News + Videos: Land Mammals

[The Peregrine Chick]

Some Hudson Bay polar bears nearing starvation due to climate change: experts
by the Canadian Press / 10 January 2011


WINNIPEG - Experts say the slow formation of winter ice on Hudson Bay this year has pushed some polar bears to the brink of starvation.

The bears weren't able to get onto the ice to hunt until late November this year and some had to resort to eating from old garbage dumps around Churchill, Man.

David Barber, one of the world's top Arctic researchers, says polar bears have lost six weeks of hunting time on the ice due to climate change.

He says the bay often doesn't freeze up until early December and thaws early in the spring.

Polar bears depend on winter hunting to build up enough fat to carry them through the lean summer months on land.

Peter Ewins with the World Wildlife Fund says he saw starving polar bears during a visit in mid-November, signalling the population is in deep trouble.


Full article & photo: Some Hudson Bay polar bears nearing starvation due to climate change: xxperts

[Kinderchick]

Amur Tigers / Assiniboine Park Zoo

They are truely magnificent cats. Let's hope that they can be brought back from the brink of extinction.

[Saoirse]

Amur Tigers / Assiniboine Park Zoo

The other thing that is hard to believe is that there are estimated to be only 500 left in the wild  

At least there is some possibility of encouragement -- a relatively large number of the tigers living in captivity (over 4,000, I think?) and some recent investigations into the idea of re-stocking the wild population. I know there hasn't been any success to date, but at least the attempts have begun. I know it's optimistic to think there might be some reversal of the declining numbers in our lifetimes, but I'd like to think we might live to see it.

[susha]

Amur Tigers / Assiniboine Park Zoo

A sad and tragic reflection of how humans have (so far) managed the planet.

[allikat]

Amur Tigers / Assiniboine Park Zoo

Yes, only 500 in the wild, and those numbers will drop, unfortunately!
We now have to rely on captive numbers to see how this species will fair.  
A monarch can now only be safe, so to speak, in a cage, in captivity.

[The Peregrine Chick]

Amur Tigers / Assiniboine Park Zoo

To me, tigers have always been the true monarchs of the big cats -- hard to believe that these adorable cubs will grow quickly to be magnificent and deadly beasts!

Agreed  
The other thing that is hard to believe is that there are estimated to be only 500 left in the wild  

[Saoirse]

Amur Tigers / Assiniboine Park Zoo

To me, tigers have always been the true monarchs of the big cats -- hard to believe that these adorable cubs will grow quickly to be magnificent and deadly beasts!

[Elaine L]

Amur Tigers / Assiniboine Park Zoo

They are indeed beautiful animals.  Mom will have her hands full with these two lively cubs.

[The Peregrine Chick]

Amur Tigers / Assiniboine Park Zoo

If you haven't checked out the Amur Tigers at the Zoo yet - Mom & kiddies - then check out this slideshow attached to this article ....

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Names-chosen-for-Zoos-Amur-tiger-cubs--131336139.html

[The Peregrine Chick]

Baby Moose(s) & a sprinkler - http://www.wimp.com/babymoose