The terms big cat and great cat, while not a biological classification, are used informally to distinguish the larger felid species from smaller ones. A narrower definition of includes five members of the genus Panthera: the tiger,lion, jaguar, leopard, and snow leopard. Only members of this genus are able to roar. A more expansive definition additionally includes the cougar and cheetah. Another cat, the clouded leopard is considered an evolutionary link between big and small cats.
Despite enormous differences in size, various species of cat are quite similar in both structure and behaviour, with the exception of the cheetah, which even more significantly stands out from the other big and small cats. All cats are carnivores and efficient apex predators.[1] Their range includes the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
1. The largest population of tigers in the world is in the USA. There are more captive tigers in the USA alone than there are wild tigers in the entire world. – Source
2. A male tiger in India adopted a litter of orphaned cubs, taking on the role of ‘mother’. Wildlife officials said such behavior had never been observed before. – Source
3. Siberian tigers are reported to be the most patient and punishing predators – Source
4. You shouldn’t use Calvin Klein’s “Obsession” perfume when you are on a Safari. Cheetahs, Tigers, Jaguars and other wild cats are attracted by it. Scientists use it to count the population of these animals better. – Source
5. Tigers in China are bred in captivity. Those in captivity far outnumber the amount of wild tigers, as tigresses are made to produce cubs at 3 times their natural rate by having cubs weaned off to pigs or dogs. All this is done to make Tiger Bone wine – Source
6. One leopard in India killed 400 people and was hunted down by the same man who killed a tiger with 436 victims. They were active in the same region at the same time. – Source
7. The roar from the T-Rex in Jurassic Park is a baby elephant mixed with a tiger and an alligator, and its breath is a whale’s blow. – Source
8. As an unintended side effect of the Korean Demilitarized Zone, a human free nature preserve has been created that is now acting as a valuable habitat to many endangered species, such as the Korean Tiger and Red Crowned Crane. – Source
9. In 2005, an Ethiopian girl was kidnapped and beaten by 7 men until a pride of lions chased her attackers off. The lions then stayed and defended her until help arrived. – Source
10. A family in Texas in 1953 had a pet lion named Blondie. They never had any incidents with her and she died of old age, as a beloved member of the family. – Source
11. A “Panther” isn’t a real animal. It is actually a term used to describe black cougars, jaguars and leopards. – Source
12. Many lion sanctuaries are actually fronts for canned hunting operations. By letting volunteers touch the animals, they make them easier to eventually kill. – Source
13. Ostriches sometimes kill lions instead of trying to outrun them. – Source
14. As late as the early 1900’s jaguar’s natural habitat extended into Texas and almost to Louisiana. There has been various sightings since, including one sighting during 2011 in Arizona. – Source
15. Greek and Roman word for giraffe was ‘camelopardalis’, because they believed it was an unnatural hybrid of a camel and a leopard. – Source
From Wikipedia