Where do Big Cats come from?
Rooting from eight different lineages, there are 45 species of wild cats in the world. The family Felidae is made up of two subfamilies namely Pantherinae and Felinae. Pantherinae represents the 7 big cats, and Felinae constitutes the 33 small cats. Acinonyx is a genus of cheetahs that do not have retractable claws.
Big Cats are a symbol of elegance and power. They can be found in many parts of the world but they all have one thing in common, they are fierce hunters with a killer instinct and their feline grace which makes them the fiercest creature to exist on this planet.
Big cats such as Lions, tigers, Cheetahs etc are often found in African savannahs and grasslands. They have distinct qualities such as Lion’s roam in their own groups which are often known as pride and when it comes to understanding their nature, they are loyal and fierce. Leopards are more comfortable with the surrounding of remote wilderness whereas Cheetahs are quite selective for company.
These animals are all majestic and their hunting skills are quite clever. They are a part of the rich wildlife culture which is mainly situated in Africa, Kenya and they are the pride of this continent.
The big cats belong to the subfamily, Pantherinae 7 in total including Lion, Tiger, Jaguar, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Sunda clouded leopard.
The Lion is the king of the big cats and the top predator, also known as Africa’s best-known animal. He is known as the mightiest and the strongest cat in the Pantharinae family. They like to hunt together as a family unit, which is also known as pride and the female lion who is known as the warriors of the pride are excellent at stalking and hunting down their prey.
The Tiger, as royal as it has a certain charm to itself. Their coral muscular dense and heavy body with black stripes are quite idiosyncratic and beautiful.
The Jaguar is a mystifying rugged representation of Amazon. They have a splendid coat of dark rosettes and spots attached to their physique and usually live by the riverbanks where it is easy to hunt and stay camouflaged.
Leopards have a distinct physique but they may vary in their colouration according to the habitats they are placed in. They’re skilled climbers and they like to stay near a watering hole. Leopards are a terrific symbol of solitude since they prefer to hunt alone. The snow leopard is famous for its ability to roar.
The cheetah is the fastest land animal of the Pantharinae family. It has a light-built physique, long thin legs and a long tail. Cheetahs usually have yellow fur and a white buffy tail and are coloured with black spots around their fur which allow for easy blending in grassland areas. Cheetahs are primarily not a fan of grouping themselves into a huge flock or remaining completely in isolation. They enjoy themselves a small company. Being the fastest land animal, Cheetahs can hunt animals which are often known as the great sprinters of Africa mainly gazelles, antelopes, impalas.
Despite a high number of threatened species, wild cats are among the most successful hunters on land. They have been around for about 11 million years and their success is due to a combination of features speed, agility, stealth and acute senses which makes them well-adapted predators. They can hunt that has shaped virtually every aspect of their biology.
Big cat species thrive in many different habitats. These include savannas, tropical rain forests, mangrove swamps, and boreal forests. Big cats which have a wide range and adapt in a variety of habitats are leopards, mountain lions, ocelots, and jaguars.
Africa is home to big cats and even small cats. Leopards, Cheetahs and Lion can be found extensively around Africa in jungles and savannahs.
Cheetahs mainly live on the grasslands of Africa, where they can easily be camouflaged as a result of their spotted fur coats.
As glamorous and gorgeous Leopards are, their elegant fur is what allows them to harmonize into Africa’s savannahs whilst they hunt their prey.
The King of the Jungle resides in the African savannahs and conservancies in Kenya such as Mara Mara and Ol Kinyei.
Small cats such as the Serval, Caracal, and the African wild cat are also spotted in Kenya’s Selenkay Conservancy.
Africa is a beautiful landscape for spotting these enigmatic wild cats and there is ample opportunity to spot them here.
Kalahari, in Botswana, is one of the largest wild reserves in Africa. Lions, leopards and cheetahs can be spotted all around the national park roaming around freely. This area serves the purpose of allowing the wild cats to flourish in the jungle surrounding them. There have been very few witnesses of spotting the rare Kalahari black-maned lion but they do exist, mainly around and about the area of Botswana.
Some of the African big cats such as the pride of lion and leopard are abundantly spotted in the national parks of Lower Zambezi where one can go via waterways. These parks have an untouched aura to them and hence that allows the wildlife to thrive hiding in the shade of Acacia tree canopies between hunts.
The Ol Kinyei and Olare Motorogi Conservancy help to conserve their ecosystem and wildlife’s balance in populating the African wildlife with Leopards. Cheetahs are often found in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya which helps in the conservation of different endangered species by looking after them.
There are quite a few Lions and Cheetah which are regularly spotted on safaris in Tanzania. Since leopards have more of a solitary nature, it becomes tricky to track them down but the grassy savannah of Serengeti, Tanzania promises the best leopard sightings in all of Africa.
Masai Mara, in Kenya, offers the best safari one can ever ask for with an extensive population of Cheetah, Lion and Leopards that are visible in this National Reserve. The Masai Mara National Reserve is a globally renowned spot for sightings of predatory big cats.
Jaguars are mostly seen on the river banks with the water acting as a natural barrier while they are trying to hunt. There have also been witnesses of a jaguar hunting live on the Brazilian Pantanal.
Snow leopards are difficult to spot in the wild because of their small numbers, inhospitable habitat, and exceptional camouflage. Most sightings occur in Hemis National Park in Jammu and Kashmir State, India. A good number of the snow-leopards can also be spotted in Ladakh, India since it fits their habitat. The snow leopard-spotting trip is not for the fainthearted as the rugged mountain’s infrastructure is hard to climb under night temperatures as low as -4 Fahrenheit.
The African lion is a species of big cat that survives in the wild. Lions live in family groups called pride and usually hunt at night. They are found mostly in sub-Saharan Africa but also exist in parts of Asia and India. They can be spotted in several conservancies such as Kruger National Park in South Africa, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, and Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Whilst being vulnerable, great efforts are being taken by African conservancies to save them.
Although it is difficult to know which wild cat is the rarest on Earth, some felines are certainly rare. The Amur leopard is one of the most endangered cats with only 90 individuals surviving in the wild in the Russian Far East.
The population of cheetahs in Iran has declined to the point where they are now considered critically endangered. Current data on these animals is lacking, due to political instability in the region. South China tigers may be extinct already with no wild individuals having been seen in over 20 years in their natural habitat.
These cats have a special unique vocal apparatus that allows them to roar. The larynx of the large-bodied felids is enlarged and has muscles that allow for this unique sound to be produced. A specialized part of their throat known as the hyoid apparatus also allows for roaring.
Cheetahs have been hunted infamously due to their spotted fur which is quite in demand for making different kinds of products and hence they’re an endangered species.
It is safe to say that they are one of nature’s most beautiful and majestic creations and for them to go extinct would be a shame for the earth.
It’s quite important we cherish their beauty and protect the wildlife and species, whether it is endangered or not. Animals deserve all the love they can get and since they are a vital part of this ecosystem and hence, big cats need to be protected.
While they are often known as nature’s predators, there is also a certain sense of royalty to these creatures which often creates so much hype in travellers and adventurous tourists to go on safaris and spot these creatures. For the sake of the environment and even tourism to some extent, it would be quite necessary to look after nature’s most majestic creation, allowing them to thrive in their jungle environment instead of locking them away in cages
Earthy Hues organizes an astonishing variety of safaris to spot the Big cats in Africa to places such as Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Masai Mara, also known as the Mecca of wildlife located in the southwest of Kenya and Serengeti, the endless plains of the savannah.
We help ensure that you get to have the richest wildlife experience of your life. Africa being home to an abundance of Big Cats, we hope this article helps you prepare an adventurous itinerary for yourself where you get to experience the most memorable safari
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Explore MoreMasai Mara - The Mecca of wildlife nestled in the southwest of Kenya spreading to 1510 Km2. Those beautiful documentaries on BBC and Nat Geo it’s all here...
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