A small announcement: I am starting to post on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. 🌍🐾
Growing across these platforms adds a significant workload, but if it helps reduce the decimation of wild cat populations, it is worth the effort.
A close-up portrait of a cheetah in a sunlit grassy field. The cheetah gazes directly forward with intense amber eyes. Prominent black malar stripes, also known as tear marks, run from the inner corners of its eyes down to its mouth. The background consists of soft-focus green grass, emphasizing the cheetah's facial features and focused expression.
Cheetahs are primarily diurnal hunters, a strategy to avoid larger nocturnal predators. Their unique "malar stripes," commonly known as tear marks, act as natural anti-glare strips, aiding vision during high-speed daytime chases. 🐆☀️💨 #10AfricanCatSpecies #WildCatsOfAfrica
Two African cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in the grassy savanna, highlighting the world's fastest land mammal. The cheetah in the foreground shows a slender, lightly built frame and distinctive facial tear marks, while a second cheetah is visible in the background. This alert pair represents the unique biology of this big cat among the 10 African cat species.
Fleet-footed yet lightly built, the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is distinct among the big cats.
It is the fastest land mammal and has the highest hunting success rate among them, yet larger predators often harass cheetahs and steal their hard-won meals.
#10AfricanCatSpecies #WildCatsOfAfrica
An elusive leopard peering through lush green jungle foliage. This close-up highlights the leopard's spotted face and a single intense amber eye, showcasing the big cat's natural camouflage and stealthy behavior in the wild.
How many leopards remain in the wild?
There is no precise global estimate. Leopards are solitary and highly elusive, making them difficult to monitor.
They are currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
#10AfricanCatSpecies #AfricanLeopard #WildCatsOfAfrica
An African leopard resting on a thick branch of a large tree in a wide-open savannah landscape. The leopard is positioned on a branch extending to the right, its spotted coat blending with the tree’s bark as it overlooks vast fields of dry, golden grass under an overcast sky.
The African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) is the only leopard subspecies found on the African continent. Its range extends across much of sub-Saharan Africa and into parts of North Africa. #10AfricanCatSpecies #AfricanLeopard #WildCatsOfAfrica
An infographic titled "Panthera pardus: Global Leopard Distribution Map" based on 2019 IUCN Red List data. The map displays the leopard's current vulnerable status, with orange areas showing resident populations in sub-Saharan Africa and India, and red areas marking regions of extinction across North Africa, the Middle East, and China. A legend is centered in the ocean, with logos for the IUCN Red List and a status bar indicating the species is Vulnerable. Map compiled by Peter Gerngross.
Confirmed as a subspecies in 2017, the African leopard belongs to a species with the widest distribution of any big cat. As this #IUCN map shows, they span Africa and Eurasia across 9 subspecies, though much of their range is now gone. #10AfricanCatSpecies #AfricanLeopard #WildCatsOfAfrica
A powerful leopard uses its muscular limbs and sharp claws to scale a thick, textured tree trunk while carrying a large prey animal in its jaws. This display of raw strength and agility highlights the predator's unique ability to hoist heavy weights into the safety of the canopy. The scene is set against a lush background of green foliage and a bright sky, capturing a masterclass in survival.
Leopards are known for remarkable strength, able to lift prey over twice their body weight and carry it into trees to feed safely. Sometimes, they eat the stomach or organs to lighten the load before hauling it up.
#10AfricanCatSpecies #AfricanLeopard #WildCatsOfAfrica
A young African leopard (Panthera pardus) partially concealed in tall grass, looking to the side in a grassy savanna habitat.
The African leopard (Panthera pardus) is a secretive, highly adaptable cat found across a wide range of habitats on the continent.
Its rosetted coat provides excellent camouflage, allowing it to excel as an ambush predator.
#10AfricanCatSpecies #AfricanLeopard 🐆 #Biodiversity #WildCatsOfAfrica
A pride of African lions (Panthera leo) rests in tall grass on an open savanna. Several lionesses and subadult lions sit together in the center of the frame, while one lioness stands to the right. Leafless trees and woodland vegetation form the background of this typical savanna habitat.
The southern subspecies of African Lion, Panthera leo melanochaita (mel-an-oh-KAI-tuh), occurs across eastern and southern Africa. These populations include most of the continent’s remaining lions today and represent the majority of global lion numbers. 🦁 #10AfricanCatSpecies
Asiatic lioness resting on the ground with her 30-day-old cub leaning against her leg in Gir National Park, India.
The northern subspecies of the African lion is Panthera leo leo. It historically ranged across West, Central, and North Africa.
The Asiatic lions in India belong to this same subspecies and represent its last surviving population outside Africa. 🦁
#10AfricanCatSpecies
Within the Cat Specialist Group, a smaller team called the Cat Classification Task Force reviews scientific data and updates the recognised species and subspecies of the family Felidae.
Their work helps standardize wild cat taxonomy.
#Felidae #WildlifeConservation #Taxonomy
Logo of the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Cat Specialist Group, showing red silhouettes of a lion, a small wild cat, and a cheetah walking above a black horizontal line. The text ‘Species Survival Commission’ appears at the top and ‘Cat Specialist Group’ appears below in bold black letters.
The #IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) is a global authority on the status of species and ecosystems.
It publishes the Red List and supports expert groups, including the Cat Specialist Group, which studies wild cats across their range.
#Felidae #ConservationScience #WildCats
Logo of the IUCN Red List, showing a red circular emblem with the letters IUCN inside a white arc and a stylized red shape resembling a pawprint above the words ‘Red List’ in bold black text. The logo represents the global conservation status assessment system used by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
You may have noticed terms like “IUCN Red List” and “Cat Classification Task Force” appearing in recent posts.
These are important in conservation science, so here is a brief explanation of what they mean.
#WildlifeConservation #Biodiversity
African lion (Panthera leo) standing alert in tall golden savanna grass at sunset on open African grassland.
African lion populations are estimated at only 22,000–25,000 individuals, and some assessments suggest fewer than 20,000 remain in the wild. 📉 The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. 🦁 #10AfricanCatSpecies
Impressive yawn 🦁
Pipa is adorable! Thanks for sharing. 🐱
African lions (Panthera leo) on savanna grassland, with a male African lion standing at a distance and several lionesses resting together in the foreground.
African lions are the largest of Africa’s wild cats and the second-largest cat species in the world. They are also the only truly social cat species, living in prides with complex cooperative behaviors. As apex predators, they play critical roles across Africa’s ecosystems. 🦁 #10AfricanCatSpecies
These are the #10AfricanCatSpecies, as recognised by the Cat Classification Task Force of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group:
African lion, African leopard, Cheetah, Serval, Caracal, African golden cat, Jungle cat, African wildcat, Sand cat, and Black-footed cat.
#WildlifeConservation #Biodiversity
A male leopard walks toward the camera on a sandy track. The text identifies him as the Tavangumi male leopard, later lost due to a snare injury and resulting human–wildlife conflict. Photo credit: Nkorho Bush Lodge.
Africa is famous for its big cats, but the continent is also home to seven small and medium-sized felines – secretive species rarely seen even by researchers.
They face the same threats: habitat loss, poaching, and snares.
This series explores all #10AfricanCatSpecies 🐾
A small African wildcat stands on reddish sandy ground, facing the camera with alert green eyes. Its body is slender with light brown and gray tabby markings. Sparse vegetation is visible on the right side, and the background is softly blurred in warm tones. Text on the image reads: “African wildcat in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa.” Photo credit: Damonique Maree de Beer.
The #WildCatsOfTheWorld series will continue, but I’ll be rotating themes.
New this week: #10AfricanCatSpecies – big and small cats of Africa.
More series coming soon. 🐾
#WildlifeConservation #Biodiversity
This #SumatranTiger, captured on trail camera, is wild, safe and free. But fewer than 300 remain in the wild. Their forests, and chances of survival, are shrinking every day. Donate now to save Sumatran tigers. 💛 https://bit.ly/47npbFM
A Eurasian lynx walks through the snow, lifting one front paw as it approaches the camera. Its tufted ears stand upright, and its spotted winter coat blends softly with the blurred, snowy forest in the background.
We’re now sharing thoughtful posts about wild cats on LinkedIn too.
If you’re on LinkedIn, feel free to follow us there for our stories and educational content about wild cats.
🔗 www.linkedin.com/company/ourw...
#addMam ?
Two jaguars rest together on a sandy riverbank in the Pantanal, surrounded by green vegetation and forest beyond – a glimpse of the thriving wildlife this vast wetland supports.
🌿 The “Save the Pantanal: The World’s Largest Tropical Wetland” project by Rainforest Trust is now fully funded! 💚
A big win for wildlife, wetlands, and our planet – and hopeful momentum for many more conservation successes ahead. 🌎
#Conservation #RainforestTrust #Pantanal #Biodiversity
A visually striking, six-panel collage of modern wild cats, arranged in a 4:5 portrait ratio with two rows and three columns. Row 1: 1. Black-footed Cat (left): A small cat with a spotted and striped coat, sitting on a log, looking directly at the viewer. Its eyes are green. 2. Lynx (center): A medium-sized cat with tufted ears and a grayish-brown coat, walking forward through the snow, with a serious expression. 3. Cheetah (right): A tall, slender cat with a spotted golden coat, walking down a dirt path, its black-ringed tail held high. Row 2: 4. Puma / Cougar (left): A large, tawny brown cat poised on a rocky outcrop, looking intently forward. 5. Tiger (center): A massive cat with a distinctive black-striped orange coat, sitting upright in a forest environment with trees in the background. 6. Lion (right): A large male lion with a full, dark mane, standing regally on a rock, looking directly at the viewer from a dark, dramatic setting. The overall style is realistic and naturalistic, showcasing the size and habitat diversity of the Felidae family.
The other branch from Proailurus led to Styriofelis (stir-ee-oh-FEE-lis), ancestor of all modern cats (Felinae + Pantherinae).
This lineage adapted and diversified into the 38+ wild cats alive today. 🐾
#WildCatsOfTheWorld #BigCats #SmallCats #Biodiversity
It’s okay not to have friends right now. Finding meaning in caring for wildlife and wild cats can be far more rewarding than chasing friendships that don’t feel real. The right people will come - and if not, that’s still okay. 🐾
Smilodon vs. Homotherium 🦷 – what set them apart?
Dive into this WildFacts video to see! 🐾 youtu.be/9BZNRBQPHew
All cats trace back ~25–30M yrs to Proailurus (pro-AY-luh-rus), the first true cat (Felidae) 🐾
One branch became the extinct sabertooths (Machairodontinae – mah-KAI-roh-DON-tin-ee) 🦷: massive hunters like Smilodon and Homotherium, and lesser-known Lokotunjailurus.
#WildCatsOfTheWorld #Paleontology
World map showing the geographic distribution of wild cats (family Felidae). Areas shaded in blue represent the range of Felinae (small to medium cats, excluding domestic cats), while areas shaded in green represent the range of Pantherinae (big cats such as lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars). Blue regions cover most of North America, Europe, northern Asia, and southern South America. Green regions are concentrated in Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and parts of China.
From African savannahs to Arctic forests, wild cats have conquered nearly every corner of our planet. 🌍
Blue = smaller cats (Felinae)
Green = big cats (Pantherinae)
Wherever prey thrives, cats follow. 🐾
#WildCatsOfTheWorld #BigCats #Conservation
🗺️ Craig Pemberton / Wikipedia
Book cover of Wild Cats of the World by Luke Hunter, illustrated by Priscilla Barrett, featuring a close-up of a wild cat’s face with green eyes and snow on its fur.
From the tiny Black-footed Cat to the mighty Amur tiger, the cat family spans the globe.
Fierce, fragile, and fascinating – each species tells a story of survival.
Inspired by #WildCatsOfTheWorld by Luke Hunter. Stay tuned for more! 🐾
