Big Cat Network

Welcome to BCN! We are a small organization dedicated to wild cat education, awareness, and conservation. Help us become a non-profit!

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ART PIECES FOR SALE 

BCN has some art pieces for sale! We have three prints of both tiger pieces for a total of six. The clouded leopard piece is the original charcoal drawing, so there is only one; grab it before it's gone!   Go here to snatch these beauties up! All profit goes towards our goal of becoming a nonprofit organization.

Thank you for your support, Marcus, Anya, and Noora, the founders of Big Cat Network

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BUY STUNNING ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY TO HELP SAVE WILD CATS!

BCN’s first art and photography auction has officially begun! We’ve teamed up with some amazing artists who have allowed us to auction off their work. Above, you can preview some of the 30+ prints we’ll have up for sale. The proceeds from each sale go to Big Cat Network’s efforts to expand our organization and conservation work! 

SHOP HERE: http://ebay.to/1KiYtMM

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Just two days left until the end of the auction, be sure to bid on your favorite prints before it’s too late!

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Cougar vs. wolf: ‘Unreal’ battle caught on camera near Lake Cowichan

Conservation officers are calling it a once-in-a-lifetime sight.

A Lake Cowichan man captured an intense battle in the backcountry between two of B.C.’s most fearsome predators: a cougar and a wolf.

Rod Mizak was driving down a logging service road near Cowichan Lake with a friend at around 3 a.m. on May 21 when he stumbled upon the incredible scene.

“At the beginning we weren’t sure what was going on,” he said. “We realized quite quickly it was a cougar and a wolf…It took a minute for us to pick up our jaws off our laps.”

Jett Bassi, CTV Vancouver Island report

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BUY STUNNING ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY TO HELP SAVE WILD CATS!

BCN’s first art and photography auction has officially begun! We’ve teamed up with some amazing artists who have allowed us to auction off their work. Above, you can preview some of the 30+ prints we’ll have up for sale. The proceeds from each sale go to Big Cat Network’s efforts to expand our organization and conservation work! 

SHOP HERE: http://ebay.to/1KiYtMM

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Fourth Persian leopard found dead

“With a long time passing of the leopard’s death, no trace of being shot by a gun has yet been detected; given the young age of the leopard, we speculate that other animals would be the cause of the death of the leopard; anyway, the investigation to find the cause of death is underway,” Motahari told reporters.

Motahari lamented the fact that since the beginning of the current year, four Persian leopards had been found dead in the province. “The leopard is a flagship of the ecosystem of the region, and decimation of its population would undermine the finely held natural balance; with reduced population of leopard, the number of wolves and wild hogs in the region rises with the consequence being damage to farmers and cattle breeders,” he said.

See full article here, Mehr News Agency

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Mark your calendars; BCN’s first art and photography auction is right around the corner! We’ve teamed up with some amazing artists that are allowing us to auction off their work. The profits will go towards our fund to become a non-profit, and help save wild cats around the globe!

From June 28th to July 5th 2015, you’ll be able to purchase some stunning prints and originals here: http://www.ebay.com/usr/bigcatnetwork

Spread the word! Together, we can save wild cats!

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Just two days left until the auction begins!

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Amur Tiger Released

photos © Joseph Vattakaven / WWF

A three year old Amur tiger has been successfully captured, collared and released into a mountainous region in the Russian Far East. The young male was identified as a ‘conflict tiger’ in a prey depleted area but rather than confining him to a life of captivity, the Russian government opted to give him a second chance.

See full article here, WWF-Russia

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WILD CAT POPULATION SIZE UPDATES

Written by Lynx

Image source: [x]

It’s that time of year! Censuses for many endangered species are wrapping up, and with that has come updated population sizes for many wild cats. The IUCN has also updated their Red List of endangered species, and below, we’ll tell you all you need to know about the current status of felids in the wild!

Image source: [x]

Geoffroy’s cat (Leopardus Geoffroyi): Least Concern

This spotted cat has been re-classified as Least Concern from their previous status of Near Threatened! Their population trend has been found to be Stable, as well. This is wonderful news; the future is looking brighter for Geoffroy’s cats.

Image source: [x]

Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus): Endangered

The Iberian lynx has been downlisted from Critically Endangered to Endangered! Their population trend is officially Increasing, as well. At one time, it was feared that this stunning lynx would become the first feline to go extinct in over 2,000 years. Hard work by conservationists has finally paid off, and things are looking up for the Iberian lynx. It goes to show that we should never lose hope in saving endangered wildlife; no matter how grim things may seem.

Image source: [x]

African Golden Cat (Profelis aurata): Vulnerable

And onto some of the sadder news of the IUCN Red List update; the African golden cat has been re-classified as Vulnerable from their previous status as Near Threatened. Their population trend is also listed as Decreasing. African golden cats are extremely hard to find in the wild, therefore, they are considered to be one of the least known species of wild cat. As is common with many lesser-known wild cats, there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of their conservation at the current time either. Urgent action is needed to learn more about them and begin securing healthy and stable populations in the wild.

Image source: [x]

Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica): Endangered

Though there has been no re-classification of the Asiatic lion’s conservation status, a census published in May of this year brought wonderful news: their population size is estimated to be 523 mature individuals! This is up 27% from the 411 estimated in 2010. Researchers say that cattle breeders and these big cats coexisting together is a major reason for their population increase.

Image source: [x]

Amur/Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica): Endangered

A census published in May brought great news for the Amur tiger; their population size has increased from a previously estimated 423 individuals to 540! It’s believed that anti-poaching efforts and stricter punishments for illegal hunting is to thank for this population increase. They also say that political support from the governments of countries that are home to tigers is key to conservation.

Image source: [x]

Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis): Critically Endangered

The Amur leopard was another wild cat feared to go extinct - and still is - however, conservation efforts seem to be succeeding. This year, studies of found that there are now and estimated 57 individuals in the wild. This may not seem like a lot, but it’s an increase from the 30 estimated in 2007! 

Image source: Morteza Eslami

Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus): Critically Endangered

Another bit of sad news within the wild cat world that surfaced this year; it was confirmed that there are an estimated 40-70 Asiatic cheetahs remaining in the wild, not the previously believed 70-120. However, the DoE has raised the fine for poaching or in any way harming the Asiatic cheetah, and there have been increased efforts to educate the public in Iran about these cats. 

Overall, these studies should serve as a reminder that wild cats are in desperate need of help. Though many populations saw a turn for the better this year, there’s still lots of hard work to be done. While it’s motivating proof that conservation efforts pay off, and that there is hope for endangered wild cats - it should also remind us that there are many species still suffering.

Please consider donating to Big Cat Network and helping in our mission to secure a future for wild cats!

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Nepal snow leopard survey gets satellite tracking boost

photo © Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project, 06-09-15

Wildlife conservation experts in Nepal say they have made a significant advance by fitting a satellite collar on a second snow leopard in the Kanchenjunga Himalayan region.

The move will allow conservationists to use GPS satellite monitoring to track the endangered animal as it crosses national boundaries.

Officials say data received from the satellite device will help officials identify the animal's habitat areas and devise conservation strategies accordingly.

BBC News, Kathmandu

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Iberian lynx: back from the brink of extinction ... and run down by cars

(photo source) 06-19-15

The world’s most endangered feline species, the Iberian lynx, is making a comeback in Spain after being pushed to the brink of extinction.

But the costly efforts to reintroduce the spotted cat into the wild face an unexpected enemy – cars.

The number of lynx killed by collisions with vehicles has soared since Spain’s economic crisis began in 2008.

The Guardian, Environmental news

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IBERIAN LYNX DOWNLISTED FROM ‘CRITICALLY ENDANGERED’ TO ‘ENDANGERED’

June 23rd, 2015

Following six decades of decline, the population of the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) increased from 52 mature individuals in 2002 to 156 in 2012. The species has now moved from the Critically Endangered to Endangered category on the IUCN Red List. 

This was achieved thanks to intensive conservation action including the restoration of rabbit populations – the main prey species of the Iberian Lynx - monitoring for illegal trapping, conservation breeding, reintroduction programmes and compensation schemes for landowners, which made their properties compatible with the habitat requirements of the Iberian Lynx. 

[Read Full Article Here]

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25% OFF YOUR REDBUBBLE PURCHASE UNTIL THE END OF THIS MONTH!

Snag some big cat merch from our shop at a great price!  All profit goes towards our goal of becoming a nonprofit by September 2015!

THE CODE IS: CHEERS2U

Sale ends at 11:59 (PT) on June 30th, 2015 

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Big Cat Network is on Facebook!

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Mark your calendars; BCN’s first art and photography auction is right around the corner! We’ve teamed up with some amazing artists that are allowing us to auction off their work. The profits will go towards our fund to become a non-profit, and help save wild cats around the globe!

From June 28th to July 5th 2015, you’ll be able to purchase some stunning prints and originals here: http://www.ebay.com/usr/bigcatnetwork

Spread the word! Together, we can save wild cats!

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Eastern cougar may soon be declared extinct 

Photo source || June 16, 2015. 

After a four-year long review, the US Fish and Wildlife service has proposed declaring the eastern cougar extinct. This would remove them from the endangered species list.

The agency says that while eastern cougar sightings do occur from time to time, they’re most likely astray individuals from western North America, or ones that have been released from captivity. The last eastern cougar was believed to be shot by a hunter in 1938. 

[US Fish and Wildlife service report]

[djcoolguy16-deactivated20150726]

Save the wild cats please!!!!!! 😇😓😢😥😭😥

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Hi, djcoolguy16! We're trying to do just that! Around 3/4ths of the wild cat species are endangered, and and our mission is to secure a future for them so they do not go extinct. You can join us on our mission by donating to our GoFundMe and/or spreading the word! 

[big-cat-network]

Eastern cougar may soon be declared extinct 

Photo source || June 16, 2015. 

After a four-year long review, the US Fish and Wildlife service has proposed declaring the eastern cougar extinct. This would remove them from the endangered species list.

The agency says that while eastern cougar sightings do occur from time to time, they’re most likely astray individuals from western North America, or ones that have been released from captivity. The last eastern cougar was believed to be shot by a hunter in 1938. 

[US Fish and Wildlife service report]

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Stress takes a toll on tigers in Sariska

June 15, 2015

High stress levels in tigers, caused by human activity, have affected their breeding in the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, a study says.

Tigers were reintroduced in the Sariska and Panna tiger reserves after poaching, habitat loss and prey depletion made them extinct in those protected areas. As part a species recovery programme, tigers were reintroduced between 2008 and 2010 in Sariska and 2009 and 2013 in Panna.

[Read Full Article Here]