Southern India is one of the lesser known tiger territories when it comes to individuals, but it is still one of the richest and diverse areas in all of India.
Please share any info on tigers, terrain or other species that inhabit this beautiful place.


The Indian government declared the forests of Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary a Tiger Reserve on March 15, 2013.


This forest along the Nilgiri hill range is to serve as aprotected corridor to faculitate movements and genetic exchange between tigers from Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats and Anamalai, Cardamom hills further south.

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Western Ghats

Western Ghats (also known as Sahyadri meaning The Benevolent Mountains) is a mountain range that runs parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula, located entirely in India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the eight "hottest hot-spots" of biological diversity in the world.[1][2] It is sometimes called the Great Escarpment of India.[3] The range runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain, called Konkan, along the Arabian Sea. A total of thirty nine properties including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests were designated as world heritage sites - twenty in Kerala, ten in Karnataka, five in Tamil Nadu and four in Maharashtra.[4][5]
The range starts near the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra, south of the Tapti river, and runs approximately 1,600 km (990 mi) through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu ending at Kanyakumari, at the southern tip of India. These hills cover 160,000 km2 (62,000 sq mi) and form the catchment area for complex riverine drainage systems that drain almost 40% of India. The Western Ghats block southwest monsoon winds from reaching the Deccan Plateau.[6] The average elevation is around 1,200 m (3,900 ft).[7]
The area is one of the world's ten "Hottest biodiversity hotspots" and has over 7,402 species of flowering plants, 1,814 species of non-flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species, 6,000 insects species and 290 freshwater fish species; it is likely that many undiscovered species live in the Western Ghats. At least 325 globally threatened species occur in the Western Ghats.[8][9][10]

The Western Ghats are the mountainous faulted and eroded edge of the Deccan Plateau. Geologic evidence indicates that they were formed during the break-up of the supercontinent of Gondwana some 150 million years ago. Geophysical evidence indicates that the west coast of India came into being somewhere around 100 to 80 mya after it broke away from Madagascar. After the break-up, the western coast of India would have appeared as an abrupt cliff some 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in elevation.[11] Basalt is the predominant rock found in the hills reaching a thickness of 3 km (2 mi). Other rock types found are charnockites, granite gneiss, khondalites, leptynites, metamorphic gneisses with detached occurrences of crystalline limestone, iron ore, dolerites and anorthosites. Residual laterite and bauxite ores are also found in the southern hills.

The Western Ghats extend from the Satpura Range in the north, stretching from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu. It traverses south past the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. Major gaps in the range are the Goa Gap, between the Maharashtra and Karnataka sections, and the Palghat Gap on the Tamil Nadu and Kerala border between the Nilgiri Hills and the Anaimalai Hills. The mountains intercept the rain-bearing westerly monsoon winds, and are consequently an area of high rainfall, particularly on their western side. The dense forests also contribute to the precipitation of the area by acting as a substrate for condensation of moist rising orographic winds from the sea, and releasing much of the moisture back into the air via transpiration, allowing it to later condense and fall again as rain.

The northern portion of the narrow coastal plain between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea is known as the Konkan, the central portion is called Kanara and the southern portion is called Malabar. The foothill region east of the Ghats in Maharashtra is known as Desh, while the eastern foothills of the central Karnataka state is known as Malenadu.[12] The range is known as Sahyadri in Maharashtra and Karnataka. The Western Ghats meets the Eastern Ghats at Nilgiris in northwestern Tamil Nadu. Nilgiris connects Biligiriranga Hills in southeastern Karnataka with the Shevaroys and Tirumala hills. South of the Palghat Gap are the Anamala Hills, located in western Tamil Nadu and Kerala with smaller ranges further south, including the Cardamom Hills, then Aryankavu pass, Aralvaimozhi pass near Kanyakumari. In the southern part of the range is Anamudi (2,695 metres (8,842 ft)), the highest peak in Western Ghats.


The Western Ghats are home to four tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregions – the North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, North Western Ghats montane rain forests, South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, and South Western Ghats montane rain forests. The northern portion of the range is generally drier than the southern portion, and at lower elevations makes up the North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests ecoregion, with mostly deciduous forests made up predominantly of teak. Above 1,000 meters elevation are the cooler and wetter North Western Ghats montane rain forests, whose evergreen forests are characterised by trees of family Lauraceae.

The evergreen forests in Wayanad mark the transition zone between the northern and southern ecologic regions of the Western Ghats. The southern ecologic regions are generally wetter and more species-rich. At lower elevations are the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, with Cullenia the characteristic tree genus, accompanied by teak, dipterocarps, and other trees. The moist forests transition to the drier South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests, which lie in its rain shadow to the east. Above 1,000 meters are the South Western Ghats montane rain forests, also cooler and wetter than the surrounding lowland forests, and dominated by evergreen trees, although some montane grasslands and stunted forests can be found at the highest elevations. The South Western Ghats montane rain forests are the most species-rich ecologic region in peninsular India; eighty percent of the flowering plant species of the entire Western Ghats range are found in this ecologic region.

In 2006, India applied to the UNESCO MAB for the Western Ghats to be listed as a protected World Heritage Site.[31] In 2012, the following places are declared as World Heritage Sites:[32][33]

• Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
• Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary
• Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
• Periyar Tiger Reserve
• Srivilliputtur Wildlife Sanctuary
• Eravikulam National Park
• Grass Hills National Park
• Karian Shola National Park
• Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary
• Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Silent Valley National Park
• New Amarambalam Reserved Forest
• Mukurthi National Park
• Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
• Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
• Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary
• Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
• Kudremukh National Park
• Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary
• Kaas Plateau
• Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary
• Chandoli National Park
• Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary
  

Mammals
There are at least 139 mammal species. Of the 16 endemic mammals, 13 are threatened and amongst the 32 threatened species include the critically endangered Malabar large-spotted civet, the endangered lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri tahr, Bengal tiger and Indian elephants, the vulnerable Indian leopard, Nilgiri langur and gaur.[35][36][37]
These hill ranges serve as important wildlife corridors and forms an important part of Project Elephant and Project Tiger reserves. The largest population of tigers outside the Sundarbans is in the Western Ghats where there are seven populations with an estimated population size of 336 to 487 individuals occupying 21,435 km2 (8,276 sq mi) forest in three major landscape units spread across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.[38] The Western Ghats eco-region has the largest Indian elephant population in the wild with an estimated 11,000 individuals across eight distinct populations.[39][40] The endemic Nilgiri tahr which was on the brink of extinction has recovered and has an estimated 3,122 individuals in the wild.[41] The Critically Endangered endemic Malabar large-spotted civet is estimated to number fewer than 250 mature individuals, with no sub-population greater than 50 individuals.[42] About 3500 lion-tailed macaques live scattered over several areas in the Western Ghats.[43]

Apparently I cant post here because my views are different from Majingilane/Ivan

EDIT: (by Sanjay)
This thread was part of Mapogos lion thread. Some part of it has been moved to discussion section.

http://www.bioexpedition.com/grizzly-bear/ 
 
This topic is about bears inside and out. What physical traits make these awesome omnivores different from the full-time predators? 
 
Grizzly Bear Anatomy

The hump on the back of them is where they get their power and strength from. This is actually a muscle and this allows them to drag large animals they have killed great distances with ease. The nonretractile claws can be about four inches in length. They are powerful and allow them to dig, to break open egg shells, and to kill their prey.
The coat of a Grizzly Bear provides it with the insulation it needs throughout the cold time of the year. Many people don’t know that these bears shed the thicker part of the coat in the summer time. This coat also protects them from various types of insects or bugs. Like all bears, this one has a huge head and very powerful jaws. 
                                      

*This image is copyright of its original author

Edgar Rice Burroughs published 24 Tarzan novels, the first in 1912. During my growing-up years, I read them all, most more than once. The first Tarzan movie appeared in 1918. Up until about 1970, Tarzan movies were very popular but started dying off after that. Jane Goodall grew up as a big fan of the books which she says greatly inspired the direction she took during her life. She was however not much of a fan of the movies. Steve Irwin grew up loving the old Tarzan movies which certainly played a role in his activities as a boy and later in his adult life. I never heard him mention the books.
There were no Tarzan movies, to my knowledge that I missed. I have yet to see one that portrays the character to my satisfaction comparable to the literary Tarzan. I have high hopes for the upcoming Tarzan movie. 
egendoftarzan.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj7ty6sViiU

List your Top 10 big cats of any species, doesn't need to be largest of any big cat, just who YOU think is the largest big cat that you have seen.
Post only one picture and make sure to explain your listing if possible.

I'll Start First
1. The Great Khali of Corbett


He was said to be the giant among giants in Corbett, Corbett is notorious for its large males and he was said to be the largest of his day.




2.Kingfisher Male From Kahna



Said to be the largest male in Kahna and we all know kahna has a plethora of huge males.

3. This Famous Boy from Kaziranga


You can replace this male with many other ones from Kazi, but he still looks to be massive as they come.

4. BMW Male of Pench


Looks to be a huge boy, possibly the largest in Pench.



5.Wagdoh of Tadoba


Nothing else needs to be said

6. Ceasar of the Notch Boys


The largest of all the Notch's

7.Scar Nose


Said to be the largest of the Majinilane's

8.Bhim or Tarun From Bandhavgarh


He is the infamous male that took Jobhi's eye in their most recent fight.




9.Adriano the 158kg Jaguar


Claimed to be 158kg in numerous photos, not positive if true but it appears that way.

10. Anderson Male Leopard




One of the Sabi Sands male leopards


Obviously there are tons of others, but I'm just using ones that appear to be freaks among the more photographed cats. I know we can name numerous Kaziranga Males, Terrai Arc Tigers, Kruger Lions, Okovango or Ngorogoro Lions but the fact remains that they just aren't as well know to me as some other individuals mentioned above.
But I'd love to see what other individuals strike other members of this forum as being "the biggest of the bigs"

The 5 Mantimahle males have attacked and badly injured one of the Toulon males, he has "possibly a spinal and shoulder injury, also a big gash on the ribs that looks deep". 

This is a video of one of the Mantimahle males. 'They on our property close to Tinga lodge and the airport at Skukuza .... They are huge!!'

Info by William Esworth and Joe van Zyl, video by Joe van Zyl.
Click on it to play.

Pics, vids and data on Dingoes

(Also maybe some theories on their ancestry)

This is post i would dedicate to Iberian Lynx, Lynx pardinus (Temminck, 1827). 

This is the world's most endangered cat species; now is considered endangered, but it was for a long time critically endangered; if the Iberian Lynx becomes extinct, it would be the first feline species since Smilodon (the sabre-toothed cat) around 10,000 years ago. Now i write some information from IUCN Red List.

I share soon other information from sources that treat it. If you are interested, share all information, photos and videos.

Taxonomic notes:
Was previously considered conspecific with Lynx lynx by some authorities, but is currently accepted as a distinct species on the basis of both genetics (Johnson et al.2006, Eizirik et al. submitted) and morphology (Werdelin 1981, Wozencraft 2005).

Range Description:
The Iberian Lynx is restricted to two separate regions of southwestern Spain, namely eastern Sierra Morena and the coastal plains west of the lower Guadalquivir. These isolated subpopulations have been named by Simón et al. (2012) as Andújar-Cardeña and Doñana-Aljarafe, respectively. Two new nuclei are being founded though reintroduction 30 km southwest (Guadalmellato) and northeast (Guarrizas), respectively, of the existing Sierra Morena subpopulation, and contained a few breeding females in 2012 (Simón 2013). Five additional sites in four Spanish regions (Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, Murcia) and Portugal are being prepared for reintroduction; the first release in Portugal happened in late 2014 (Iberlince LIFE project 2014).

Countries occurrence:
Native: Spain
Reintroduced: Portugal (Portugal (mainland))

Population:
The extensive survey by Guzmán et al. (2004), carried out primarily during 2001, yielded an estimate of 26-31 breeding territories which could correspond to a maximum of 62 mature individuals. According to estimates produced in the framework of successive European Union LIFE Nature conservation projects, population size tripled from 52 mature individuals in 2002 to 156 in 2012 (Simón et al. 2012, Simón 2013).

Habitat and Ecology:
The Iberian Lynx is a strict feeding specialist; the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) accounts for 80-99% of its diet (Ferreras et al. 2010). The Iberian Lynx is also a habitat specialist that breeds only in Mediterranean shrubland containing dense rabbit populations (Palomares et al. 2000, Palomares 2001). Threshold rabbit densities for lynx reproduction are 4.5 ind./ha during the annual population peak and 1.0 ind./ha during the annual trough (Palomares et al. 2001). Productive breeding territories also contain a high density of scrub-pasture ecotones which favour both ecological conditions for rabbits and a structure suitable for lynx hunting (Palomares 2001, Fernández et al. 2003). Other essential habitat elements include natural cavities that are used as natal dens (Fernández et al. 2002, 2006). On the other hand, forestry landscapes, farmland or other open land devoid of native shrubs are rarely used by resident lynx (Palomares et al.1991) but occasionally used by subadults during natal dispersal (Palomares et al. 2000).

Major Threat(s):
During the 20th century hunting and trapping were major sources of mortality associated with predator control and exploitation of wild rabbits (Rodríguez and Delibes 2004). Whereas the importance of this factor as a threat for Iberian Lynx has decreased (Ferreras et al. 2010), during the last years some lynx have been shot or caught with illegal traps (Iberlince LIFE Project 2014). Road casualties typically produce several losses each year (Simón et al. 2012, Iberlince LIFE Project 2014), as the length of paved or widened roads, as well as average traffic loads, have significantly increased in and around lynx areas (Ferreras et al. 2010).
Homogenization of mosaic cultural landscapes due to agricultural and silvicultural intensification during the 20th century conceivably contributed to lynx decline (Rodríguez and Delibes 2002, Ferreras et al. 2010). Continued trends of abandonment of marginal livestock farming and loss of small game, sometimes followed by afforestation, further reduce the amount of potentially suitable habitat for reintroduction. Without viable land uses, maintaining suitable mosaic landscapes for the Iberian Lynx would require enduring and expensive intensive management (Rodríguez 2013). Even in landscapes with suitable structure and subject to intensive conservation management, rabbit abundance exhibits large temporal variability closely tracked by the probability of lynx breeding (Palomares et al. 2001, Fernández et al. 2007, Iberlince LIFE project undated).
Effective population size does not exceed 25 for each isolated subpopulation (Casas-Marcé et al. 2013), announcing further losses of genetic diversity and accumulation of inbreeding through genetic drift. Indeed, persistent small population size over lynx generations, especially in the lowlands of the Doñana region, have produced signs of both demographic and genetic deterioration, including biased sex-ratios, decreased age of territory acquisition and litter size, and increased mortality due to disease and other natural causes (Palomares et al. 2012). Lowered demographic and genetic performance could positively interact in the form of an extinction vortex (Palomares et al. 2012).
As a manifestation of global change, human-assisted spread of virulent diseases affecting European Rabbits had catastrophic effects on Iberian Lynx populations in the past (Ferreras et al. 2010). Although rabbits could eventually develop resistance, viral diseases remain a recurrent threat as the arrival of new strains may cause again a lasting depression of food availability for the Iberian Lynx. Moreover, the prevalent rabbit lineage in southwestern Iberia, where rabbit restocking and other conservation measures take place, might be more vulnerable to rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) than the northeastern lineage (Real et al. 2009). For example, a new RHD strain has been blamed for an annual 62% decrease in productivity (average number of kittens per territorial female) in Andújar-Cardeña subpopulation (Iberlince LIFE project, undated). Likewise, diseases affecting felids also spread, sometimes with the help of uncontrolled pets that become feral or visit lynx areas from nearby towns. For example, in 2007 a feline leukaemia outbreak killed a substantial fraction of lynx in Doñana (López et al. 2009, Palomares et al. 2011a). Finally, detailed models combining ecological niche and metapopulation dynamics show that, without intensive intervention, climate change will rapidly decrease lynx populations and would probably lead to Iberian Lynx to extinction within 35 years (Fordham et al. 2013).

Source: Lynx pardinus from IUCN Red List 

Fortunately, it's a short time ago that the total population is growing (94 in 2002 to 404 in 2015), but the population is still low, while the number of deaths is high.

Photo and information credits: Martin Steenhaut


Photo and information credits: Francisco Expòsito Campoy


Photo and information credits: José Luis Ojeda


Photo and information credits: Juan Francisco Jimenez Lopez


Photo and information credits: Danny Vokins


Photo and information credits: Chris Townend


Photo and information credits: John Cancalosi

Pictures, videos, and data on the unappreciated predators of india

http://anonhq.com/scientists-say-t-rex-p...osaur-dna/  
  
Scientists Say T-Rex Was Pregnant, Fossils May Contain Dinosaur DNA

April 25th, 2016 | by Vandita