My Fellow Bloggers ~ Your Help and Action is Needed Here………..

 

Greatcatsofthe”World” ~

22 mins. of your Time should make you decide if you want to SIGN ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PETITIONS YOU CAN SIGN…

~ Our ELEPHANTS, Our RHINOS, Our POLAR BEARS, Our TIGERS, Our LIONS, Our PRIMATES, Our LEOPARDS, Our CHEETAHS, Our WHALES, and on and on the list goes of Species WE ARE LOSING…..

***** How this will help
This petition will be delivered at the CITES secretariats before the next Conference of Parties (CoP) meeting – which will take place in South Africa 2016. Either by email, or hand delivered.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION HERE AT: https://www.causes.com/campaigns/82422-urge-cites-the-180-member-parties-to-vote-wisely-in-2016

OR

JOIN AND SHARE THE EVENT ON FB SO THIS PETITION CAN REACH IT’S TARGETED GOAL BEFORE THE CITES MEETING HERE AT: https://www.facebook.com/events/828295910526500/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

SURELY, THEY MATTER ENOUGH…………………..
THANK YOU.
(Please feel free to copy and paste the above when sharing this Video)
It’s your Choice, what will you do……………………………………………..

Tiger sighting at Kaziranga on March 2014

 

Video via – Arijit Purkayashtha

 

Greatcatsofthe”World” ~ KAZIRANGE NATIONAL PARK ( Assam, India) Is said to have the highest density of tigers among protected areas in the world and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006.Check out this footage of this Amazing Bengal Tiger. He looks massive. What a beautiful specimen #Savetigers

Please Take Action by Joining this Event or Signing the Petition Attached. Thank you!

Come on peeps! Join this Event please. All you have to do is Sign one petition that is it!
20,000 sigs. are needed before CITES CoP17.
All the Wildlife that is being targeted needs your help. Just sign the petition please xx

https://www.causes.com/campaigns/82422-urge-cites-the-180-member-parties-to-vote-wisely-in-2016

At least 20 000 signatures needed before CITES CoP17

Sunday, November 30 at 8:00pm in UTC+01

Online – Twitter – Email

Tiger Awareness

Greatcatsofthe”World” ~ Supporting people “On the Ground” is what is needed to help the Remaining Tigers. Please click on the link attached and find out what Tiger Awareness is doing for this species and their future. Please support their Efforts ~ So they can help Save Tigers. ❤

 Via – Tiger Awareness

https://www.facebook.com/TigerAwareness1

Welcome to our new followers,please visit our website,see about our education institution in Sundarbans,how we help forest staff , your support will be invaluable to help our ground level work..
www.tigerawareness.co.uk

Home

http://www.tigerawareness.co.uk

Only 3000 tigers remain in the wild. We raise funds and awareness by working with local communities at ground…

Notch the Lion-King of the Mara and His Five Sons

 

Via – Notch the Lion-King of the Mara and His Five Sons

Update on Notch Rekero boys.The Notch Rekero boys sons of Notch and his five sons from the Rekero pride also known as river pride,featured in Disney’s African Cats movie Notch and sons taking it over with the paradise ,used to be 6 males now down to Five males,the sixth Kijana presumed dead is one of six males fathered by Notch and sons in the paradise pride some time in 2009,we cant really account for his other five paradise brothers,though we suspect they may have been the five young males who used to live in Rongai with Notch and his remaining 4 sons,possible they could have followed the familiar roars of their fathers from paradise to Rongai ,though Kijana followed Notch and sons to Rekero pride were he was accepted as a member.Which did help him bond with the Notch and sons offspring in Rekero pride we now call Rekero Notch boys.Kijana being already older started mating with rekero females in absence of his fathers.And when Notch and sons abandoned Rekero ,the very males who that called 4km used to be 4,then 3 now 2 similar age as notch boys followed them picking up their abandoned prides from Mugoro to paradise ,came and took the abandoned rekero.They chased Kijana to another territory of Notch and boys called Olkiombo ,Kijana was mating there with random females,but as the 4km kept chasing the Rekero Notch boys to rekero they may have killed Kijana ,A young male was reported killed then believed to be a Rekero Notch boy but they turned up but has never been seen since ,a remarkable young male with a distinctive tiny scruffy mane despite being a Notch offspring and being 5 years.He used to wonder off alot alone.Now back to the Rekero boys ,the remaining 5 run with their sister ,her bond with her brothers was so strong ,she choose not to stay at rekero with her mothers and the new males ,so left with 3 of her brothers,2 remained.The last two were later chased by the new males,the 4km males.Though they still join their siblings on and off,they seem to love being just a duo,these are the two Rekero notch sons reported by Jackson Looseyia killing cubs at the double cross pride in absence of their resident males so to mate with the double cross males.Some times visit their siblings stay for a while then wonder off,The other 3 of the five brothers have 3 females and most likely mating,We are not sure if their sister is one of the 3 females.To avoid mating with her brothers ,she will either have to go it alone ,become alone female,or rejoin are maternal pride Rekero .She may have mate with the 4km,or may already be as they have been observed away from rekero mating with any random female they find recently.The 3 brothers and 3 females were chased by the 4km males ,were they had to cross the river.Seems the 4km want to mate with the females.These two females who joined them are from double cross ,olkiombo area,areas once owned by notch then later abandoned,its a possibility these young females they have with them could be notch and sons offspring .Their offspring from double cross are un accounted for.Notch and sons have fathered cubs in almost these prides apart from Marsh pride ,the notch boys maternal pride.Though it may be that each pride the remaining four notch sons abandoned may end up being taken by one of their many male offsprings from neighboring prides.Notch boys are turning ten in may next year ,so eventually they are going to slow down abandon some more prides so they dont have to patrol a large.One of these Rekero Notch boys aged 4 this month has a very huge mane will give Notch2 a run for his money.Pc.S.S

The persistent leopard and her kills – Africa Geographic Blog

Greatcatsofthe”World” ~ Take the time and read how this Amazing photographer captured the most incredible images of this Spectacular Leopard and her cubs. The images and the accounts that lead up  to each image depicts the Leopard in it’s true form. I was in awe reading and looking…..A glimpse inside the thoughts of Archna Singh and her Journey to the Serengeti…. ❤

 

The persistent leopard and her kills – Africa Geographic Blog

In the vast savannah of the Serengeti National Park there was an eclectic buzz about the land, almost as if the inhabitants were beckoning me to come and pay them a…

africageographic.com

Submit comments to USFWS to list lions as “Endangered”

 

*****PLEASE JOIN AND THEN SHARE THIS ONLINE EVENT HERE AT:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1504708633137623/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

The Purpose of this Event is to get as Many names as possible to Submit their comments to the US Fish and Wildlife Service , asking them to List the Lions as Endangered ~ banning Imports of Lion Trophies to the USA.
There is less then 90 days to do this, So Please JOIN and SHARE this EVENT on every Page  or Website/Blog you belong. This has to Spread Quickly in order for this Event to have had any impact at all on the Future of The African Lion.
Please Come Together for this………….  ~ Greatcatsofthe”World”

 

ACTION NEEDED ASAP!

Via – Amurs Russian Far East / Amurs Дальнего Востока России

 

In case you have not added your signature, please do so now!
Petition closes in 21 days, needing 124 signatures.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/159/230/954/ban-sales-of-siberian-amur-tiger-parts-in-russia/?taf_id=12870338&cid=fb_na#

ЗАПРЕТ ПРОДАЖИ СИБИРСКИЙ (АМУРСКИЙ) ТИГР ЗАПЧАСТИ В РОССИИ
В случае, если вы не добавили вашу подпись, пожалуйста, сделайте это сейчас!
Петиция закрывается в 21 дней, нуждающихся 124 подписей.
http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from&to=ru&a=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepetitionsite.com%2F159%2F230%2F954%2Fban-sales-of-siberian-amur-tiger-parts-in-russia%2F%3Ftaf_id%3D12870338%26cid%3Dfb_na%23

 

Amurs Russian Far East / Amurs Дальнего Востока России

Via – Amurs Russian Far East / Amurs Дальнего Востока России

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amurs-Russian-Far-East-Amurs-%D0%94%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%BE-%D0%92%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%B0-%D0%A0%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B8/1382798001942548?hc_location=timeline

Winter is coming, and as you know, the natural conditions of the Tiger habitats in the Sikhote-Alin exceptionally harsh. In winter the temperature in some periods drop to “40 degrees below zero”.

In the second half of winter in most parts of the snow depth ranges from 30 to 60 cm.
But the degree of adaptation of the predator to complex environmental conditions is quite high. Low winter temperatures do not affect the ability of the Tiger.

Приближается зима, а как известно, природные условия мест обитания тигра в Сихотэ-Алине исключительно суровы. Зимой температура воздуха в отдельные периоды падает до 40 градусов ниже нуля. Во второй половине зимы на большей части территорий высота снежного покрова составляет от 30 до 60 см. Но степень адаптации хищника к сложным экологическим условиям достаточно высока. Низкие зимние температуры не влияют на жизнедеятельность тигра: временные лёжки он устраивает прямо на снегу и может находиться на них несколько часов.

Unfinished Bengal Tiger census resumes today

Initial steps such as field trips of the two-month census will begin today (Nov.1)

The government is set to restart the Bengal Tiger census in certain parts of the Sundarbans today to complete what was left of the process which began last year.

“Initial steps such as field trips of the two-month census will begin today. The concluding part will be done after the Rash Mela on November 6,” said Zahidul Kabir, divisional wildlife officer of the Sundarbans Wildlife Division and census coordinator.

“Tigers are mostly concentrated in three areas – Kotka-Kochikhali, Nilkomol and Koikhali – this time and the 624sqkm area of Nilkomol will be surveyed. The 360sqkm Kotka-Kochikhali and 365sqkm Koikhali areas were surveyed last winter,” he added.

The number of tigers found in the three areas will be multiplied to estimate the total number of the species in the rest of the Sundarbans.

The government undertook the project named Ecology and Population Estimation of Tigers last year under the project “Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Wildlife Protection” funded by the World Bank. A similar project is also underway in the West Bengal part of the Sundarbans.

In the camera trapping method, surveyors mount cameras at different points in the forest for two months to automatically capture photographs of the passing tigers. The number of tigers is determined later by analysing the photos.

Forest Department sources say 89 infrared cameras have been mounted to count the current number of tigers in the Bangladeshi part of the Sundarbans.

The latest tiger census was conducted back in 2004 and the pugmark method was used at the time. The number of Bengal Tigers was found to be 440 in the Bangladeshi part and 60-80 in the Indian part.

According to government statistics, the Sundarbans covers 6,017sqkm, which is 4.07% of the total land mass of the country and 40% of Bangladesh’s forest land.

The Sundarbans is home to 334 species of trees, shrubs and epiphytes, and 269 different species of wild animals, including the Bengal Tiger.

source http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2014/nov/01/unfinished-bengal-tiger-census-resumes-today

After Nine Years in a Roadside Zoo, Two Tigers Finally Enjoy Life Without a Cage Overhead

://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/two-rescued-tigers-finally-get-to-enjoy-life-without-a-cage-overhead/

After a nearly 11-year-long journey, two rescued tigers, saved from a roadside zoo in Mississippi, finally settle into their newly built habitat at the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch. The two tigers, sisters Anastasia and Natalia, were among a group of animals that were freed from life in a decrepit zoo thanks to a month-long investigation by the Humane Society of the United States. The pair have lived on Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch for nearly two-years and recently became the first tigers moved to the ranch’s brand new 5-acre tiger habitat. This is the first time they will live in a space where they can see the sky uninterrupted by metal wires.

“Their minds were completely blown,” says Katherine Birk, lead wildlife caregiver at the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch. “They had never had a moment where they didn’t have a cage over their head.”

When the transfer gates slid open, welcoming the Anastasia and Natalia to their new home, the two tigers walked out into a covered walkway. Waiting on the other side was the largest expanse of land they’d ever set paw into: 12,000 square feet. The sisters sniffed at the trees, at the stumps, at the plants. They found a lush patch of grass and rolled on their backs. They crawled up onto the elevated wooden platforms.

This is a momentous occasion for Anastasia and Natalia considering the conditions they lived in before coming to the ranch, it was a moment five years in the making.

After Nine Years in a Roadside Zoo, Two Tigers Finally Enjoy Life Without a Cage Overhead

http://www.onegreenplanet.org

Ready or not, here is the reality!

Via – Walking For Lions

https://www.facebook.com/WalkingForLions?ref=stream

99% of the time we forget about it, we don’t see it so therefore it does not cross our minds. What we talk about here is what one calls; the forgotten souls. Lions with no names, no ‘human known history or stories’ but those that make the others who they are today. The lions that lived in the wild, uninterrupted! No documentary was made about them, very few ‘if any’ images were taken of them and very few people saw them. The shy ones, the kings and queens of the bush! The ones WE and YOU fight for at Walking for Lions.

Certain areas in Botswana are crying out for rain and very few animals can cope with the pressures and stress of Mother Nature. The weakest will depart and the strongest ones will strive until eventually their time is up. We are currently writing this from Elephant sands Game lodge where destruction has a new meaning. With almost NO water the animals are dropping like flies. Conflict between species for water is at its highest and as mentioned, only the strong will survive. Old males depart as new stronger males enter and this means total massacre. Cubs, juveniles and unwilling females (for breeding) are killed and there is no mercy for the soft hearted.

Poaching, hunting and human conflict is normally first on the list when one discuss the reasons for Wild lion number decreases, but very little is actually known about those that die due to natural circumstances. Lions not only compete with us humans for space but what about with each other and with other species? When there is very little of a natural source; be it water or food competition increases to a stage that will frighten most. Elephants show NO mercy for anything that stands between it and its water and so many examples can be seen where elephants kill lions for water. Lions fight for territory and once this territory has no water left, they have to move to ‘greener’ pastures where other lions might be. Intra and Inter-specific competition. This means, when species compete for a resource either from the same species or different species.

With every action comes either a reaction or a consequence. Some might think it’s the same but think about it. Botswana has banned hunting since beginning of 2014. This topic has been and still is a touchy subject but it has consequences none the less. Massive areas were abandoned by hunting outfitters and all their water holes were closed as there is no more need to pump water if they cannot benefit from it. This means the density of game in one area is now much higher and not as dispersed as before, which leads to more conflict with each other during the dry seasons. This does not mean that we condone hunting but it is our responsibility to report to you and supply you with as most accurate information as possible. The idea behind the ban of hunting is to increase species numbers but if species like lion and elephants for example, know about a certain water hole for years and all of a suddenly arrive there to drink and find nothing they have to walk to the next one and next one until they find water.

During these journeys they cross territories and a few of them is not fit for the journey as one can see from the images. How to resolve this? This is always easier said than done but when you ban hunting and know that hunters will depart it is the responsibility of the local authorities to insure these waterholes are pumped as it is our responsibility towards the animals. Years back these waterholes were only seasonal and animals were used to move to different ones but if WE as humans provide all year waterholes, then it is our duty to maintain them at ALL costs. To see a lion or any other animal for that matter die due to dehydration is something that you will never get out of your mind! They lie in one place, their muscles contract and they start kicking against the ground as their body goes into spasms.

We would like to thank Javier Villegas from Elephant Sands Game Lodge for providing us with the images

 

BBC – Earth – The truth about cheetahs

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20141104-the-truth-about-cheetahs

Reputation: Cheetahs are fast, super-evolved predators capable of running at really impressive speed. But they are wimps when it comes to defending a kill, relinquishing too easily to bigger, better predators like lions and hyenas. They also lose a lot of cubs to predators. In fact, they are so specialized, they deserve to go extinct.

Reality: Cheetahs are fast, for sure, but exactly how fast is hotly disputed. Just as important as speed is agility. Speed and agility help explain why the cheetah is one of the most successful hunters of any carnivore. They do lose a lot of cubs to predation, but they do not deserve to go extinct.

continue reading……………

BBC – Earth – The truth about cheetahs

http://www.bbc.com

Scottish Wildcat – The Highland Tiger

 Via – Scottish Wildcat – The Highland Tigerhttps://www.facebook.com/TheHighlandTiger?ref=stream

PLEASE DO NOT LET ME GO EXTINCT

(Credit for this Photo: Dorothy Thomson’s Photographic Gallery)

The Wildcat is an endangered species in immediate threat of extinction. Please share to bring awareness about this amazing wild animal. There are only 35 in the wild and It Could go extinct in 2014! Learn more about the Wildcat

Please share to bring awareness about this amazing wild animal.

Learn more about the Wildcat and find out how to help here:

www.highlandtiger.com
http://scottishwildcats.co.uk/index.htm

Save the Tiger: The animals bred for bones on China’s tiger farms

Despite an international outcry, big cats are still being kept in captivity, malnourished. The purpose? To perform for paying audiences and then, when they are dead, their bodies to be used to fortify wine

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/save-the-tiger-the-animals-bred-for-bones-on-chinas-tiger-farms-9636537.html

Save the Tiger: The animals bred for bones on China’s tiger farms

http://www.independent.co.uk

There are more tigers in Chinese tiger farms than exist in the wild in the rest of the world.

Snow Leopard Trust

Via – Snow Leopard Trust

https://www.facebook.com/snowleopard.org?ref=stream

 

“I really wonder what gives us the right to wreck this poor planet of ours.” – a good question by Kurt Vonnegut.

 

Asiatic Lion on FB Please Join and Support

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Asiatic-Lion/231425303562692

Asiatic Lion

TheGir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is a forest and wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat, India. It is the sole home of the pure Asiatic Lions. By_HiteshVaniya

 

Dog disease threatens Siberian tigers | Science News

Please read full article……….

https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/wild-things/dog-disease-threatens-siberian-tigers

Dog disease threatens Siberian tigers | Science News

http://www.sciencenews.org

Canine distemper virus poses a particular danger to small groups of the big cats.

Help Shut Down Circuses ~ Please Sign

Via – Animal Freedom Fighter

https://www.facebook.com/animalfreedomfighter?ref=stream

CIRCUSES ARE REALLY TRAVELING TORTURE SHOWS….and these animals are not “working animals”…they are SLAVES…please, sign and share to shut THE RINGLING BROS. TERRORISTS down, and free these animals, from this HELL ON EARTH….thanks, Animal Freedom Fighters…

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/159/012/692/shut-down-ringling-brothers-circus-due-to-horrible-abuse-to-their-show-animals/

Liuwa Plains National Park – Africa’s Untouched Wilderness

 

 

New Video of Liuwa Plains National Park. Home of course of the Extraordinary Lady Liuwa herself . ❤  If you ever have the opportunity to Visit one of the Most remote and untouched Wilderness areas in Africa ~ you most definitely should. Enjoy ~ Greatcatsofthe”World”

International Anti-Fur Coalition

Via – International Anti-Fur Coalition

https://www.facebook.com/antifurcoalition?fref=photo

The main reasons tigers are endangered, in most cases, “critically
endangered”: are illegal hunting for their pelts, meat and body parts (used in folk medicines) as well as habitat loss that results from logging and other forms of forest destruction. Thank you for sharing!
*Special thanks to Nir Vana for creating this image.

 

The Lions Need The Lion Guardians

Via – Lion Guardians

https://www.facebook.com/lionguardians

Guardian of the Month: Sakita Ole Saitoti

Meet Sakita Ole Saitoti, better known by his lion name – Olamayiani. Olamayiani is the younger brother of Kamunu, one of our most respected Lion Guardians, and is already following strongly in his footsteps. In his first week of volunteering early this year, he stopped a lion hunt! Enjoy the video below which tracks Olamayiani’s training days and gives you a glimpse of his effervescent character.

http://vimeo.com/110245670

Meet Olamayiani Saitoti

vimeo.com

In this short video, you get the first glimpse of Olamayiani Saitoti – one of our newest hires in the Amboseli ecosystem.

Assam Dog Squad Unit : David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

Via – TigerTime – Save the Tiger

https://www.facebook.com/TigerTimeNow

We are very proud of this little dog that we help fund who is doing the most amazing job to catch rhino and tiger poachers in Assam. See his latest training video here: http://bit.ly/AssamDogSquad

Assam Dog Squad Unit : David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

http://www.davidshepherd.org

Jan 2014: Jorba tracks down rhino poacher Jorba puts poachers in the picture In a first of its kind, DSWF is…

India destroys stockpile of illegal wildlife parts

http://www.newsday.com/news/world/india-destroys-stockpile-of-illegal-wildlife-parts-1.9575492

NEW DELHI – (AP) — Indian authorities set fire Sunday to a stockpile of tiger skins, elephant tusks, rhino horns and other illegal animal parts in an effort to discourage wildlife smuggling in South Asia.

Animal poaching and smuggling have flourished in India, driven by black market demand from China, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries where many believe exotic animal parts have medicinal or aphrodisiacal properties. In most cases, there is no scientific evidence that they do.

Indian Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar loaded more than 42,000 illegal animal parts into a large, blazing oven at the Delhi Zoo. The parts included tiger and leopard pelts, reptile skins, rhino horns and shawls made from endangered Tibetan antelope called shahtoosh.

continue reading…….

India destroys stockpile of illegal wildlife parts – Newsday

http://www.newsday.com

From tiger skins to elephant tusks, India sets fire to stockpile of illegal wildlife parts

Leopards: 21st century cats BBC – Behind the Camera

 

 

 

 

The Beautiful Elusive Leopards of India. Probably one of the biggest Victims of human/animal Conflict, as their territory becomes less and less…This incredible Species because of this has such a bad reputation to so many. When truly they are the most misunderstood. This film being made I hope gives them more awareness, allows more education and understanding for this most magnificent cat of India. ❤ ~Greatcatsofthe”World”

 

Kenya based conservation group calls for total ban on Lion Hunting -AWF

http://www.kenyalondonnews.org/?p=8529rt

– The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), a Kenya-based conservation NGO, has on Wednesday called on the world to totally ban sport hunting of Africa’s lions until the decline in lion populations is reversed.

AWF Senior Director of Conservation Science, Philip Muruthi, said lions are extinct in North Africa, severely depleted across West and Central Africa, and now losing ground in their strongholds of East and Southern Africa.

“For those sport hunters and hunting outfitters in the United States and in Africa’s lion range states that have always adhered to the letter of the law, we fully recognize the sacrifice we are asking them to make,” Muruthi said in a statement issued in Nairobi. “Still, we cannot afford to sacrifice the future of Africa’s lions for the sake of a few trophies,” he said, warning that the absence of lions has profound and long-lasting repercussions on Africa’s ecosystems.

“Lions are top predators. If they disappear, the entire predator–prey equilibrium is disrupted,” Muruthi warned.

The continental population of African lions is estimated at no more than 23,000, with the actual population likely within the range of 16,500 to 30,000.

“Africa’s total lion population has declined by 30 percent over the past two decades. The threat of extinction is very real for African lions,” Muruthi said.

The largest lion populations remain in eastern and southern Africa. In South Africa, more than 350 lions have been reintroduced in more than 20 small, isolated reserves.

According to AWF, while the primary threats to lions are habitat loss, conflict with people and a shrinking prey base, the cumulative effect of these in driving down lion numbers means all steps to reduce human-induced lion mortalities must be taken, including a ban on sport hunting.

Kenya based conservation group calls for total ban on Lion Hunting -AWF

http://www.kenyalondonnews.org

WildEarth Guardians

 Via –WildEarth Guardians

https://www.facebook.com/WildEarthGuardians?ref=stream

So Guardians and @Western Environmental Law Center formally asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for information as to why they are not properly protecting two species—the Canada lynx and the wolverine —and the answer after prodding was…..silence. So what do you do? Take it? No, you sue them to comply with the law. So that is what we’ve done today. These imperiled species deserve full ESA protection and habitat protection!Read our press release: http://www.wildearthguardians.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=10793&news_iv_ctrl=1194#.VFPEgIcz36w

photo credit: Eric Kilby, Creative Commons License, Flickr

7 lions poisoned in game reserve, suspect vanishes

 
Serengeti. Seven lions have been killed in Ikona Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located near Park Nyingoti Village here. Preliminary reports suggest that a local pastoralist poisoned the lions after they attacked his cow on Thursday.

Game wardens from Ikorongo Reserve Forest and Grumeti Reserve found the lion carcasses on Thursday as they and the man searched for the missing cow. The chairman of the WMA, Mr Elias Chama, told reporters at the site that local pastoralists had developed a habit of sneaking their cattle into the WMA in the evenings, when all security guards have left.

“The herdsmen managed to chase away the lions before they ate the cow,” Mr Chama said, “and it seems they [herders] poisoned the meat.”

Six of the lions died instantly. Mr Chama described the incident as sabotage. “We have a pack of 16 lions from the same family which have made this WMA famous and they attract a lot of visitors,” he said. “Killing seven of them is definitely a blow to the WMA and tourism in general.”

Had they been hunted legally, the lions would have earned the WMA some Sh175 million. The impact of this incident will be far reaching as it is likely that the number of tourists–most of whom are attracted by the pride of lions–will dwindle tremendously. The wildlife numbers in the WMA is reported to be dropping fast.

The pastoralist, who is also a member of the WMA, contested the position of chairman of the community in an election held earlier in the year, but stepped down before the poll. He reportedly left the scene on a motorcycle soon after the carcasses were found. “We came here so that he could show us where the cow was killed but when we found the carcasses he rode his motorcycle and vanished,” said one of Grumet Reserve wardens.

The lions died quickly due to internal bleeding, according to local experts, suggesting that they were poisoned. Police reportedly found a hide and meat believed to be from the dead cow and a bottle of poison. Police are still searching for the herder.

Grumeti Fund director Timothy Tear said the incident will affect tourism in the entire area. He added: “This is a blow. After Ebola has affected tourism in many areas, we expected that our wildlife would draw some tourists. Killing animals that attract large numbers of tourists will affect the sector further.”

In a separate incident, an elephant was found dead in Ikorongo Forest Reserve. Game wardens believe the animal died of natural causes, given that the tusks were intact.

Image and source http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/7-lions-poisoned-in-game-reserve–suspect-vanishes-/-/1840392/2507144/-/7w7iw1/-/index.html

7 lions poisoned in game reserve, suspect vanishes

>Seven lions have been killed in Ikona Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located near Park Nyingoti Village here. Preliminary reports suggest that a local pastoralist poisoned the lions after they attacked his cow on Thursday

thecitizen.co.tz

4-year-old lion electrocuted near Mahuva

Via – Roar for the Asiatic Lion

https://www.facebook.com/AsiaticLions?ref=stream

 

 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Rajkot/4-year-old-lion-electrocuted-near-Mahuva/articleshow/44916115.cms

Yet another lion died an unnatural death on Wednesday when it was electrocuted near Mahuva town of Bhavnagar district. Sources said the body of the four-year-old male lion was found clinging to a fence on the border of a research farm of Junagadh Agricultural University and the one belonging to Sufiyan Gafar Halani of Vaghnagar village located at a distance of 5km from Mahuva. Forest officials said that they will register a case in the matter once the postmortem report arrives. Sources said that farmers put up electric fences to ward off animals like Neelgai and wild boar that destroy their crops. These fences also claim the lives of lions at times. In-charge deputy conservator of forest at Bhavnagar division Jivraj Rokad said the carcass of lion was found near the fence wire and the postmortem was conducted at Animal Rescue Centre at Ranigala. “Primarily we have concluded that the big cat died of electrocution. We have taken viscera samples for forensic examination. We are now investigating the source of electric supply to the wire and who did it,” Rokad added. As many as 12 lions have died due to unnatural causes since January 2014 in Bhavnagar, Amreli and Junagadh districts of Saurashtra. This is the second incident of a lion dying an unnatural death in the Mahuva forest range. Earlier, a female cub of about five months had died after falling into an open well in Mota Pipaliya village. Lions have settled in Mahuva’s Ranigala forest area for the last 14 years. According to the lion census of 2010, there were 411 Asiatic lions in Gir forest and its adjoining areas. In the last five years, 261 lions have died and many of them have met an unnatural end.

Lioness dead……….. Rest in Peace Beautiful Lioness xx

An Asiatic lioness that was undergoing treatment at a breeding centre in Uttar Pradesh for some mysterious ailments died this morning, a government release this.

“Lakshmi… died of multi-organ and cardio-respiratory failures,” the release said. Another ailing Asiatic lion, Vishnu, is still under treatment. The lions are of the same breed as six lions that the Gujarat government had gifted to Uttar Pradesh in 2012.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1141031/jsp/nation/story_18984341.jsp#.VFUk-RZxmid

Help Stop India’s Palm Oil Plans and Save Bengal Tigers ~ The Petition Site

http://www.care2.com/causes/help-stop-indias-palm-oil-plans-and-save-bengal-tigers.html#ixzz3HnIdxgFo

India is planning to take its reliance on palm oil to a whole new level by clearing areas of forest and growing oil palm on an area of land that in total is close to the size of Connecticut. Now, campaigners warn this could be deadly for India’s endangered wildlife.

India’s use of palm oil has rocketed since the 1990s with imports increasing from 100,000 metric tons to over 8.8 million in 2014. Palm oil is a versatile product that can be used in baking and the preparing of food, as well as in a range of beauty products like soaps and even in animal feed products.

Palm oil is also one of the easiest crops to cultivate, and for that reason represents a lucrative market prospect. Until now, India has relied on importing palm oil to meet skyrocketing demand but in the mid-2000s, India’s government introduced a scheme that would expand oil palm cultivation to six more states. This didn’t increase production as much as was hoped and India continues to import palm oil at a massive rate (making up 17 percent of all total global palm oil consumption according to recent figures).

However, India’s government is not satisfied with this situation and plans to expand its oil palm growing capabilities even further. The Ministry of Agriculture has suggested that India could accommodate oil palm plantations up to 1.03 million hectares of land which, as mentioned above, is nearly the size of the U.S. state of Connecticut.

continue reading please………………

Help Stop India’s Palm Oil Plans and Save Bengal Tigers

http://www.care2.com

India is planning to take its reliance on palm oil to a whole new level by clearing areas of forest and growing oil palm on an area of land that in total is close to the size of Connecticut. ………….

Animal Defenders International ~ Heroes that could use Your Support!

Via –Animal Defenders International

https://www.facebook.com/AnimalDefenders?ref=stream

David and Rapunzel are on the road right now to ADI’s Operation Spirit of Freedom Rescue Center, our team has been going all night and are making good progress. SHARE AND FOLLOW ADI TO SEE NEWS OF THEIR ARRIVAL LATER

TODAY. Yesterday we removed the lions from a circus in Arequipa Peru bringing the total to 24 lions rescued during this mission. Please keep donating and supporting this operation – remember that if ADI had not borne the huge costs of extending this mission beyond the October deadline these lions would not have been saved, and we plan to save many more. Then we must move them to their new forever home!
DONATE US $ http://bit.ly/1iztQbj
DONATE UK £ http://bit.ly/1mmWA1H

If you are in the UK we have screenings of Lion Ark starting this month with members of the rescue team to raise funds for the mission in Peru http://www.lionarkthemovie.com/screenings/