I think that I made my opinions clear on the burgeoning use of online petitions by pressure groups the other day. However, when an online petition that directly mentions an animal of interest to the cryptozoological community comes along, it would be plain wrong of me to ignore it. Especially as some months ago we carried stories on this very issue.American Jaguars Need Your Help to Survive
Sponsored by: Center for Biological Diversity
In May, the last known U.S. jaguar -- Macho B -- was unnecessarily, tragically killed by government agencies. This heartbreaking loss to the species, and to us, demands swift action to preserve habitat for the majestic cats.
If jaguars are to rebound, as wolves and grizzlies have, they need a federal recovery plan, reintroduction from Mexico to the United States, and protection of their essential living space.
The Center for Biological Diversity, a nonprofit conservation group, recently won a court case requiring the Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a recovery plan and designate critical habitat for jaguars. But instead of complying with the law, the agency is delaying by appealing the ruling.
Jaguars don’t have time to wait. Sign the petition urging the Service to comply with the Endangered Species Act requirements to save and recover the American jaguar.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/976724429
Jaguars once lived as far east as Louisiana and as far north as as the Grand Canyon. During the Pleistocene, they lived in Missouri and Tennessee. According to some sources, they once lived as far east as North Carolina during colonial times.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/larson/felis_onca.html
I signed the petition.
This the only real native big cat in the entire New World.
A project worth looking at:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.northernjaguarproject.org/who-we-are/faq