The sand cat is a small cat, a bit smaller than the domestic cat. It has a surprisingly large range, and from looking at the map, it does not appear to have had its range reduce dramatically – though if all of the possibly resident areas proved to be areas where the cat is extinct, its range would be greatly reduced.
Chinese Mountain Cat
Also known as the Chinese desert cat, or Chinese steppe cat, is a vulnerable species that lives in China. Only around 10,000 of them live in the wild. It is significantly different to wild cats around the world.
This cat lives on the North-Western edge of the Tibetan plateau, is active at night (nocturnal) and specializes on eating pIkas rodents and birds. There have been recurring attempts to greatly reduce the Pika population through poisening, which has obviously impacted a species that relies (at least in part subsists on eating Pikas)
Wildcat
Wildcats are found across a huge area (see the map below) are are incredibly similar across the whole region. There are two species recognized, and they are the European wildcat, and the African wildcat (the African wildcat is the same species found throughout its range in Asia and the middle east. There has been much revision as to how many subspecies there are, but the most recent assessment suggests 5 consisting of European Wildcat, Caucasian Wildcat, African Wildcat, South African Wildcat and Asian Wildcat.
Domestic cats are thought to have been tamed in Israel, which has unfortunately meant that this species of wild cat is now spread across the globe – many local species of wildcat have become extinct through hybridisation, the British wildcat is just one such example. There are now only pure British wildcats in captivity, and while there are still quite a few living wild in Scotland they have Asiatic wildcat features. This has happened in many places and solutions are not yet forthcoming.
Wildcats could potentially reintroduced into England for the first time in hundreds of years
- Tim
- January 12, 2023
Wildcats have returned to the Netherlands on their own after centuries of absence
- Tim
- February 2, 2022
Wildcats set to return to southern England 150 years since their extinction in England and Wales
- Tim
- March 10, 2021
Mink have been eradicated from East Anglia, now the country?
- Tim
- January 29, 2024
5 Northern buff-cheeked gibbons released back into the wild
- Tim
- November 6, 2023
Positive news from Borneo – reconnecting wilderness
- Tim
- July 20, 2023
3 of the 20 Cheetah translocated from South Africa to India have died in recent weeks, does this confirm doubters?
- Tim
- May 22, 2023
Biden expected to sign into law new big cat ownership rules, which will curb or end private ownership
- Tim
- January 16, 2023
We’re back! Sorry we have been missing for a while. Dedicated server, hopefully allow the website to meet some of its aims!
- Tim
- January 7, 2023
Brazil has enough unutilized cattle pastureland, to allow soy cultivation to increase by a third without any further deforestation
- Tim
- November 5, 2022
Could a simple modification of car charging bring a 90% charge down to 10 minutes? Triple the number of cars a tesla supercharger can recharge in the same time
- Tim
- September 27, 2022
9 years of badger culls (a protected species) has failed to reduce TB in cattle – governments response … and?
- Tim
- July 22, 2022
Translocating Cheetah from South Africa to India : update
- Tim
- June 29, 2022
Talking of the Cantabrian bear population of Spain, its growth is incredible – can its success be replicated?
- Tim
- June 28, 2022
Re-wilding in the UK
- Tim
- March 10, 2022
Rare black tiger photographed in the wild
- Tim
- February 28, 2022
Proposals have been floated to move Asiatic lions to 6 different relocation sites – including Kuno-Palpur
- Tim
- February 22, 2022
NatureScot has found that there are more than 1000 beavers now living in the wilds of Scotland
- Tim
- February 15, 2022
They are not hard to see if you are in the right place. I have seen them in Africa, take a night drive in almost any nature reserve. Links will be added below.
Caracal
Caracal
Caracals are nocturnal, which means that they are often not spotted. Indeed, in our time in South Africa, it was the only local cat which we did not see. It has a huge distribution, which includes Africa, the middle east, central Asia and even parts of northern India and Pakistan. It is an expert jumper, and often catches birds in flight, being able to jump more than 3m straight up. It comes from the same genetic line as the serval and the African Golden cat.
Generally, while it is wide spread and usually relatively plentiful it is an animal that either takes a lot of luck or a great deal of patience to see it in the wild.
You think pangolins greatest threat is the poaching? not everywhere, what is worse?
- Tim
- June 5, 2023
Pangolins are bizarre animals!
How many of you knew about a pangolin? How many of you...
South African cheetah to be introduced into India
- Tim
- November 17, 2021
There is an impressive wealth of cats living in India. From the Indian tiger (known throughout the...
Review of Kruger National Park
- Tim
- January 6, 2018
African Golden cat
African golden cat
Oddly, although they look similar, African and Asian Golden cats are not closely related, so clearly their looks given them an advantage in the forests of Africa and Asia, which is the habitat that they are found in on both continents.
Like the Asiatic Golden cat, it is rarely seen and poorly studied. It is currently listed as near threatened, with its status in Uganda being vulnerable. The simple fact is, is that it is rarely seen and therefore we know very little about how it lives.
What is clear, though, is that as it lives in rainforests, at relatively low densities, it is a species that will be hit hard if we continue to cut down the worlds rainforests.
As we make links we hope to add places you can visit, in the hopes of seeing this species (though it should be noted, that this is a rarely seen species). These will be below the video and the list of articles (below this information). Do reach out if you work in this field, as we would love to work with you, and help people find you for their wilderness trips.
South African cheetah to be introduced into India
- Tim
- November 17, 2021
There is an impressive wealth of cats living in India. From the Indian tiger (known throughout the...
Jaguar
photo credit MarcusObal
Jaguar
Jaguars are the only big cat that is found in the Americas. Superficially looking like a Leopard, it is actually no more closely related to a Leopard, than a Lion or Tiger.
Once (as late as the year 1900) ranging from Southern Argentina- north through the rest of South America, and throughout Mexico and the Southern United states (some 19 million square km) its current range is greatly reduced, see the map below.
Wonderful swimmers, fantastic hunters and strong cats, they were undisputed as the apex or one of the apex predators in every environment in which they lived.
They are known to regularly take livestock where it is possible. Possibly as a result of having only millennia rather than the eons that native animals have, they have not learnt to fear humans and keep their distance as healthy populations of lion leopard and tiger do.
However, there is also a huge draw to see this animal in its native habitat. The easiest way to see Jaguar, is usually from a boat on a river.
As with other species on this site, I hope to add many destinations over the next few years. Below these links will be a list of all articles on Jaguars,  and we  will add all the destinations and links we have, as we make them below the news section.
From the great Pantanal – Brazil’s area of wetland, to a number of reserves across the amazon rainforest (it is estimated that 57,000 Jaguars still survive in the fragments of the Amazon rainforest that still stand. On top of this, there is still significant jaguar habitat in Mexico and central America. One of these was set up by the late great Alan Rabinowitz, who fought right up to hist death for protecting places like Cookscomb basin reserve in Belize.
As with many other wildlife around the world, travel to see these animals is essential, if we are to give a financial incentive to those who live and work in the country. Get in touch if you work in conservation of this incredible animal, or tourism. Link is at the top of the main page (or click here)
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