Lions, Hippos Poisoned in Famous Kenya Park
Several hippopotamuses and at least four lions in Kenya's famed Masai Mara National Reserve have died after ingesting a powerful insecticide, conservationists say.

The hippos ate grass contaminated by the pesticide, called carbofuran, and the lions became partially paralyzed after eating a hippo carcass, according to the conservation nonprofit WildlifeDirect.

The hippo carcass and one of the lions—which was euthanized—tested positive for the compound, the group said in a statement.

Conservationists are concerned that pastoralists are increasingly using carbofuran to get rid of carnivores that prey on their livestock. ...full article

Date: May 2nd, 2008 - Source

....this is just awful

Asiatic Lion Cub Born! (Video)

The rare Asiatic lion cub born at a Japanese zoo is one of only about 300 left in the world.

Absolute cuteness!

India Reports Sharp Decline in Wild Tigers
India's wild tiger population has dropped from nearly 3,600 five years ago to an estimated 1,411, the Indian government announced this week, along with a plan to create eight new tiger reserves.

It will take five years to set up the new reserves, which will cover an area of more than 11,900 square miles (30,000 square kilometers) at a cost to taxpayers of about 153 million U.S. dollars, the government's Project Tiger said. ...full article

Date: February 13th, 2008 - Source

Visit the Save The Tiger Fund site.

I promised I would type one, so there you go :) Don't forget to check out the links at the end!

The Cheetah



Scientific name: Acinonyx Jubatus
Height (shoulder level): 75 to 85 cm (2.5 to 2.8 feet)
Tail length: 66 to 84 cm (2.2 to 2.8 feet)
Weight: 39 to 65 kg (86 to 143 pounds)
Distribution: Africa, South Asia, Middle East
Reproduction: after a gestation period of 90-98 days, female cheetahs give birth to 1-6 cubs.
Sexual maturity: females: 24-36 months – males: 30-36 months
Habitat: semi-desert, open savanna, bush
Longevity: up to 12 years (17 in captivity)

Cheetahs are very elegant creatures, with their slender body and long legs. Being lightweight, they can reach speeds of up to 110 km/h (68 mph) in short bursts up to 460 m (500 yards), and have the ability to accelerate from 0 to 110 km/h (68 mph) in three seconds. They are the fastest of all land animals.
Their long tail allows them to keep their balance when they suddenly veer off to follow prey, their well-developed heart and large nostrils help them breathe easier during the effort, and their semi-retractable claws offer them extra grip in their high-speed pursuits.

Their short fur is tan with round black spots measuring from 2 to 3 cm (0.79 to 1.2 inches), affording them some camouflage while hunting. Their underside is white, but their tail has spots and 3 to 6 dark rings at the end. Black "tear marks" run from the corner of their eyes down the sides of the nose to their mouth to keep sunlight out of their eyes and to aid in hunting and seeing long distances. These marks (and the body frame/weight) are distinguishing features if you mistake cheetahs for leopards.

( Today, the bigger populations... )

To find out more:
- Cheetah Conservation Fund
- The Animal Files: Cheetah
- Subspecies of Cheetah: the King Cheetah
- Cheetah photos
- Toki's Fundraising Page Please read his story, and donate if you can!

Yes, it's time for me to spam your page with info and news about big cats ;) This will be the first of a long series, so if you're not the least bit interested in wildlife, you can either skip these posts or simply remove me from your lists! My purpose here is to share the knowledge I'm slowly acquiring, and to sensitize people to the problem of endangered species.

I just read something that made me happy:
Five newborn white lion cubs take a catnap at the Jordan Zoo.

White lions, which originated in South Africa, are actually African lions.

The rare animals are the result of a recessive gene that gives them striking white coats instead of the normal golden fur.

Though white lions are rare in the wild, about 30 live in captivity worldwide.

Date: August 27, 2007 - Source

Grey white lion cubs XD How cuuute!

I don't have much time right now so this will be it, but expect an introductory post about cheetahs very soon.

SEMI-LOCKED ♪
This livejournal is now semi-private. My friends, and people with whom I share interests, will be the only ones with access to my private entries. The latter are people I have met through other LJs and communities, so please don't ask to be added if we have never talked.
My public entries will consist of news and facts about big cats, as I wish to share my love for them and make people understand that we need to prevent endangered species from becoming extinct.