There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
In Africa lion teeth and claws are very popular souveneers especially for foreign tourists, but also among locals. You find them in most curio shops.
All trade in lion products should be stopped. Export to the East will only stimulate demand.
After the rhinos the other big 5 will follow the path to extinction.
02-02-2017, 01:15 AM( This post was last modified: 02-02-2017, 01:16 AM by Pckts )
(01-31-2017, 03:38 PM)Sideliner Wrote: In Africa lion teeth and claws are very popular souveneers especially for foreign tourists, but also among locals. You find them in most curio shops.
All trade in lion products should be stopped. Export to the East will only stimulate demand.
After the rhinos the other big 5 will follow the path to extinction.
I was actually surprised in the lack of big cat souvenirs when I was in Tanzania, it wasn't like Thailand where you saw Tiger canines and claws on every corner.
The only time anyone tried to sell me a "lion canine" was in Zanzibar and it wasn't close to a lion canine. It looked like a leopard canine at best, it was small and felt suspicious.
I'm sure there were some selling of animal parts but in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, I saw none of the sort.
But that's Tanzania, Not S. Africa so I'm sure its very different.
02-03-2017, 11:06 PM( This post was last modified: 05-15-2018, 01:46 PM by peter )
When people talk lion or tiger, tooth and claw often feature. Canines and claws are important, but not as much as many think. Not a few wild big cats lose one or two canines on the way. In spite of that, they still manage. On their own. Make that prosper. Wild Amur tigers who lost canines even outperformed those who still had all canines. By hunting smaller animals? No. The opposite was true ('Diseases and pasasites of wildlife in Siberia and the Russian Far East', Chapter 11, Goodrich et al, 2012).
How about claws then? Claws are needed to get a grip and control the animal hunted. But they first need to contact the animal. This means that speed is important. Before there is speed, there is calculation. It takes brains to set a trap and do it right. You have to act at the right moment. Timing.
And then there is strength. Strength is needed to quickly overcome struggling prey animals. Desperate animals can be dangerous. Even smallish animals can severely wound a bigger lion or tiger. The last thing a professional hunter needs is an injury.
What I remember most about the captive big cats I measured and carried is strength. You seldom see big cats at work, but every now and then someone gets lucky. This is a real nice photograph. Good find, Fredymrt.
Muscle definition and strength are two things, but you definitely need muscles to get to definition:
Lion pictures and videos
