Happy Big Cat Week! This year, instead of telling your students why big cats are important, why not let them tell you? Several years ago, Dereck and Beverly Joubert, renowned wildlife filmmakers and National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence, started a program called “Letters to Lions” asking children to write letters explaining what lions mean to them. The letters were delivered to African leaders in charge of policy decisions about … Continue reading Weekly Warm-Up: Five Reasons to Save Big Cats—According to Kids
Here are five of several species of big cat’s that are facing habitat destruction, poaching, and other threats to their already dwindling populations. National Geographic is currently sponsoring explorers, researchers, and conservationists who spend time in the field in Africa, Asia, and South America working to further the protection of big cats. Learn more about Dereck and Beverly Joubert, leaders of the Big Cat Initiative.
Siberian Tiger The world’s largest cat, the Siberian Tiger lives in Eastern Russia, China, and North Korea. It is estimated that there are only between 400 and 500 Siberian Tigers living in the wild today. In the last century, hunting and forest destruction have significantly reduced tiger populations. Did you know that no two tigers have exactly the same stripes? Also, a tiger can eat up to 60 pounds in one night, if it’s hungry enough!
Snow Leopard The elusive Snow Leopard lives in the mountains of Central Asia. Its wide, fur-covered feet act as natural snow-shoes, allowing it to survive the wintry conditions of the Central Asian mountains. Snow Leopards can kill animals three times their weight! One contributing factor to the big cat’s population decline is the killing of Snow Leopards by herders, in efforts to protect their cattle.
