Weekly Feline News

Here are the cat-related news for this past week..


The news is largely good this week. Starting with tigers.. India plans to set up four more tiger reserves in addition to the thirty seven it already has. The new reserves will be established in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. This was announced recently by the Union Minister of State for Forest and Environment. He also expressed hope for the future of Indian tigers and forests and outlined a plan for their conservation through integration of economic prosperity with environment's sanctity. Let's hope that the vision of the newly elected official translates into better protection for India's wildlife in the coming months and years. More on this here, here and here.

There are reports of other innovative methods that authorities in India are implementing to protect tigers. One involves initiation of eco-development activities in the villages bordering one of the parks, the Anaimalai Tiger Reserve. This will involve and employ the local communities in conservation of their forests. Certainly quite a positive move that is likely to have good long term consequences for the preservation of the native tigers. Another move, that is being proposed in Manas National Park in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, involves isolating and breeding tigers in a controlled environment to ensure survival of cubs. The idea is to protect the young cubs during the most vulnerable part of their life before releasing them into the forest at an age when they can fend for themselves. This is being contemplated after tiger numbers in Manas fell to seventy recently from the reported number of one hundred and twenty five animals a decade ago. There are counterarguments to this proposal too, with doubts being raised on its possible efficacy in conserving the tiger population in Manas. More on these methods here and here.

In other good news the Smithsonian Institute and World Bank Group have decided to collaborate to launch a global initiative for tiger conservation. The plan that was launched initially last year, involves setting up a worldwide network of scientists, policy makers and other nongovernmental organizations working for conservation to save the tigers in the wild. The move comes in time as tiger numbers are dwindling across the globe with reports of poaching coming in almost every week from various corners of the world. Just a few days ago as a court in India sentenced a seasoned tiger poacher to three years of imprisonment, police in Indonesia apprehended two people suspected of killing several Sumatran tigers. So let's hope that this global initiative as well as the local ones by conservationists worldwide, come in time for the tiger. More on the above here, here and here.


To lions now. And the news here is not so good as regards the big cats of Gir in India. Four separate reports of attacks on people have emerged over the past couple of weeks. And in one incident a leopard was killed by a lion in Maliya Taluka in Gir in an apparent case of interspecies conflict. To learn more about these reports of attacks by lions, you can go here, here, here, here and here.

The only good news, for lion enthusiasts this week, is that Tsau! White Lion Conservation Project is looking for volunteers for assistance in the world's first ever relocation of white lions into the wild. The project, based in the Greater Timbavati region in South Africa, is offering thus a very unique opportunity for any animal lover from across the globe to take part in this rewarding experience. To learn more about this, and to find out how to apply, go here.

Jaguars - and some good news regarding their habitat. According to Brazilian Environment Minister, the deforestation in Amazon was the lowest this year since record-keeping began for logging activities. While the fate of Amazon is by no means certain or secure, this news is a positive one for Amazon and its denizens, including the Jaguar and in some parts, the Cougar. And in other good news related to Amazon, Marfrig, the world's fourth largest trader of beef announced that it will no longer buy cattle raised in newly deforested areas within the Brazilian Amazon! So positive developments, both of these, for the threatened rain forest. More here and here.

To leopards, and some good news for Snow Leopards. The population of Snow Leopard is said to be on the rise in Kyrgyzstan. This was reported by Kyrgyzstan's National Academy of Science. The good news was followed more recently by an even better one - the first reported sighting of a Snow Leopard in Kashmir in over a decade! More on the two items here and here.

Cheetahs now and to learn how a conservation group in Namibia has been working for years to bring back these animals from the brink of extinction in that part of the world, go here.

The wild cat that is nearest to extinction among felines in the world is the Iberian Lynx. And owing to the dedicated efforts of conservationists and scientists it appears that it also is making a comeback. To learn more about how the lynx is surviving against all odds, go here and here on this wonderful blog.


And finally some good news for the domestic cat too! A city in the US is taking steps to save its homeless pets. The program, that has been going on for several years in Kansas City, has been given the name 'Ray of Hope'. And it has indeed been a ray of hope for the many stray pets across the city who have been saved from euthanasia and given a chance to live a happy life. To learn more about this remarkable effort and how it can be emulated easily across the globe, click here.

Also, I was given these wonderful awards recently...

One Lovely Blog Award











by Stacey at Stuff for Kitty and You

International Bloggers Community Award











by Ellen at Katz Tales

and the Interesting Blog Award












by Duni at Lovely Purses

Thank you all so much for your appreciation and your kind comments, about my brother's health and this blog in general. I'd like to pass these awards to the following blogs..

Black Cat Follies

Flamingo Musings

Kitty Drawings

Casper, Cleo, Patches and Gizmo

Maria Michelle's Furkids and Animal Rescue

Hope you all have a great week. Take care :)

Images

Top - Zoe the Tigress at Shambala Preserve © Bill Dow.. Billdowphotography.com

Center - Asiatic Lionesses at Gir © Kishore Kotecha.. Asiaticlion.org

Bottom - Leo and Fairy, my two cute kitties.. Purrrrs.com