World’s Rarest Big Cat Gets A Check-up
The world’s rarest big cat is alive and well. At least one of them, that is, according to researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) who captured and released a female Far Eastern leopard in Russia last week.
The capture was made in Primorsky Krai along the Russian-Chinese border by a team of scientists from WCS and the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Biology and Soils (IBS). The team is evaluating the health and potential effects of inbreeding for this tiny population, which experts believe contains no more than 10-15 females. Other collaborators include: Wildlife Vets International, National Cancer Institute, and the Zoological Society of London.
The Far Eastern leopard is perhaps the world’s most endangered big cat, with an estimated 25-40 individuals inhabiting a narrow strip of land in the far southeastern corner of the Russian Federation.
The leopardess, nicknamed “Alyona” by the researchers who captured her, was in good physical condition, weighing a healthy 85 pounds (39 kilograms). A preliminary health analysis revealed that she is he is believed to be between 8-10 years old. The animal has since been released unharmed.
Specialists are continuing to analyze blood samples as well as an electrocardiogram, which will reveal genetic information to assess levels of inbreeding. Three leopards captured previously (2 males and 1 female) in 2006 and 2007 all exhibited significant heart murmurs, which may reflect genetic disorders.
“We are excited by the capture, and are hopeful that ongoing analysis of biomedical information will confirm that this individual is in good health,” said Alexey Kostyria, Ph.D., senior scientist at IBS and manager for the WCS-IBS project. “This research is critical for conservation of the Far Eastern leopard, as it will help us to determine the risks posed by inbreeding and what we can do to mitigate them.”
One of the options scientists are considering is trans-locating leopards from other areas to increase genetic diversity — similar to what happened with Florida panthers when animals from Texas were brought in to supplement the remaining population. Today, Florida panthers have risen from less than ten individuals to a population of approximately 100.
The leopard capture and release was overseen by representatives of the Russian federal agency “Inspection Tiger,” a special department of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
“This project has been ongoing for just over two years, and scientific work to capture Amur tigers and Far Eastern leopards in this part of Primorsky Krai has always been distinguished by the participation of world-class specialists and use of the best equipment and methodologies,” said Sergei Zubtsov, the head of Inspection Tiger. “I want to note that the leopard captured for medical analysis and released represents another achievement for this highly-qualified team, and that one of the most important things is that she was not harmed at any point in the capture process. I hope that such fruitful collaboration will continue in the future.”
Over the last 100 years, Far Eastern leopard numbers have been reduced by poaching combined with habitat loss. However, both camera-trapping and snow-tracking surveys indicate that the population has been stable for the last 30 years, but with a high rate of turnover of individuals. If inbreeding or disease can be kept in check, WCS and its partners believe there is great potential for increasing survival rates and habitat recovery in both Russia and Northeast China.
The Wildlife Conservation Society’s work to protect Far Eastern leopards receives funding by the following U.S. government agencies: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Save the Tiger Fund, and U.S. Forest Service International Program. The Far Eastern leopard is listed under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), which protects it against illegal trade for fur and medicinal purposes.
Around the world, large carnivores are faced with a variety of threats including habitat loss, depletion of prey, conflicts with people, poaching, and disease. The U.S. Congress is currently considering legislation called the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act, which would directly benefit the Far Eastern leopard and over a dozen big cat and rare dog species by creating a fund for research and monitoring, law enforcement training, and other conservation efforts. This bill has received support from several leaders in the U.S. Congress – notably Senators Joe Lieberman (CT-I), Barbara Boxer (CA-D) and Sam Brownback (KS-R) and Representatives Tom Udall (NM-D), John Tanner (TN-D), Hal Rogers (KY-R) and Ed Royce (CA-R). Timely action by the U.S. Senate would ensure passage of this important legislation.
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The rarest big cat in the world is known as the Far Eastern Leopard. It was found at October 27,2008. Primorsky Krai and his team found this leopard. Expert say that their is 25-40 left in the world. These cats live on a narrow strip of land in the far southeastern corner of the Russian Federation. These cats are dwindling in number due to poachers and habitat loss. The scientists are trying new ways to help rebuild the rare breed. With the numbers so low, the animals are breeding with their family members and causing genetic defects. If scientists can relocate some of these cats, inbreeding will be reduced and hopefully the population will increase.
I think the Russians are being over protective because we are trying to help the rare big cats from going extinct almost like the bald eagle.
i don’t think that the cats will benefit from ether side…………to be continued.
This ia about a cheetah getting a checkup from the wildlife consevation scoiety.
1.The capture was made in Primorsky Krai along the Russian-Chinese border by a team of scientists from WCS and the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Biology and Soils
2.The Far Eastern leopard is perhaps the world’s most endangered big cat, with an estimated 25-40 individuals inhabiting a narrow strip of land in the far southeastern corner of the Russian Federation
3.The leopardess, nicknamed “Alyona” by the researchers who captured her, was in good physical condition, weighing a healthy 85 pounds (39 kilograms).
4.Three leopards captured previously (2 males and 1 female) in 2006 and 2007 all exhibited significant heart murmurs, which may reflect genetic disorders.
5.Around the world, large carnivores are faced with a variety of threats including habitat loss, depletion of prey, conflicts with people, poaching, and disease.
LOVE YOU MRS.DAVIS
The rarest big cat was found in the October 2008. It is the Far Eastern Leporad. One of these cats is Alyona a healthy 85 pound lepardess. The scietists that captured her found that she is the first cat they have captured that is healthy. If they can stop inbreeding they hope that the population will rise.
The rarest big cat in the world is known as the Far Eastern Leopard. It was found at October 27,2008. Primorsky Krai and his team found this leopard. Expert say that their is 25-40 left in the world. These cats live on a narrow strip of land in the far southeastern corner of the Russian Federation. These cats are dwindling in number due to poachers and habitat loss. The scientists are trying new ways to help rebuild the rare breed. With the numbers so low, the animals are
Article Summary:
1.The Far Eastern leopard is one of the most endangered cat species on the planet.
2.A team of scientists captured the leopard and evaluated the health and potential effects of inbreeding for this tiny population.
3.An estimated 25-40 of these leopard species are inhabiting a narrow strip of land in the far southeastern corner of the Russian Federation.
4.“We are excited by the capture, and are hopeful that ongoing analysis of biomedical information will confirm that this individual is in good health,” says scientist Alexey Kostyria.
5.Three leopards were captured previously (2 males and 1 female) in 2006 and 2007.
The far eastern leopard is one of the most endangerd animals on the planet.
Two males and one female were caught in 2006 and 2007
Experts say that there are 25-30 left in the world.
Scientist are trying to find new ways to rebuild the rare breed.
If they can stop inbreeding they hope the population will grow.
Article summary
John Reed
Author: unknown
Date: November 8, 2008
Source: http://chandadavis.net/?p=690
1.) The Eastern Leopard is the most endangered big cat in the world.
2.) There are only about 10-15 female of these cats left in this world.
3.) Over the last 100 years the Eastern Leopard population has been lowering due to habitat loss and people killing them.
4.) Researchers found an Eastern Leopard and named it “Alyona”. She was only about 85 pounds, but she was a healthy cat.
5.) Researches have been tracking these animals for the past 30 years and the observations show that they have been stable and not growing or decreasing which could be good and bad.