Lets first establish what big cats are – i mean how are they differentiated from small cats… There is actually some argument on this issue in certain circles! Generally speaking big cats are 1) Wild and 2) Considerably bigger than the small domestic or wild cats (a Siberian tiger for instance may be up to 100 times heavier than our 8 pound domestic feline). Other commonly used classifying method is the ability to roar. Big cats...

A safari (pronounced /səˈfɑri/) is an overland journey, usually a trip by tourists to Africa, traditionally for a big-game hunt; today the term often refers to a trip taken not for the purposes of hunting, but to observe and photograph animals and other wildlife. There is a certain theme or style associated with the word, which includes khaki clothing, belted bush jackets, pith helmets or slouch hats, and animal skins—like...

Now here’s a great idea! Using Google maps to identify the location of news stories about snow leopards in China. Juan Li, a young Ph.D. student  has created this Google map of snow leopards reported during the 20 year period of 1990-2009 by searching the Google News Archive. She says”  I am a Ph.D candidate of conservation biology, in Center for Nature and Society, Peking university. And my supervisor is Lu Zhi. I did this map,...

Snow leopard with cub at Darjeeling Zoo. Photo Darjeeling Zoo. The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling, northern India has launched a two year project to research the nocturnal behavior of its snow leopards by keeping the animal under infra-red camera surveillance. The zoo, which has had a successful breeding program for many years, currently has six female and five male snow leopards. The most recent births were 3 cubs...

WWF Buy a goat, save a snow leopard donation. Photo WWF website. Sick of giving socks for presents? I know I’m sick of getting them. Well, not so much socks, not too many people give me those, but you know, those little gifts where people mean well, but you know that you’re never ever going to use the widget, gadget, thingumyjig. If that’s you, then what about giving a goat? Why? Well, when you make a donation to the WWF, you can buy...

Two snow leopard cubs confisctaed from ex President of Kyrgyzstan’s illegal private zoo, died in Jalal-Abad Zoo this week. Map from Wikipedia. Recently I posted a news story about the exPresident of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, having illegally kept a private zoo at his house. The zoo was discovered after he fled the country following weeks of violence and recent civil unrest. A number of endangered animals were found including two...