(The Real) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Big Cats

This article was originally published by Youth Time International Magazine

Occupying every continent except Antarctica and Oceana, the big cats are revered among zoologists and general animal enthusiasts alike for their power, agility and grace. From the “King of the beasts” (lion) to “He who kills with one leap” (Jaguar), we take a closer look at the majestic felines that prowl the forests, deserts, plains and savannahs around the globe.

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Lion

The Lion is not only one of the most iconic of all big cat species, but perhaps one of the most familiar creatures on the planet. Once widespread throughout Africa, Asia and Southwestern Europe, numbers of this magnificent symbol of Africa have decreased drastically over the past century due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and human-wildlife conflict. In fact, their number has declined from around a whopping 400,000 in the 1950s to about 20,000 individuals today. One of the largest in the feline family (second only to the tiger), African Lions can only be found today in sub-Saharan Africa with 80% situated in eastern and southern Africa. One of the highest concentrations of these majestic animals lies in Ngorogoro Crater in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. The endangered Asiatic Lion occupies only one forest in India, but thanks to large conservation efforts, their numbers are steadily increasing. Once on the brink of extinction, their population is now estimated at more than 600 individuals.

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Jaguar

Solitary, elusive, and outrageously beautiful, the Jaguar is the largest native feline to roam the Americas. They can be found mostly in large areas of tropical rainforests close to riverbanks where they typically hunt their prey which includes capybara, peccary and caiman. Over the past 50 years, the world’s Jaguar population has dropped by more than half due to many factors including habitat fragmentation, illegal poaching and conflict with humans. Unfortunately, in Latin American countries their numbers have dwindled to below 16,000, making them a critically endangered species in natural spaces based in regions from Mexico down to Argentina. Spotting a wild Jaguar is no easy feat, but the best chances of doing so are along the riverbanks of the Brazilian Pantanal.

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Snow Leopard

Known by many as the “Ghost of the mountains”, the Snow Leopard is the rarest and most elusive of all the big cats. Prowling the high-altitude mountain ranges of central Asia, the mysterious Snow Leopard is evolved perfectly for its cold and snowy habitat. Sporting a white-grey coat with black rosettes, they blend superbly well to their surrounding rocky sloped environment, making them stealthy hunters. Despite their IUCN listing changing from endangered to vulnerable in the past year, many conservation organizations argue that the species still requires urgent attention if they are to be saved from the jaws of extinction. Scientists now estimate their numbers at somewhere between 3,920 and 6,390 individuals. Due to their low numbers, elusive nature, and excellent camouflage, spotting a wild snow leopard can be extremely difficult, but most sightings tend to occur in the serene and picturesque Hemis National Park in India.

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Tiger

The largest of all the world’s big cats, the Tiger has been divided into many different subspecies – six of which are extant (Siberian, Malayan, Indochinese, Sumatran, Bengal, and South China). According to the WWF, only 3,890 wild tigers walk the Earth today, making these beautiful solitary predators the most endangered of all the big cats. The Tigers distribution range spans from Siberia down to Sumatra, with most of the planet’s remaining individuals occurring in national parks located in central and northern areas of India. Due to its high density of Tigers, Bandhavgarh National Park is probably the best place to spot one of these magnificent creatures in the wild, with most visitors having a sighting within a day or two of touring the park.

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Cheetah

Graceful, slender and claiming the title of fastest land animal, the Cheetah is truly one of the planet’s most magnificent animals. Their refined body is built for speed and aerodynamics giving Cheetahs both advantages and disadvantages in regard to predation. While their specialized anatomy allows them to reach speeds of up to 60 mph to catch their prey, their muscle mass and strength if far inferior to that of lion, leopard and hyena of which they often lose their kill to. For this reason, Cheetah are diurnal animals as opposed to their three formidable competitors – all of which are predominantly nocturnal. Sadly, Cheetah populations have declined from around 100,000 in the early 20th century to an estimated 9,000 – 12,000 individuals today. Around 200 Asiatic Cheetah still live in small isolated populations in Iran, making them critically endangered in the region. Kenya's Masai Mara is regarded as the best place to spot nature’s most fleet-footed beast. 

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Clouded Leopard

Possibly the least famous of all the big cats, the Clouded Leopard also happens to be the smallest. Found mostly in the canopies of central and Southeast Asia’s dense forests, they are widely regarded as the best climber among big cats and boast the largest canines relative to skull size among all cat species, earning them the nickname of “Modern day saber-tooth tiger”. Exact numbers of these secretive tree-dwellers are unknown, but their populations are thought to be on the decline due to habitat loss and illegal poaching. The Clouded Leopard population ranges from the Himalayan foothills to western China and also stretches down to the southern tip of Malaysia. There are no reliable areas to spot this extremely elusive species, but most sightings tend to occur during safaris in India. 

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Puma

The Puma has many different common names including the mountain lion, cougar, panther and catamount. Prowling the Americas from the Canadian Yukon to the southern Andes of South America, they are the most widespread of any large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. Of all the big cats, Pumas in are considered to be the least susceptible to extinction, however, subspecies such as the Florida Panther number at only 120 – 230 individuals, making them one of the most endangered mammals in the world. While an estimated 30,000 Pumas roam across the western United States, the best chance of spotting one of these shy and solitary cats is in the impressive Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. 

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Leopard

Photo by Leigh Woods

Often confused with the Jaguar for it similar build and strikingly beautiful coat, Leopards are a slightly more slender species and happen to be the most widely distributed of all in the big cat family. Despite their vast range, Leopards are under threat due to habitat loss, illegal poaching and human-wildlife conflict and for this reason, they are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List across their range. Like most of the big cats, scientists have divided them into a number of subspecies - with the 70 Amur leopards in the Russian Far East being the most endangered of all. The Leopard is a mostly nocturnal species and due to their elusive nature and magnificent camouflage, can be difficult to observe in their natural environment. For the best chances of witnessing one of these beautiful creatures in the wild, head to Yala National Park in Sri Lanka.

All photos except leopard are Shutterstock. Graphics by Leigh Woods.

(The Real) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Sharks

This article was originally published on the Youth Time International Magazine Website

In this edition of (The Real) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, we take a plunge into the deep blue!

Between 700,000 and one million species are thought to live in the reefs, rivers, seas and oceans of this world – many of which remain relatively unknown. That cannot be said of the next group of fantastic beasts we dive into this week - the sharks!

From much-feared apex predators like the Tiger and Great White Sharks to gentle giants such as the Basking and Whale Sharks, below we learn some interesting facts about the Chondrichthyes and where to find them.

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Great White Shark

Let’s begin with the most famous shark of them all - the Great White Shark. When it comes to estimating populations of marine life, things can get quite tricky with the last global census in 2010 stating that only 3,500 Great Whites remained. However, in February 2018 researchers claimed that at least 8,000 Carcharodon carcharias were present in the waters off Australia, meaning the global population is likely far greater than initially thought. In comparison with other widely distributed species, the Great White appears to be fairly uncommon. They can be found from the surfline to far offshore and have also been known to swim to depths of over 250 meters deep. For the best chances of spotting Great White Sharks, head to Gaansbai in South Africa where you have the opportunity to cage dive with one of the most awesome creatures that ever lived.

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Basking Shark

One of the largest of all extant Chondrichthyes (surpassed only by the massive whale shark), the Basking Shark is a gentle giant that feeds mostly on plankton. They inhabit all oceans of the world, but tend to prefer the cold and temperate waters that lie above the continental shelves. However, through use of GPS tracking devices, researchers recently discovered the species dwelling in warmers waters far south of the equator. Like many animals, their location depends largely on food availability. The southern and southwestern coasts of the Isle of Man in the United Kingdom provide one of the best opportunities to see Basking Sharks close inshore.

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Great Hammerhead Shark

One of the most distinguishable of all sharks for their distinctive head shape, Great Hammerhead Sharks are the largest of the 9 different species of hammerhead. A migratory and nomadic species, they are widely distributed but largely restricted to continental shelves. The Great Hammerhead is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List as they are highly valued for their fins and suffer very high bycatch mortality. The fact that these magnificent predators only reproduce once every two years make them highly vulnerable to over-exploitation and population depletion. Exceptional sightings of Great Hammerhead Sharks can be found in Bimini in the Bahamas, especially between January and March each year where they patrol the shallow sandy shores around the tropical Caribbean island.

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Tiger Shark

Also known as the “sea tiger”, the Tiger Shark is so named for its dark vertical stripes along its body. With the largest ever recorded at a whopping 25 feet, they are considered the fourth largest shark species behind the whale shark, basking shark, and great white shark. The omnivorous Tiger Shark is quite common in tropical and warm-temperate coastal water worldwide. Though not considered to be facing a high risk of extinction, there is evidence to suggest declines of several populations where they have been heavily fished for their fins, flesh, skin, liver oil and cartilage. Despite their bad reputation, Tiger Sharks are a rather docile species. Tiger Beach in the Bahamas is widely considered the world’s best location to dive with Tiger Sharks. For the best chances of spotting them, head there in early April.

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Whale Shark

The Whale Shark’s body dimensions give it the title of world’s largest fish and therefore, also the biggest shark. In fact, they share part of their name with cetaceans for their enormous size - sometimes growing up to 40 feet in length! In addition to their impressive stature, the Whale Shark is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the family with light spots on its ventral surface forming unique contrasting patterns against their largely blue-grey coloration. Like the basking shark, these gentle giants feed mainly on plankton, but occasionally consume small animals including jellyfishes, squids and crabs. They tend to prefer coastal areas, but inhabit both deep and shallow water with temperatures between 20-30 degrees Celsius. Many places in the world offer the chance to see and even swim with Whale Sharks with the best places to do so usually depending on the time of year. Those destinations where Whale Sharks can be seen over the course of longer periods are South Ari Atoll in the Maldives and Donsol Bay in the Philippines.

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Bull Shark

Also known the Zambezi Shark, this short and sturdy predator is so named for its brawny body shape and perhaps also due to its hostile nature. Their short, blunt snout and tendency to head-butt their prey before attacking also add to the likeness. One of the most aggressive of all shark species, the Bull Shark has evolved to live in both saltwater and freshwater and is commonly spotted in the Mississippi River in the United States and Ganges River in India. While not currently considered to be vulnerable to extinction, their numbers are likely shrinking due to overfishing for their meat, hides and oils. The “Pitbull of the sea” can be difficult to locate, but they’re regularly spotted by scuba divers in the deep reefs of the Caribbean waters situated off Mexico’s Yucatan coast.

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Blacktip Reef Shark

For the fainter-hearted, the timid and skittish Blacktip Reef Sharks are easily identified for the striking black tips on their fins. Inhabiting the tropical coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, they are among the most abundant sharks found off the coasts of Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Another species that has been known to enter freshwater environments, Blacktip Reef Sharks mostly prefer shallow, inshore waters where they feed upon small fishes, squids and crustaceans. There are many small scuba and snorkeling tour operators located in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines that offer the chance to get up close to these beautiful predators.

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Blue Shark

Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful of all sharks, the magnificently streamlined Blue Shark are so-named for their striking cobalt blue colour. A common and widely distributed species, the Blue Shark can be found off the coasts of every continent except Antarctica. Observations are made mostly by divers in temperate seas, where the Blue Shark has even been known to approach the shore. While in tropical waters, however, they tend to stick to greater depths. The IUCN currently has the species listed as near threatened, but their numbers are likely dwindling due to the species being a popular choice for shark fin soup. For excellent chances of spotting these sleek and nimble sharks, head to Simonstown, South Africa where scuba and snorkeling tours are offered between November and June.

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Greenland Shark

With a lifespan of 300-500 years old (you read that correctly), the Greenland Shark is widely considered to be the oldest extant vertebrate in the world. Also known as the gurry shark or grey shark, they mainly inhabit the icy waters off the coast of Greenland where they feed upon smaller sharks, skates, eels and bony fish. Scientists have also found the remains of polar bear, seals, horses and moose in their stomachs. The mysterious and elusive Greenland Shark has the slowest swim speed for its size across all fish species with an average speed of 0.76 mph. Sightings of these 21ft long members of the sleeper shark family are extremely rare, but you may be lucky enough to spot one in the waters surrounding Greenland, or areas in the North Atlantic close to Iceland.

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Common Thresher Shark

The shark with arguably the most interesting hunting technique of all, the Common Thresher Shark will literally whip their prey into submission. Using their long, whip-like tails, they stun (and later kill) victims such as herring, sardines and mackerel by slapping them. Though they prefer cooler temperatures, the Common Thresher Shark is also distributed worldwide across tropical and temperate waters. They have been observed both in the open ocean and close to shore and are documented as a migratory species. Unfortunately, like most sharks, they are often victims of bycatch and are fished heavily for their fins. Some of the best places to dive with Common Thresher Sharks include Alor Island and Bali , both in Indonesia.

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Greenland Shark / Photo: Justin / Graphic Design: Leigh Woods

All other photos: Shutterstock / Graphic Design: Leigh Woods

(The Real) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Equids

This article was originally published by Youth Time Magazine

In this edition of (The Real) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, we delve into the realm of the equids. There are, of course many different kinds that have been domesticated over the centuries by humankind, but there are still seven species that are considered to be truly wild. From the iconic zebras roaming the plains of Africa to the elusive and mysterious Takhi of Mongolia, Leigh introduces you to the wild and majestic equidae family that graces our planet in the present day.

Note that the wild mustangs of the Americas have not be included for the reason that they are not currently considered a truly feral species.

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Przewalski’s Horse

Also known as the Dzungarian Horse or Takhi, the Przewalski’s Horse is native to both China and Mongolia, but was driven to extinction back in the 1960's primarily due to hunting and interbreeding with other domesticated horses. Thankfully, large conservation efforts including a breeding program supported by the Zooligical Society of London helped to preserve the species and reintroduce it to its former natural habitat. Their number has grown steadily since 12 horses were released in southern Mongolia in 1992. With all of them descended from 9 of 13 horses captured in 1945, there are now thought to be over 300 Przewalski’s Horse in the wild. Hustai National Park in Mongolia offers the best opportunities of witnessing them in the wild.

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Onager

Like other horses, the Onager has several different common names including Hemione and Asiatic Wild Ass. Around 55,000 wild Onager roam the arid deserts and mountainous steppes situated across several countries including China, Mongolia, Iran, India, and Turkmenistan. Data suggests that the Onager may have lost as much as 70% of its range since the 19th century. Due to severe over hunting and competition with livestock for pastures and water, they have become regionally extinct in most former range countries including Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Their favored habitats include arid grasslands, desert plains, savannahs and mountain ranges with the largest remaining population found in southern Mongolia and parts of adjacent China.

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Kiang

The largest of all the wild asses, the Kiang is native to the Tibetan Plateau. Also referred to as the Tibetan Wild Ass, Khyang or Gorkhar, its range is currently restricted to the montane and alpine grasslands that stretch across China, Nepal, India and Pakistan. Several subspecies (Western, Southern and Eastern Kiang) occur within its broad range as their distribution has become increasingly fragmented. The current global population estimate of Kiang is 60,000-70,000 individuals, with up to 90% of them located in protected areas along the China/Nepal border.

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African Wild Ass

Without doubt the most vulnerable to extinction of all the wild equids, the African Wild Ass is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, with species numbers estimated at approximately 200 mature individuals. Due to human/livestock impact and climate change, data reveals that their population may be undergoing a continuing decline (only 70 individuals have been observed), with the species meeting the threshold for critically endangered status. Their current range is approximately 23,000 km2 across the arid lands of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

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Burchell’s Zebra

The Burchell’s, or, Plains Zebra is the most common and widespread of the three zebra species. Easily distinguished from their close relatives by the stripes that meet around the belly, as opposed to the Grevy’s and Mountain Zebras which sport more compact stripes which end at the lower flanks. Around 500,000 Burchell’s Zebra walk the plains, deserts and savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa, and chances of spotting them on safari are extremely high. In fact, those travelling to wildlife hotspots such as the Maasai Mara, Serengeti, and Kruger National Parks in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa respectively are all but guaranteed to observe entire dazzles (herds) of these stripy steeds.

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Grevy’s Zebra

With a population estimated at around 2,860 individuals, the Grevy’s Zebra is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is restricted to the Horn of Africa, specifically Ethiopia and Kenya. It is the largest not only of the zebra family but of the entire living wild equid group. Also known as the Imperial Zebra, they are the most threatened of the three species of zebra. There are currently a discontinuous range of Grevy’s Zebra found from the eastern side of the Rift Valley in Kenya to the Tana River, with a small, isolated population roaming the Alledeghi Plains situated northeast of Awash National Park in Ethiopia.

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Mountain Zebra

Last but certainly not least are the beautiful Mountain Zebra which have been divided into two subspecies (Cape Mountain Zebra and Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra). Some scientists argue that each is an entire species of its own due to some physiological and geographical differences. Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra are more numerous (up to 1300 in the wild) and they occur in the mountainous transition zone between the Namib Desert and the central plateau of Namibia. Numbering at between 600-700 individuals, the only surviving natural populations of Cape Mountain Zebra are found in Mountain Zebra National Park, Gamka Mountain Reserve and the Kamanassie Mountains.

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All Photos from Shutterstock/Graphics by Leigh Woods