs are a new aspect of the program.

Sadly, eight adults have died, igniting criticism of the program. The cats are all still in enclosures and not free roaming, prompting more criticism. But the cats are breeding well and project organizers remain hopeful.

Cheetahs are the fastest of land mammals and were once common in India and other parts of Asia. They have been nearly extirpated from Asia, as a remnant population remains in Iran. They were annihilated in India in the 1950’s.

In Africa about 7,000 remain. They are under threat from poaching, stealing of cubs for the exotic pet trade and habitat loss.

As part of the first-ever intercontinental translocation of the big cats, 20 cheetahs have been brought to the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh so far: 8 from Namibia in September 2022 and 12 from South Africa in February 2023

The criticism of the project has recently met with robust pushback as scientists debate the project and its potential success.

President Donald J. Trump’s recent visit to the Middle East may turn out to be important for critically endangered Arabian leopards. Trump and Saudi officials agreed to a visit by two Arabian leopards to the Smithsonian National Zoo, according to news reports

USA Today said the agreement to bring the leopards to the United States was on the list of trade agreements and other topics discussed by Trump with Crown PrinceMohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

“We are honored to collaborate with the Royal Commission for AlUla to protect the critically endangered Arabian leopard,” said Brandie Smith, director of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. “Saving the world’s most vulnerable species takes global cooperation, scientific rigor and innovation—and that’s what we do best.”

The royal commission referenced by Smith is a government sponsored effort to upgrade a region of Saudi Arabia into an ecotourist and conservation destination.

he leopards once roamed the entire Arabian Peninsula but today are mostly confined to Oman. the estimated worldwide number is about 200. Some live in Yemen. Warfare and photos of dead leopards make it extremely difficult to know their status. They may be functionally extinct in Saudi Arabia. There are believed to be less than 50 in the kingdom. It is possible there may be about 8 in Israel. Arabian Leopards (panthera pardus nimr) are shy and secretive. Males top out around 75 pounds and females about 50. By contrast, the largest Persian Leopard (Panthera pardus tulliana) can reach 130 pounds. Persian leopards are also endangered. Iran and Russia both have conservation programs in place. Persian leopards may number fewer than 1,000 in the wild.

Saudi Arabia has established a scholarship and study program to train people to manage the rigors of management of the cats.

leopards are under siege throughout the world. The two largest populations are in Africa and India. There are thought to number about 13,000 in India. Africa probably has considerably more but the number is uncertain. Some estimates place the number of Afrcan leopards at over 500,000 but many are skeptical.

Today there are no known Wisconsin cougars. However the recent discovery of mountain lion kittens in Michigan suggests the return of the big cats may be inevitable.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) employees verified the existence of two kittens in that state in March. The two were estimated to be up to 9 weeks old.

Outdoor Life says Michigan has not had cougars in a century. Including the two kittens just mentioned there have been 10 sightings this year, the website says. The Wisconsin Deartment of Natural Resources says there are no Wisconsin cougars today.

But suggestions are that Michigan cougars are breeding and the number of sightings is increasing. Spilling over into neighboring Wisconsin is considered highly likely if not “inevitable”

Cougars (Puma concolor) have the longest north- south range of any cat on Earth. They are found from Canada deep into Argentina in South America. In general they are slightly smaller than Jaguars (Panthera onca). Jaguars range from Mexico south at least into Brazil. There are efforts to reintroduce Jaguars into the United States. At one time they ranged across the southern United States.

In the United States mountain lions are benefitting from increased conservation efforts. Many of those efforts are centered around avoiding traffic collisions with the cats. The Liberty Canyon project in the Santa Monica Mountains is nearing completion. It will provide an overcrossing over the 101Freeway.

Jaguars are benefitting from similar efforts in South America. They are also being transplanted into areas from which they were displaced,

Mountain lions are resilient and are adept at living close to humans. The example f P-22 and other Santa Monica Mountains cats shows they can adept well to human presence although there can be conflict.

The Liberty Canyon animal overcrossing is making steady progress according to state officials. The crossing is expected to be complete in 2026. The cougar overcrossing is designed to create a safe passageway for the large cats and other wildlife.

The project is designed in two steps. Phase one should be complete in 2025 and phase 2 in 2026. When complete the overcrossing will feature natural vegetation and features to help entice a great variety of wildlife to use it. Mountain lions, bobcats (Lynx rufus) and Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are expected to be major beneficiaries.

The cougar overcrossing project has been a public and private cooperative venture. It was started because people realized the plight of Santa Monica Mountain cougars. For about 20 years the National Park Service (NPS) has collared and studied the regional cats. More than 100 have been tagged and many were killed crossing the freeway. The most famous of the cougars, P-22 managed to cross the freeway twice. His fame led to the raising of awareness and funds for the project.

Officially known as the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing after a major donor the Liberty Canyon project is the largest of its kind in the world and is influencing conservation decisions nationally and internationally. The situation is urgent. Almost two dozen cougars (Puma concolor) and one black bear (Ursus americanus) have been killed in recent years. Most animals turn away when confronted by the 10-lane highway. The result has been genetic isolation for the animals. Santa Monica area mountain lions are showing signs of inbreeding as a result. Annenberg has donated $25 million of the $92 million price tag.

CalTrans, the state transportation agency has expedited efforts to save wildlife by mitigating the risks to animals by crossing roadways. No one knows the exact number of animals killed annually in collisions, but the number appears to be enormous. Crashes with deer are responsible for thousands of injuries and deaths. Animals are killed and many people are injured and some die. Property damage is also very great. The new cougar overcrossing is expected to lower the local toll.

Jaguars. AKA Panthera Onca, are the largest big cats in the Americas. They were once common from the southern United States deep into South America. Although they remain common in some areas their population is under threat in others. The successful results of a recent Mexican jaguar census shows conservation efforts are working. It also may accelerate efforts to reintroduce the cats to the United States. Jaguars were extirpated from the United States. A few are crossing the Mexican border and may recolonize Arizona.

According to Mongabay Mexican conservationists are very happy that the estimated jaguar population has jumped by about 800 individuals between the first two head counts ever taken.

Jaguars are among the many spotted cats in the nearly 40 member cat family. . They resemble leopards, but are not too closely related.

According to Britannica:

“Jaguars are also larger and more heavily built than leopards. The male jaguar, which is generally larger than the female, attains a length of 1.7–2.7 metres (5.6–9 feet), including the 0.6–0.9-metre (2–3-foot) tail, with a shoulder height of 0.7–0.8 metre (2.3–2.6 feet); it weighs from 100 to 160 kg (220 to 350 pounds). South American jaguars are larger than those of Central America. The jaguar is grouped along with lions and tigers with the big, or roaring, cats and is the only such cat in the Western Hemisphere. Its sound repertoire includes snarls, growls, and deep hoarse grunts.”

• Kazakhstan Begins Bold New De-Extinction/Reintroduction Plan Restoring The Caspian Tiger
• Wolves Have Returned To California But Face Many Survival Challenges
• Four Wild Red Wolf Litters Bring About Two Dozen Pups Into The Extinction Battle
• Jaguars Return To Widely Separate Habitats, May be Reclaiming Ancient Ground
• Wild Tigers On The Rebound as Populations Stabilize

• Kazakhstan Begins Bold New De-Extinction/Reintroduction Plan Restoring The Caspian Tiger
• Wolves Have Returned To California But Face Many Survival Challenges
• Four Wild Red Wolf Litters Bring About Two Dozen Pups Into The Extinction Battle
• Jaguars Return To Widely Separate Habitats, May be Reclaiming Ancient Ground
• Wild Tigers On The Rebound as Populations Stabilize

• Kazakhstan Begins Bold New De-Extinction/Reintroduction Plan Restoring The Caspian Tiger
• Wolves Have Returned To California But Face Many Survival Challenges
• Four Wild Red Wolf Litters Bring About Two Dozen Pups Into The Extinction Battle
• Jaguars Return To Widely Separate Habitats, May be Reclaiming Ancient Ground
• Wild Tigers On The Rebound as Populations Stabilize

Meanwhile, a handful of male jaguars cross into Arizona. There are no females reported so the population is not established. Conservationists are seeking to start a breeding population. Females must be present to bring cubs into the region. A formal reintroduction effort is being urged.

After centuries of persecution Europeans are watching as European wolves rebound from near-extinction. According to IFLscience the resurgence is remarkable. Wolf populations are up a staggering 58 percent during the last 10 years. As European wolves rebound, the troubled nature of our relationship with them is exposed.

Although the resurgence has not been without opposition, it has been dramatic. The resurgence is notable in most of the region, but several countries stand out.

Italy has recorded dramatic increases in wolf population. But not without serious problems. Feral hogs have increased in numbers also. It has been hoped that wolves would eat them. But brazen wolves have caused problems of their own.

Recently, Italy was celebrating the return of wolves, thought now to number over 1,000. It was even hoped they could put a dent in the population of feral hogs. Hogs wander the streets of several Italian cities. It has been hoped urban Italian wolves would eat enough pork to make a difference and stay in the woods.

But wandering wolves began to stray into the city of Siena The mayor wrote to the Italian government asking to aid. She said wolves were eating pdets and livestock an threatening people as they wandered through the city.

The conflict illustrates the perils f conservation policy. Create conditions conducive to feral hogs and reap the problems associated with wandering pigs. Reduce persecution of wolves and reap the problems associated with urbanizing wolves.

So far most of the European region appears to be accepting of the return of wolves, but serious issues remain. But as European wolves rebound, the destruction they cause is also rebounding

French authorities estimate that that nation’s wolves kill and estimated 15,000 head of livestock annually. Today, there are an estimated 538 wolves in France. Having entered from the Italian region they have been steadily moving into other parts of the country. It is estimated their numbers are growing between 10 and 20 percent per year.

That growth rate is not without cost as the French authorities estimate the wolves kill 15,000 head of livestock annually. The French wolves kill sheep, cattle, goats and horses. That equates to 9 head per wolf annually. The number appears to be rising.

Wolves were exterminated in France prior to World War Two. They began returning as migrants from Italy around the year 2000. Wolves tend to disperse effectively as has been seen in the United States. Wolves were recently reintroduced to Colorado and quickly began dispersing. Depradation by wolves has resulted in wolf killing in a number of states where they are now found. Oregon and California have both seen cases of wof killing. At the moment European law tends to protect the canines but anti-wolf sentiment remains as poisoners have done their work in Italy.