[njlarsen]

Originally Posted by Jos Stratford

This sentence seems a bit odd to me "The distinction between lions from the two areas of Africa can partially be explained by the location of natural structures that may form barriers for lion dispersal. These structures include .... the Rift Valley, which stretches from Ethiopia to Tanzania and from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Mozambique".

How does the Rift Valley form a barrier for Lion dispersal - along much of its length, it is full of Lions, with populations on both sides too!

I remember hearing a talk long time ago about some other species (wildebeast?) for which the population down inside rift valley seemed isolated from the population above. Anyone able to confirm?

Niels

[Jos Stratford]

Originally Posted by njlarsen

I remember hearing a talk long time ago about some other species (wildebeast?) for which the population down inside rift valley seemed isolated from the population above. Anyone able to confirm?

Niels

I think this refers to the Ngorongora populations, rather than the Rift Valley per se.

[angel_phil]

one time I saw another kind of cat..it has a striped skin, with a black and brown color, they say it can be found on mountains..i wonder if anybody has seen that..i am not sure of the name really.

[rockfowl]

'Rhino syndicate targets lions' - http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/201...-targets-lions

[njlarsen]

A fine of R10,000 for possession of something that could have brought in millions? No wonder he is back!

I don't agree but fully understand the people in ZA who say that the only good poacher is a dead poacher, it must be very frustrating dealing with this situation.

Niels

[Irish Kite]

Originally Posted by rockfowl

'Rhino syndicate targets lions' - http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/201...-targets-lions

These type of criminals won't rest till the last rhino/Lion is dead. Again it highlights the role of SE Asia as a black hole for so many of the worlds endangered species

[rockfowl]

Five rare wild cat species caught on camera in Sumatra – but forest is being destroyed - http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news...a-cats.html#cr

[rockfowl]

Politics is Killing the Big Cats, Dr. George Schaller - http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/20.../schaller-text

Updated - http://www.panthera.org/programs/tiger/tigers-forever

[rockfowl]

Four lane highway to destroy Indian tiger corridor - http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news...ia2011.html#cr

Counting snow leopards in Nepal – Fewer than thought - http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news...-nepal.html#cr

[DMW]

Originally Posted by rockfowl

Counting snow leopards in Nepal – Fewer than thought - http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news...-nepal.html#cr

Without wishing to cast doubt on the findings, the description of the study methodology doesn't really inspire confidence!

[rockfowl]

Originally Posted by DMW

Without wishing to cast doubt on the findings, the description of the study methodology doesn't really inspire confidence!

LOL, Nope, but it should keep them on their toes and away from complacency!

[rockfowl]

Snow leopards photographed in Siberia for the first time - http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news...eopard.html#cr

Persian leopard photographed in Afghanistan - http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news...eopard.html#cr

And.... Tiger bone wine auction in China a disgrace - http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/tiger-wine.html#cr

[rockfowl]

Rising Trade from Tiger Farms

Due to the rising demand for tiger parts in traditional Chinese medicine, tiger farms are on the increase in China. Last year, there were an estimated 24 tiger farms in China responsible for breeding around 6,000 tigers in shocking conditions.
The current law is that if a tiger dies of ‘natural causes’ then the sale of the tiger parts is allowed. This means that the farms starving the animals to death can state the tiger died of natural causes and can trade the tiger parts.
http://www.tigertime.info/tiger-blog...om-tiger-farms

[Sam.Jones]

Slightly belated as I have only just found this thread, but (http://vimeo.com/32204025) some footage of Oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus).
Filmed during fieldwork in Northern Peru, representing the first ever documentation of the species in the north Peruvian Andes.
This has been formally reported and a paper written that is soon to be published in CatNews IUCN specialist journal.

[sglynas]

The video of the Oncilla, shows the cat in a very relaxed mood.
Was it this easy to film or did it soon move on.
sorry for my ignorance but are the a day time hunter or Night time.

Steve

[rockfowl]

Originally Posted by Sam.Jones

Slightly belated as I have only just found this thread, but (http://vimeo.com/32204025) some footage of Oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus).
Filmed during fieldwork in Northern Peru, representing the first ever documentation of the species in the north Peruvian Andes.
This has been formally reported and a paper written that is soon to be published in CatNews IUCN specialist journal.

Nice but out of interest Sam, I assume that you saw the animal in greater detail than the video portrays otherwise how were the confusion species ruled out?

[rockfowl]

Originally Posted by sglynas

The video of the Oncilla, shows the cat in a very relaxed mood.
Was it this easy to film or did it soon move on.
sorry for my ignorance but are the a day time hunter or Night time.

Steve

These small cats are primarily nocturnal.

[Sam.Jones]

The cat was very difficult to film particularly by torchlight, probably why the video is not fantastic!
Yes, we saw the animal much more clearly initially before it moved up the tree into a thicker mix of branches.. As i'm sure you know, the only real confusion species is Margay but, as with any really cryptic species, good and prolonged views are often essential.
We saw it well for some minutes at first to really look for the salient features (e.g eye size in relative to face/head, specifics in coat markings, relative tail length, 'delicate' general appearance and the actual size of the creature amongst others) eye shine colour is also a good pointer. Although not an ID feature to go on, this was over 2000masl in cloud forest habitat which tends to be at the upper end of known preferred altitude ranges of Margay.
It was then seen and verified by several other biologists with greater experience on neotropical mams/cats than me, including Jim Sanderson.

Beautiful creature to see, i'm not sure how soon it'll be before I see another one..some time I imagine!

[rockfowl]

Hey its good to get any video!

I could rule out Margay from the vid as suggested, the eyes and specifically the size. I've only had 'snatch' views of Oncilla despite hundreds of hours spotlighting, its a tricky one for sure, so to see one well as you evidently did is great.

From the video, my only query was I couldn't tell if the spots where solid or had the pale interior and the extent of markings, young Ocelots are not dissimilar. However, altitude would rule that one out as well.
Out of interest, you mentioned eyeshine colour, what was it that stood out, it might be useful for future trips.

Congratulations on an interesting observation!

[Sam.Jones]

Sorry for a late reply!
Awesome that you've seen one also, to be honest I was on an unprecedented run of form during this fieldwork period with Long-whiskered Owlet the night before (phwoooar!) and a very long period of time spent following a large troop of Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkeys the day before..not sure when i'll get a run of cripplers like that again!

Eye shine- as similar to several of the neotrop cats is 'bright yellow' by what I have read, but I found it to be a little more 'clouded' but still bright yellow. I guess this is rather a subjective description and not really anything much to go on as it can always be something to do with the lights used. Having said that however, it has probably been focused on or documented so little with species such as Oncilla that who's to say its not a little different.
I did have a beast a few days later with stunning blue eye shine staring at me whilst I was brushing my teeth (!) but it managed to melt away before I got even remotely close...still wondering what that was..

[Sam.Jones]

I haven't seen this reported in this thread although from a few months ago- http://www.panthera.org/african-golden-cats-0

[rockfowl]

FWC documents first Florida panther death of 2012 in Collier County - http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/...eath-2012-col/

[Bird_Bill]

Here's fox news outlet take on capture of a mountain lion,panther,cougar,or as the locals say "painter" in missouri January 5,2012. My family had a place about 12 miles from there.Spent thousands of hours in vicinty,fully capable of supporting that animal.Seen signs of black bear numerous times,but never a bear.Armadillo's are what freaked me out down there.

http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-mou...,2061493.story

[rockfowl]

Rare Sumatran Tiger Dies in Indonesia - http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/...fficial/491340

Some good news for a change from China, lets hope there is a growing movement ..

Volunteers clear traps for endangered tigers - http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2...t_14443909.htm

[SB123]

Not sure if this is the best place to post this, but here's some gen on Bobcat at Point Reyes, California.

Having seen some posts on this forum, and at least one encouraging trip report [url="http://focusedonnature.blogspot.com/2011/04/point-reyes-national-seashore-march.html"] I decided to spend last weekend looking for Bobcat at Point Reyes after some meetings I had further south in Santa Barbara. Despite shitty weather I did eventually get some nice views of one hunting on a hillside for about an hour. Forgive the attached record shot - it was distant and in not very good light.

I spent most of my time along Pierce Point Road, which a couple of accounts mention as being a good area. However, much of it seems rather too open to be ideal Bobcat habitat I would guess. The one I saw was on the second hillside on the left when driving down the road to the Estero trailhead, where there were lots of small bushes among the grass. Similar habitat can be found around the Tule Elk reserve, and on the last part of the road to Limantour beach. As with many things like this, it is a question of putting in the hours, scanning as much ground as you can, and getting lucky.

Point Reyes is great for other mammals too: I saw Grey Whale off the coast just before Chimney rocks, Northern Elephant Seals (over 100 on the main beach; closest views were of three hauled out by the Fish Docks: continue 50 m down the hillside past the trail to the lookout over the main colony), Western Striped Skunk (common - at least 8 seen at night: the area along Pierce Point Road south of Abbot's Lagoon seemed particularly good), c.10 Coyote, Botta's Pocket Gopher, Brush and Black-tailed Jack Rabbit, lots of Elk and Black-tailed Deer etc. There are a couple of Ferruginous Hawks wintering this year - a good record for Point Reyes. I missed River Otter in Abbot's Lagoon, which others have seen though.

Stu