Have You Had an Experience With a Big Cat?

"Today, the snow leopard remains ghost-like—only 3,000 to 7,500 animals are left, stretched across one of the planet's last great wildernesses, the vast hills of Asia, which cover about 3 million square kilometers." (Wildlife Conservation Society)

A Jaguar spotted at the Belize Zoo , July 2015

So you saw a big cat... 

Amazing, frightening, jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring are just a few common emotions and feelings that might have characterized your first experience with these majestic species. For me, I would use the phrase life-changing, because when I was a small child I was lucky enough to visit the Buffalo Zoo in New York where I was fascinated by seeing a snow leopard for the very first time. I attribute that day to my lifelong desire to enter the conservation field and to my passion for big cats today.

Ever since that day, I've sought out big cat species of all kinds every chance I get, whether it be at various zoos across the country, wildlife centers or even in the wild. As I embark on a new journey in which I'll be living abroad in Europe, I plan to extend my chances of experiencing big cats by taking every opportunity to visit, volunteer or research with these species in new places.

I want to know about your experiences with big cats! Follow along and post below to let the big-cat-lover community know what these experiences meant to you:

• Where did you see the big cat? (specifically what zoo, wildlife center,  or trip and in what country, etc.,). This information is important because I will be creating a "place" on the interactive Google Map based on your post to show the diversity and extent of these experiences. 
• What species of big cat did you see?
• Tiger - Panthera tigris
• Lion - Panthera leo
• Jaguar - Panthera onca
• Leopard - Panthera pardus
• Snow Leopard - Panthera uncia
• Mountain Lion - Puma concolor
• Cheetah - Acinonyx jubatus
• Clouded Leopard- Neofelis nebulosa
• If comfortable, share your emotions upon seeing the big cat and how it impacted you personally, academically and/or professionally.
• What was the enclosure like, did you see the cat exhibiting a particular behavior (pacing, eating, playing, swimming, etc.,).
• If you have seen big cats on multiple occasions or in multiple types of venues (zoo, wildlife center, wild, etc.,), compare and contrast your thoughts on each experience.

After you have posted about your experience, please take a moment to fill out my survey! This survey is only open to guests over the age of 18 and will ask 6 questions about your experience with the big cats. You can take the survey here or visit the home page to find the survey link on the right-hand side of the page below the interactive map.

Remember, the map is very important as this project seeks to engage a widespread audience with diverse viewpoints, opinions and experience to make this a truly global project!

Please feel free to add any pictures you may have taken to your blog post! We love big cats! In the mean time, here is a photo summary of the eight big cat species I hope you will all encounter around the globe.

 


 

 
































  

 

   Photograph by William Wagner, Your Shot

 

Questions for me? Please contact me at brookehm@miamioh.edu.