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Survey - The Future of Big Cats
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Based on the documentary you've all probably seen, I present to you 4 future scenarios in which you decide which big cats will survive/thrive, and which will go extinct in each one and why.
The 4 future scenarios are: - A Water World - An Ice World - A Desert World - A Jungle World  *This image is copyright of its original author There is not too much more to it but yeah, I'd like to hear your guys' opinions on this 
@SVTIGRIS:
About #1: I don't know what is your basic premise ? You want to know which big cats would survive... After the human extinction ? IMO, the only one big cat which has a chance to still live in wild in 50 years time is the leopard. As concerns the others the only chance they still live in wild involves the humanity extinction. Sorry if I seem to be too pessimistic. Of course, this will remain one or two private parks with a few tigers and lions living as they would live in wild (billionair's tantrum), but it will be a delusion. Nothing substantial. That being said, If you think about a disaster scenario like "12 monkeys" by Terry Gilliam, all the big cats in captivity released or escaped in wild, in this case all the species of them (panthera felids) can survive in an ice world and a jungle world. And in a water world too (on the remaining islands...). Perhaps in a desert world I would imagine that it would be hard as concerns the tiger and the jaguars... 
Well, this question is hard. If we see the current scenario, I consider Leopard is the best candidate for survival almost in all condition. So far they have shown versatile survival skills which are better than others.
But if we see the history of mass extinction, animals with low profile manage to survive and had become dominant with a lot of changes in them related to behaviour, size, shape, and other physical parameters. Animals which hide most of the times, catch and eat anything, even small prey like mice and rodent will have better chance. So in my opinion small cats like clouded leopard, Lynx, Bobcat, Caracal, Serval, Leopard cat, Fishing cat, Ocelot, etc will be able to survive and do much better than current big cats. 
I agree that the leopard, being what we call "panther-size," has a much better chance than the big lions and tigers. I feel certain that if Panthera atrox or Smilodon had survived the last Ice Age, they would have likely been exterminated during the late nineteenth century or early twentieth century by the weapons of man. However, the cougar has managed to survive regardless of the fact that he is hated by many people; especially farmers and ranchers.
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about #6: Quite agree with you as concerns the cougar. When I spoke about the big cat, I had clearly in mind the panthera felids. Leopard and cougar, being the same size, are much more able to survive in wild in a near future than lions, tigers and also jaguars.
In my opinion the tiger and the leopard come off best in most of these. Given there are both that live in hot and cold climates, and in the tigers case are fond to water, it is their forte (comparatively to the other cats)
The cat is in his very desing an adaptable creature, so all of them have a certain degree of posibility of survival.
However, I think the clear advantage in this case goes to the leopard. If you take the example of leopards, they live everywhere, not just in places where they are the dominant species, like Sri Lanka, but in most places where they are a second ranking predator, and this is what makes them special. I think sometimes this is a bit overlooked, but leopards thrive, not just survive, they literally thrive among giants like lions or tigers. How many others do that? We know that tigers and lions are the respective kings of the places where they live, but dure to their size, there isn't really much competition in this sense. And yet, you have this diminutive cat, in comparison, that is able to make a living among predators much stronger and much more dangerous than him, and more than just this, to dominate a territory of his own. Also, and I know you said this is not about people, but I think the way leopards conduct themselves when they do encounter people, in fact living right there before their noses, show how adaptable they are. One thing to note, though. Leopards don't really like water. So in that sense I think you and Pckts have a point in the case of the tigers having a natural advantage, although I would add there as well the jaguars. They are beautifully well adapted to the lakes and rivers of America, to a level that is amazing to see. 
Agreed with Sanjay as well. The much smaller cats with lower caloric requirements and slightly higher adaptability would prevail.
(08-13-2016, 12:44 AM)SVTIGRIS Wrote: In my opinion the tiger and the leopard come off best in most of these. Given there are both that live in hot and cold climates, and in the tigers case are fond to water, it is their forte (comparatively to the other cats) Lions wouldn't have any difficulties to live in cold climates too. After all, before the humanity invasion they were the most widespread big cats around the Earth (Europa, Africa, Asia, not including north America with panthera Atrox)... And we see as concerns the captive lions, they don' t have have any problem to live in cold countries. To tell the truth all big cats, provided they have enough big preys, can live almost everywhere (except in the polar regions). On the other hand, of course the small cats have far more capacities to survive against the human expansion in Earth. We have just only to see how the domestic cat was able to survive and thrive in a hard environment like the australian desert. I saw a documentary about this fact several years ago, it was astouning ! (08-13-2016, 06:37 PM)Spalea Wrote:(08-13-2016, 12:44 AM)SVTIGRIS Wrote: In my opinion the tiger and the leopard come off best in most of these. Given there are both that live in hot and cold climates, and in the tigers case are fond to water, it is their forte (comparatively to the other cats) Possibly, but you have to take into account the other more equipped cats to that climate. Yes the lion could probably manage but could it do as well as tigers specialised to that climate whilst sharing it with them? Most definitely no, limiting them a lot in turn hindering their survial and thriving efforts. As for the smaller cats I fully agree, more prey options=better chance of survival, that goes without question. And domestic cats are very underrated predators and survivors in their own right!
@SVTIGRIS,
You are right that the Amur subspecies of both Tiger and Leopard already have some pre-disposed genetic adaptation to freezing climates, but all the other big cats can just as well evolve ti these climates, granted aome casualties. Just like in most other species that meet a set of conditions or climate for the first time: some must die, and others must live for adaptation. |
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