Big Cats include the tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard, cougar and cheetah. When these kitties start to purr that are not going to sit on your lap so you should start to worry.
Big Cats include the tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard, cougar and cheetah. When these kitties start to purr that are not going to sit on your lap so you should start to worry.
The largest cat in the Western Hemisphere, formally named Panthera Onca Palustris, is the jaguar like this beautiful one at the Buenos Aires Zoo. It is also the biggest subspecies in the Americas. It weighs up to 300 pounds and is native to northeast Argentina. Its status is near threatened because of loss of habitat and illegal hunting.
Enlarge/Slideshow
This white Bengal tiger drinking water is one of only about 200 that exist with a missing pigment that makes their coats white rather than orange. In 2003, Betty the female white Bengal tiger gave birth to sextuplets. She and her husband Conde have lived at the zoo since 1997. Ten years later, Cleo gave birth to four cubs. In addition to other big animals at the Buenos Aires Zoo, such as elephants, camels, giraffes and bears, there are many wild animals that are native to Argentina that stroll around looking for handouts.
Enlarge/Slideshow
This female African lioness at rest is named Kuchani and the male lion behind her is Jambo, whose nickname is Bruiser. They are taking a break from their two active cubs, Johari and Asali. They are four reasons to visit the Taronga Zoo in Australia. 4,000 more reasons are the other animals within the 50 acres complex plus the spectacular view of Sydney Harbour.
Enlarge/Slideshow
There are only about 400 wild Sumatran tigers in the world, so the Taronga Zoo in Sydney is blessed that Jumilah and Satu gave birth to three cubs in 2011. This is dad, staring intently as if sizing me up for dinner. Speaking of eating, you can bid for the chance to sponsor a “Big Cats Dinner” at the Taronga Zoo during their annual fundraiser. Twenty people have a close experience with the leopards and tigers before being served a three-course gourmet dinner by candlelight next to the lions. The tax-deductible event often goes for over $25,000. Those on a budget will prefer the Big Cat Encounter for $59.
Taronga Zoo, Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman NSW 2088, Australia Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
This male, Asiatic lion is smaller than its African counterpart in several ways: its size (but still up to 400 pounds), its mane (less pronounced), its pride (averages two to five animals) and its population (only 400 are in wildlife sanctuaries in Gujarat, India). This one lives at the Antwerp Zoo, which was founded in 1843. Perhaps he is smiling because three lions, called Leo Belgicus, are on the Belgium greater coat of arms.
Enlarge/Slideshow
There are less than 400 of these endangered Siberian tigers living in the remote regions of Far East Russia. Fortunately, they populate well in captivity. Collectively, the U.S. and China manage more than 8,000. This beautiful feline is at the Antwerp Zoo. The average Amur tiger ranges from 250 to 500 pounds but a few can weigh over 800 pounds, so they have no fear attacking brown and black bears in the wild.
Enlarge/Slideshow
This female African lion is getting ready for a nap, which is typical of their nocturnal behavior. They rest about 20 hours a day. When in the wild, the female lions hunt together for the pride while the male protects the cubs and then he will dominate the kill site. Interestingly, the female will isolate herself during birth and nurture the newborns for the first six to eight weeks. Then, she returns to the pride where motherhood becomes a shared responsibility with other females. This lioness is at the Oakland Zoo in California.
Enlarge/Slideshow
This lounging male African lion and lioness joined the Oakland Zoo in California in 2000 as six month cubs. These two are old for wild lions, which typically live ten to 14 years and males rarely pass ten. In captivity, however, they can live to 20. The adult male’s mane is unique among cats and the darker it is, the more sexually attractive. His weight ranges from 300 to 500 pounds. The female is smaller at 250 to 400 pounds. Over 10,000 years ago, there was a huge population of lions that extended through Africa, India, Asia, Europe and parts of the Americas, but today only about 200,000 live in Africa and parts of India.
9777 Golf Links Rd, Oakland, CA 94605 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
The African lion is a legendary predator. When not hunting, they spend over 20 hours a day resting like these three at Zoo Miami. Notice the contrast in size. The lioness on the left can reach 400 pounds while an adult male can be 150 pounds heavier. This qualifies the king of the jungle as the second largest felid (cat family) behind the tiger.
Enlarge/Slideshow
Most large cats, even domestic ones, prefer living in relative solitude. In contrast, lions are very social as evident by this tender interaction between a lioness and her mate. But don’t mistake affection for submissive. In the wild, the female African lion does most of the hunting and is the core of the pride. This living structure numbers from three up to 30 lions. Only one or two males are part of a typical pride while the rest are nomadic.
12400 SW 152nd St, Miami, FL 33177 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
The biggest population of wild Bengal tigers lives in India with a much smaller population in Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. Yet with less than 2,500 in their natural habitat, they are classified as endangered. Fortunately, there are many in captivity at refuges, entertainment venues and zoos like this one at the Jungala section of Busch Gardens. Another 10,000 are kept by individuals as pets. I can’t imagine having a several hundred pound cat sitting in my lap, especially because tigers can’t purr.
10165 N McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL 33612 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
When I saw these beautiful cheetahs laying side-by-side, I assumed they were a couple. But I later learned that females are loners and it is the males that form close social groups called coalitions. Busch Gardens in Tampa has made a significant commitment to showcase this endangered species. In addition to fourteen of these big cats at Cheetah Run, they also have an interactive cheetah viewing building and a rollercoaster called the Cheetah Hunt.
10165 N McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL 33612 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
White Bengal tigers are rare because both parents must have the gene for this pigment mutation so it happens about once in 10,000 births. Bengals are the largest of the big cats and, surprisingly, the white ones are even bigger and can easily exceed 500 pounds. This exquisite examples is Lanie, one of five tigers at the Jungala section of Busch Gardens
10165 N McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL 33612 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
The Amur leopard is critically endangered. Less than 30 of these big cats live in the wild within a 1,200 square mile area of Korea, China and Russia. Fortunately, ten times as many live in zoos such as this one in New Orleans. The exquisite animal has thick fur covered with rosettes and black rings. They can run faster than 35 m.p.h. and leap up to 20 feet. The Audubon Zoo opened in 1914 and now has over 2,000 animals on about 58 acres. It is named after John James Audubon. He illustrated “The Birds of America” in 1839.
6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
This is Nyika, a female cheetah resting at the Philadelphia Zoo. She was watching her two daughters Kira and Kashi endlessly playing. The animal’s characteristic tear stripe from her eyes makes it appear she is crying. This native of southern Africa can run up to 70 m.p.h. for up to 300 yards, making it the fastest land mammal. That burst of speed makes her the first in line when the zookeeper arrives with breakfast. She displayed that talent immediately after this photo was taken.
3400 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
The cheetah is the smallest of the big cats and is the only one that can’t roar; it purrs instead. This beautiful feline with the tear drop markings lives a solitary life in Kenya and Botswana. Its sleek, muscular build plus enlarged heart and lungs allows it to go from zero to sixty in about three seconds. This cheetah is one of four at the Zoo Basel which opened in Switzerland in 1874.
Enlarge/Slideshow
This resting African lioness is either Okoa or Uma, one of two females that each gave birth to male cubs in late 2013. There are now seven magnificent lions in the pride at the Zoo Basel in Switzerland. Nearly two million people visit the 32 acre Basel Zoological Garden annually, which the Swiss call Zolli. The zoo started in 1874 and the current African exhibit opened in 1993.
Enlarge/Slideshow
This adorable African lion cub is one of four males that were born from two lionesses a couple days apart in November, 2013, at the Zoo Basel, Switzerland. The proud father of both litters is an eleven-year-old named Mbali. All of the adult lions are from South Africa. In the wild, the population has declined significantly. So, the Zoologischer Garten Basel has been very active in both a European breeding program and an African conservation program.
Enlarge/Slideshow
As its name suggests, the Indochinese tiger is indigenous to several countries in Southeast Asia. These magnificent cats are critically endangered because less than 400 remain in the wild and half of them live in Thailand’s forests. An adult male can reach nine feet and weigh 400 pounds. This Corbett’s tiger resides in the Chiang Mai Zoo.
Chiang Mai Zoo, 100 Huaykaew Rd, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
This male lion resting at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle looks like he is lying in the light-colored savanna grasses of his native Africa. His blond mane is perfectly coiffured, his eyes are bright and intense plus his expression is alert yet content. A beautiful animal!
Enlarge/Slideshow
This close-up profile of a jaguar (panthera onca) is one of two that you will find at the Jaguar Cove at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington. Their range is from Mexico through South America. It is estimated only 10,000 still live in the wild and their number is dwindling. Jaguar, the name for this nocturnal hunter, is a Native American word meaning “killer that takes its prey in a single bound.”
Enlarge/Slideshow