Big Cats

Tigers are classified as the largest feline species in the world yet they are also classified as and endangered species. The natural location for tigers is Nepal and India but due to their endangered species status 80% of them now live in captivity. There are a variety of programs available for tigers where breeding is encouraged. It is hoped that the numbers can be increased and more will be integrated into their natural habitat. Those who do live in the wild are found among the forests and grasslands.

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Lions belong to the group of big cats, being the second after tigers as far as the number of them is concerned. Males are well known for their wild mane of hair that grows as they become older. An adult lion can weigh as much as 550 pounds. Female lions do not have a mane and they are smaller, weighing on average 330 pounds. Wild lions live in Africa and India. They thrive in the hot climate. Those in the wild live 10-14 years while those found in zoos can live to be over 20 years old.

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Known for their different designs of spotted fur, the leopard is one of the four big cats. A leopard is very similar to a panther, and in some regions they features very similar coloring as well. The main distinguishing feature between them is that a leopard has a much shorter tail than a panther. Adult leopards weigh around 155 pounds but many of them are much smaller. Those that are small is size are commonly mistaken as being a cheetah.

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The jaguar is considered to be the fastest and the strongest large cat in the world. They are rarely found in the wild of the United States so most people only see them in a zoo setting. The roam free in areas of Mexico and Central America. They are often mistaken for the popular leopard because they do resemble them in color and size.

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There are four animals that are classified as big cats: lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards. There are many similarities and differences between them and it is common for them to be mistaken for another big cat in this category. These large felines are found in many parts of the world including the United States, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.

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