The Florida Panther (a subspecies of cougar) inhabits the Everglades in the southwestern part of the state, where less than 250 individuals still remain in the wild. In recent years, some have attempted to expand their range northward to other parts of Florida, as well as reports of them in Georgia and Alabama. A separate population may still occur in parts of Louisiana. White-tailed Deer are their primary source of food, as well as raccoons, possums, aquatic birds, and (occasionally) young alligators. Aside from humans, panthers also contend with adult alligators (and introduced Burmese Pythons), black bear, and venomous snakes (such as rattlesnake, water moccasin, and coral snake) in competition as apex predators. Geographical isolation has led to inbreeding, in turn maintaining physical traits such as a "cowlick" (hair growing against the grain) on their rumps, and kinked (crooked) tail. Some cougars from Texas were introduced to the Everglades to enrich the gene pool of these large felines, making them less vulnerable to certain hereditary diseases.

A tender moment for the "King (and one of his Queens) of Beasts" in the African bush country.

Inspired by a visit to the Bronx Zoo last month (on 9/7).

I named my cat for this lion, who was nearly 20 years old (75 in human years) in 1972.He was a retired circus (in Tijuana) lion, who spent the last year of his life @ Lion Country Safari, in Laguna Hills, California. The 6 lionesses there preferred him to the younger males. They'd help him walk, and pre-chewed his meat for him. That leonine Lothario (Time Magazine dubbed him a "Sex Simba"!) in a matter of months got it on with all those lionesses, and sired over thirty cubs!! No wonder his tongue was always hanging out!

Displayed at 2022 Flushing Town Hall Member Exhibit "Welcome Back." The pandemic has had the incidental effect of reducing the impact of human activity on wildlife, which in turn has led to a partial rebound in populations, habitat, territory and behavior that is more natural to them, tying in with the exhibit's theme.

"Cleo", a mountain lion (Puma concolor) at the Queens Zoo (which I hope to return to visiting this summer) in Flushing Meadow Park. . Although I have portrayed ("purr"-trayed?) Cleo in repose, one can easily tell that she's ready for any action that comes to her attention!!

In honor of Year of the Tiger...

The Caspian Tiger formerly inhabited the northern parts of the Middle East and Central Asia, into the former Soviet republics of Ukraine and Georgia Its closest living relative is the Amur (Siberian) Tiger (P.t. longipilis) of northeastern Asia ( Russian Far East, Manchuria, northernmost Korea) while the Caspian wasn't as large, it was stocky in build and had long hair.

This white lion cub was seen in Kruger National Park in the Transvaal region of South Africa.

Room partition in Fred Adell's home

Room partition in Fred Adell's home

FIRST Place at County Fair @ @ the Queens County Farm Museum in Floral Park