What About When They're Gone?

[Quettalee]

HUNTERS KILL ONE OF LAST REMAINING AMUR LEOPARDS

MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) -- Hunters in Russia's Far East have shot and killed one of the last seven surviving female Amur leopards living in the wild, WWF said on Monday, driving the species even closer to extinction.

Last week environmentalists said there were only between 25 and 34 Amur leopards -- described as one of the most graceful cats in the world -- still living in the wild. (Full story)

At least 100 are needed to guarantee the species' survival which depends upon female leopards breeding. There are more male leopards in the wild than female because cats tend to breed males when under stress, WWF said.

"Leopard murder can only be provoked by cowardice or stupidity, in this case most likely by both," Pavel Fomenko, WWF's biodiversity coordinator in Russia's Far East said in a statement.

A hunter shot the leopard through the tail bone. It tumbled over and was then beaten over the head with a heavy object, WWF said. Amur leopards have not been know to attack humans.

Environmentalists have urged the Russian government to introduce tighter controls on its national parks in the Far East to crack down on leopard hunting.

They also want more done to protect the animal's natural environment and food supply, which they say is being destroyed by human development.

A local wildlife watchdog received an anonymous tip-off that a leopard had been killed. State wildlife officers found the dead animal after a day of searching. The leopard died on either April 15 or April 16, WWF said

[katmandu]

Makes you feel like banging your head against a wall doesn't it?

Hate to think what we'll be leaving future generations at this rate, just imagine a world without so many of these magnificent creatures even though the overwhelming majority of people will never see them in their natural habitat; I'd give my eye teeth to see the Mountain Gorillas in the wild, and although I know I never will the mere realisation that they're there is satisfying enough.

[Quettalee]

That's exactly why I started this thread, Kat. I was hoping there was at least one more person out there who is awed by their pure beauty and power...and grace.

That is one thing my dad was good for--he exposed me to nature--lots of it. I grew up in so many different areas of the country with so many different environments, I really am fortunate to have had lots of "wildlife" experiences.

Most of my exotic wildlife experiences have unfortunately been in the zoos with the exception of a mountain lion and several species of big cats that used to roam across the southern half of Florida. They are so much more magnificent when you're on their turf as opposed to seeing them in cages and behind bars in the zoos. Even alligators--seen lots of them in the wild. I actually "shared" a boat slip with a four-footer when we owned a fish camp in northern FL. Always had to make sure he was no where to be found when I wanted or needed to be in the water because he always wanted to be swim-buddies.

The things we do when we're kids. I used to swim in that boat slip all the time--all the time having to keep a watch-out for "Ally" and a variety of snakes. (We actually killed a 6 foot water moccasin in that boat slip--his head was as big as a man's hand. Made the local paper and everything.) Sheesh!

Anyway, thanks for posting here, Katman. It makes me feel like we have bonded on a new level.

[gams]

One of those songs that makes me shudder when I hear it - the topic leaves an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Countdown To Extinction ~ Megadeth

Endangered species, caged in fright
Shot in cold blood, no chance to fight
The stage in set, now pay the price
An ego boost don't think twice
Technology, the battle's unfair
You pull the hammer without a care
Squeeze the trigger that makes you Man
Pseudo-safari, the hunt is canned ...
The hunt is canned

All are gone, all but one
No contest, nowhere to run
No more left, only one
This is it, this is the Countdown to Extinction

Tell the truth, you wouldn't dare
The skin and trophy, oh so rare
Silence speaks louder than words
Ignore the guilt, and take your turn
Liars anagram is "lairs"
Man, you were never even there
Killed a few feet from the cages
Point blank, you're so courageous ...
So courageous

All are gone, all but one
No contest, nowhere to run
No more left, only one
This is it, this is the Countdown to Extinction

One hour from now
Another species of life form
Will disappear off the face of the planet
Forever ... and the rate is accelerating.....

[katmandu]

quettalee said:

That's exactly why I started this thread, Kat. I was hoping there was at least one more person out there who is awed by their pure beauty and power...and grace.

"Awed by their pure beauty and power" says it very succinctly, so many creatures fit that description, and to see them slowly dwindling in numbers is very saddening.

Always had an interest in wildlife as long as I can remember, one look at the contents of my bookcase would attest to that.
Remember when my brother and I were young'uns Mom signed us up to a Bird Society, we received certificates and cards and such, guess that was probably where it began and my interest just expanded from there.

Long harbored a desire to visit one or more of the game parks like Kruger or Etosha, but like yourself I'm afraid my experience with the more exotic species has been confined to zoos, and there's not a lot of "exotic" Fauna down here, unless you count Koalas, Hairy Nosed Wombats and of course the extremely deadly Echidna [ Gams can tell you all about that one ]

Must say you were a feisty little thing as a kid by the sound of it, don't think you'd catch me swimming with "Ally" or deadly snakes, as you say though, the things we do as kids, wonder any of us make it to adulthood.

That song you posted Gams, so true I'm afraid, makes one wonder about the "dominant" species on the planet that's for sure.

[Quettalee]

Countdown to Extinction...Megadeth

Thanks a bunch, Gams. I had never put the two together.

Damn.

[Quettalee]

Always had an interest in wildlife as long as I can remember, one look at the contents of my bookcase would attest to that.
Remember when my brother and I were young'uns Mom signed us up to a Bird Society, we received certificates and cards and such, guess that was probably where it began and my interest just expanded from there.

I would love to browse through that bookcase, for sure! My manager is an avid bird watcher. She and her husband plan all their vacations around their binoculars.

I was a "Birds of Prey" sponsor once. Or at least I think I was. I signed up at the state fair one year, but I never received any information or heard from them again.

They are so beautiful and it breaks my heart to see any birds in cages. That is such a contradiction to their existence. How sad for a species meant to fly or roam great distances or run at lightening speeds to ever be confined to cages. I can't stand it.

Must say you were a feisty little thing as a kid by the sound of it, don't think you'd catch me swimming with "Ally" or deadly snakes, as you say though, the things we do as kids, wonder any of us make it to adulthood.

I know you've read some of my stories. Country kids have all kinds of ferocious creatures to deal with on a daily basis.

Snakes, alligators, dragonflies as big as small birds, ringworms from playing in puddles barefooted, overprotective mother hogs with their squealing piglets, cocky cocks with spurs as long as daggers....I'm telling you, it was a adventure to live every single day.

[Quettalee]

I was in Georgia last week when I heard that the American Bald Eagle had been taken off the endangered species list. How cool is that! Seems they have been on that list since 1967.

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), our national bird, is the only eagle unique to North America. The bald eagle's scientific name signifies a sea (halo) eagle (aeetos) with a white (leukos) head. At one time, the word "bald" meant "white," not hairless. Bald eagles are found over most of North America, from Alaska and Canada to northern Mexico. About half of the world's 70,000 bald eagles live in Alaska. Combined with British Columbia's population of about 20,000, the northwest coast of North America is by far their greatest stronghold for bald eagles. They flourish here in part because of the salmon. Dead or dying fish are an important food source for all bald eagles.

OK, that's all; I just thought it was worth repeating in case anyone missed it.