The population of all five of the world's largest cats is dwindling due to hunting, poaching, and urban encroachment into their natural habitat.
The Tiger: An Endangered Species
The tiger is the largest of the cat family, and can weigh up to 600 pounds. The tiger is identified by a unique pattern of dark stripes. While the Bengal tiger is the most numerous of the subspecies, the Siberian tiger is the largest. Tigers are native to Asia, and their lifespan ranges between 10-15 years.
The tiger is an endangered species and entire populations have become extinct. Even though it is illegal to hunt the tiger, they are often killed for their pelts and body parts used in traditional Chinese medicine. Expansion of urban development has also cut into the tiger’s natural habitat. From the early 1900s the number of tigers in the wild has dropped from around 100,000 to a few thousand.
The Lion: Population of the Second Largest Cat Dwindling
The second largest of the cats is the lion. The average lion weighs from 265 to 550 pounds. The lion is identified by its mane and tawny color. Lions are found in Africa and Asia. Lions are social, and live in small groups called prides. The lifespan of a lion is between 10-14 years, or up to 20 years in captivity.
The past few decades has seen a decline in lion population. The number of this endangered species in Africa is dwindling yearly as urban expansion reduces the prey they hunt. Though there are currently around 30,000 African lions, most of them live in designated parks, preserves, or hunting areas.
Jaguar: Third Largest Cat is Near-Endangered Species
The jaguar, which bears a similarity to the leopard, is the largest cat found in the Western Hemisphere. The average jaguar weighs around 200 pounds. The jaguar is found in the southern United States, Mexico, Central and South America. It is often associated with Maya and Aztec mythology.
The jaguar is a near endangered species and its numbers are declining. Human expansion and forest fires have cut into their habitat in the Amazon rain forest. Since the early 20th century, jaguar are rarely seen in the United States.
Leopard: the Amur Leopard is Critically Endangered
The leopard is similar in appearance to the jaguar except it has fairly short legs and a long, lean body. The average leopard weighs about 132 pounds. It can run 58 km or 36 miles per hours. The leopard is found many places, from parts of Africa, Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Indochina, Malaysia, and China.
A near-threatened species, the leopard is declining in both range and population because of habitat loss. The Amur leopard is a critically endangered species. There are only about 20 or 30 Amur leopards in Russia and around 10 in China.
The Snow Leopard: An Endangered Species
The elusive snow leopard roams the high mountain ranges of the Himalayas. It weighs from 55 to 165 pounds. A solitary creatures, it preys on mountain goats and sheep. Its white, spotted coat provides a camouflage that makes it seem nearly invisible to hunters or its prey.
Though the snow leopard is protected as an endangered species, it is prized for its rare and beautiful white pelt. Poaching is difficult to control in the remote areas of the snow leopard’s habitat. It is estimated that around 3,500 to 7,000 snow leopards in the wilds, and around 600 to 700 more in captivity.
The Wildlife Conservation Society and Earth's Endangerd Species are two websites devoted to information and preservation of big cats and other endangered species.
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