Carnivores

Scientific name: Acinonyx jubatus Size: 1.2-1.5m Diet: Carnivore Origin: Africa and Asia IUCN status: Vulnerable Threats: Loss of habitat, persecution by people who believe it preys on their livestock Zoos I have seen them: Fota Wildlife Park, Belfast Zoo, Chester Zoo … Continued

Scientific name: Neofelis nebulosa Origin: Asia Size: 70-110cm Diet: Carnivore IUCN status: Vulnerable Threats: Deforestation, hunting for the illegal wildlife trade Zoos I have seen them: Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes Interesting fact: There is a second species found in Sumatra and … Continued

Scientific name: Lycaon pictus Origin: Africa Size: 85-140cm Diet: Carnivore IUCN status: Endangered Threats: Poaching, diseases contracted from domestic dogs Zoos I have seen them: Dublin Zoo, Belfast Zoo (gone), Edinburgh Zoo (gone), Chester Zoo, ZSL London Zoo, Natura Artis Magistra Interesting … Continued

Scientific name: Nyctereutes procyonoides Origin: Asia (introduced to Europe) Length: 50-71cm Diet: Omnivore IUCN status: Least Concern Threats: Persecution, diseases, collisions with vehicles Zoos I have seen them: Coolwood Wildlife Park Interesting fact: The raccoon dog is the only canid that hibernates … Continued

Scientific name: Panthera leo Origin: Africa and Asia Size: 1.6-2.5m Diet: Carnivore IUCN status: Vulnerable Threats: Hunting for sport and food, loss of habitat to agriculture which increases conflict with humans Zoos I have seen them: Asian lions in Dublin, Fota, … Continued

Scientific name: Ailuropoda melanoleuca Origin: Asia (China) Size: 1.6-1.9m Diet: Omnivore, but mostly herbivore (it eats mostly bamboo shoots) IUCN status: Vulnerable Threats: Conversion of bamboo forests for agriculture, climate change, historically hunting for its fur Zoos I have seen them: … Continued

Scientific name: Ailurus fulgens Origin: Asia Size: 50-64cm long (excluding tail) Diet: Omnivore, but mostly herbivore IUCN status: Endangered Threats: Deforestation, hunting for its fur Zoos I have seen them: Dublin Zoo, Belfast Zoo, Fota Wildlife Park, Highland Wildlife Park, Ménagerie … Continued

Scientific name: Panthera uncia Origin: Asia Size: 0.9-1.2m Diet: Carnivore IUCN status: Vulnerable Threats: Loss of prey (wild sheep and goats) as a result of poaching and depredation on livestock, hunting for the fur trade Zoos I have seen them: Dublin Zoo, Welsh … Continued

Scientific name: Panthera tigris Origin: Asia Size: 1.4-2.8m (depending on subspecies) Diet: Carnivore IUCN status: Endangered Threats: Poaching for fur, illegal trade of its parts for use in traditional medicine, loss of habitat to human developments Zoos I have seen them: … Continued

Scientific name: Canis lupus Length: 1-1.5m Origin: North America and Eurasia Diet: Carnivore IUCN status: Least Concern Threats: Persecution as a result of depredation on livestock, exaggerated public perception of the species, habitat fragmentation Zoos I have seen them: Dublin Zoo, … Continued