Cambodia's Last Leopards on Brink of Extinction

​www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180301115447.htm

Another day, another big cat facing extinction. Sadly, this is not surprising considering the rate at which large cats are declining in the wild. In fact, the Eastern Puma was recently declared extinct which now makes this story about the leopard incredibly alarming. Large cats are being wiped off of the earth at an alarmingly high rate.

As reported, Leopards in this area have dropped 72% in the past 5 years with a reported 1 leopard for every 100 square miles. This means that these beautiful creatures are on track to become extinct if something dramatic is not done immediately.

The cause of the leopard's extinction will be wholly attributed to humans. Cambodia's desire for bushmeat which comes from animals like wild boar and deer, is the root cause of the decline in the Leopard population. Snares and traps meant for these animals are unintentionally catching leopards. Factor that in with illegal poaching and it's no surprise that the leopard population is suffering.

I think the scariest part of hearing this news is knowing that this won't be the last story we hear in the near future. The fact is, large cats are declining all across the globe and it's entirely humans fault. If illegal poaching continues, we will likely see the end of many large cat species. Lions and tigers, jaguars, leopards, and pumas, all face an uncertain future unless illegal poaching is dealt with in a more aggressive manner. I know that groups like WWF are doing their best to control poaching but the fact is, it's not enough. 

There needs to be a global effort to protect the world's remaining large cat population. Illegal poaching is the largest cause of large cat decline and knowing this, the governments of these countries need to step up their conservation efforts. This is proof that what's being done is not enough and if efforts to save these beautiful animals are not ramped up, we will inevitably see the end of all large cat species in the wild.

HAPPY VEG