Persian Leopard Habitat and Population

The most common subspecies of large felids in West and Central Asia, the Persian leopard has been hunted severely throughout its range for centuries. Now an endangered subspecies, the majority of the world’sPersian leopard lives in Iran. However, poaching along with habitat fragmenta on has reduced its populations to fewer than 1000 individuals in west Asia. An investigation on Persian leopard Panthera pardus saxicolor was carried out from September 2007 to October 2008 in Ghorkhod & Behkadeh Reserve, northeastern Iran. The area is the main buffer habitat around the core (source) population in Golestan National Park, but it suffers severe depletion of natural prey species due to lower level ofprotection measures, and is probably a sink population. We conclude that to ensure corridors and buffer zones, the most urgent and achievable solution is perhaps to designate additional “No Hunting Areas”and to implement anti-poaching measures, which may help the regional Persian leopard population to survive under a meta population framework. Northeastern Iran is supposed to hold the highest density of the Edangered Persian leopard (IUCN 2008) with a number of wellknown sites (e.g. Golestan, Sarigol, Tandureh). The subspecies has on the whole been experiencing a loss of habitat over a wide part of its range which inevitably...

Read More........→August 23, 2012

Lion

Animal Unique | Lion | Lion is a carnivore (meat eater) and a hunter. Lions are mostly found in Africa and a small reserve in India. The lion is the second largest member of the cat family that lives in Africa. It hunts many animals and people they can live in cold regions, a very hot environment or in dense forests. In the past there were lions in the wild in Europe. Today, many lions live in zoos around the world. In the past they lived in northern India, Pakistan, and Arabia. Lions are also used as symbols of courage. They appear in heraldry often than any other animal. They are considered the king of animals and the icon of courage and royalty. The lion is the highest of all living cats, bigger than the tiger. Behind only the tiger, the lion is the second largest living felid in height and weight. Its skull is very similar to that of the tiger, although the frontal region is usually depressed and flat, with a shorter post-orbital region. The largest skull has broader nasal openings than the tiger. Because of the amount of variation in the skull, two types, generally only the structure of the lower jaw can be used as a reliable indicator species. Lion color varies from light buff to yellowish, reddish or dark ochraceous brown. The abdomen are generally lighter and the tail tuft is black. Lion cubs are born with brown rosettes...

Read More........→August 10, 2012

From Shark Teeth To Shark Cage: some interesting items in the news

As we approach Discovery's Shark Week, here are a couple of interesting shark items that have been traveling the Internet. First, a study by chemists from the University of Duisburg-Essen found that the teeth of mako sharks and tiger sharks contain the mineral fluoroapatite (fluorinated calcium phosphate). Humans' and other mammals' teeth contain an inorganic, bone-like compound, hydroxyapatite. as we all known from or fluoride toothpaste, mouthwash, and water, there is an advantage to having some fluoride protecting our chompers. “In order to make teeth more acid resistant, toothpaste often contains fluoride,” Matthias Epple, a professor of inorganic chemistry at the University of Duisburg-Essen, told Discovery News. “In the surface ofhuman teeth after brushing, a small amount — much less than 1 percent — of hydroxide is exchanged by fluoride. In contrast,(the surface of) shark teeth contains 100 percent fluoride. In principle, sharks should not suffer from caries. As they live in water and as they change their teeth regularly, dental protection should not be a problem for sharks.” So, sharks have built-in cavity protection. And, as the professor mentioned, they replace their teeth regularly. A shark can contain as many as several hundred teeth in it's jaw at any one time, with rows of fresh new teeth ready...

Read More........→August 09, 2012

Feeding time! Sea lion gets to grips with keeper as he jumps for fish at Vienna Zoo

At first glance it looks as though this zoo keeper may have found himself in a rather dangerous situation, as he stands with his entire head inside a sea lion’s head. However the scenario is a fundamental part of his job at Vienna Zoo in Austria, for he is actually checking the teeth of the huge animal. The daily ritual also sees the South American sea lions leaping in the air for food and hugging the keeper doling out fish from his bucket. Source: The Coming Crisi...

Read More........→July 27, 2012

Cheetah Population and Habitat

The Cheetah is smaller than other big cats, measuring 44 to 53 inches long with a tail length of 26 to 33 inches. Cheetahs usually weigh 110 to 140 pounds. The fastest land animal in the world, the cheetah is a marvel of evolution. Cheetah capable of running up to 70 miles per hour, the cheetah’s slender, long-legged body is built for speed. Its spotted coat, small head and ears, and distinctive "tear stripes" from the corner of the eyes down the sides of the nose make the cheetah highly recognizable among the large cats of Africa.Cheetahs live an average of 10 to 12 years and population an estimated 9,000 to 12,000 cheetahs remain in the wild. Once found throughout Africa and Asia, cheetahs are now confined to parts of eastern and southwestern Africa. Cheetah Height and weight: 78 cm (70 - 90), and 50 kg (35 - 65), males more robust and c. 10 kg heavier than females. Lightly built with long, comparatively thin legs and small feet with blunt  (except dewclaw), unsheathed claws; swayback, short neck, small, rounded head with foreshortened face, broad but low ears, teeth relatively small, especially canines. Colouration: tawny, with white underparts, a short ruff, more developed in males, and fluffy hair on belly and chest; spots small and solid, outer tail ringed black and white, tip usually white;...

Read More........→July 24, 2012