The Big Cats: Lions, Tigers, Cheetahs [F-13-10]
| Presenter: | John McDonald |
|---|---|
| Location: | SUNY Potsdam: Maxcy 104 |
| Classes: | 3 Sessions 1.5 hours |
| Dates: | Thu 9:00 AM 10/10, 10/17, 10/24 |
| Status: | CLOSED |
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In this course we are studying lions, tigers, and cheetahs. We will discuss the history and the evolution of each species, along with their similarities and differences. Session 1: Lions - the most recognized and once the most numerous of all the big cats. Session 2: Cheetahs - the fastest of all land animals and now threatened with extinction. Session 3: Tigers - the largest of all the big cats and the most endangered. We will also look at human and cat interactions and conflicts as well as the geopolitical influences which will either save these animals for future generations or will result in their extinction in the wild.
John McDonald retired from IBM and Arrow Electronics. He has had a lifelong interest in the big cats. While in college he worked in primate research; after that he spent some time with Dave Hoover, the lion and tiger trainer for the Clyde Beatty and Cole Bros. Circus. He corresponded with George Adamson of “Born Free” fame and was offered the opportunity to conduct field research on Adamson’s lions in Kenya. John recently returned from Africa where he spends time each year working as a volunteer with wild cheetahs at the Cheetah Conservation Fund’s research facility in Namibia.