Big Cats

A pair of rare, reclusive snow leopards have been photographed wandering a remote, mountain region once ravaged by conflict between India and Pakistan. Infrared camera traps set up months ago by World Wildlife Fund-India filmed the adult snow leopards in Kargil district just a few miles (kilometers) from the heavily militarized Line of Control that runs through the disputed territory of Kashmir. WWF-India says it is the second photo sighting of endangered snow leopards in Kargil, after one was photographed hunting a herd of Asiatic Ibex in 2009.

Of all the beasts set free by the suicidal owner of an exotic animal farm in Ohio last year, few were as scary or as lethal as the big cats. Tigers, leopards and lions — more than two dozen — were loose before being hunted by sheriff's deputies. While the slaughter was chilling, it was truly panic-inducing that an unstable owner had accumulated such a collection of dangerous animals. Yet, by some estimates, there are thousands of tigers in captivity in American backyards — more than there are in the wild on the planet.

WASHINGTON -- The Senate yesterday moved to crack down on the proliferation of lions, tigers, and other big cats being kept as pets, an issue that has gained attention after recent high-profile maulings. Under the legislation, transporting big cats across state lines would be banned. Accredited circuses, zoos, and sanctuaries are exempt, as are animal trainers such as magician Roy Horn, nearly killed a month ago by one of his tigers. The measure is instead aimed at pet owners such as Antoine Yates, who earlier this month was attacked by the tiger he raised in his New York City...

A pair of rare, reclusive snow leopards have been photographed wandering a remote, mountain region once ravaged by conflict between India and Pakistan. Infrared camera traps set up months ago by World Wildlife Fund-India filmed the adult snow leopards in Kargil district just a few miles (kilometers) from the heavily militarized Line of Control that runs through the disputed territory of Kashmir. WWF-India says it is the second photo sighting of endangered snow leopards in Kargil, after one was photographed hunting a herd of Asiatic Ibex in 2009.

With 120 lions, tigers and other big cats on the grounds, the owner of a Colorado refuge didn't think he needed a security system. Nick Sculac says he changed his mind after two January break-ins at Serenity Springs Wildlife Center, 20 miles east of Colorado Springs. The Colorado Springs Gazette reports ( http://bit.ly/xZJT6H) someone scaled a 10-foot fence lined with barbed wire and cut a hole in a cage, letting three tigers out. Workers found the tigers roaming the compound the next morning.

Of all the beasts set free by the suicidal owner of an exotic animal farm in Ohio last year, few were as scary or as lethal as the big cats. Tigers, leopards and lions — more than two dozen — were loose before being hunted by sheriff's deputies. While the slaughter was chilling, it was truly panic-inducing that an unstable owner had accumulated such a collection of dangerous animals. Yet, by some estimates, there are thousands of tigers in captivity in American backyards — more than there are in the wild on the planet.

Tosh.0 10 p.m., Comedy Central If this show is a Web-centric version of “America’s Funniest Home Videos,’’ does that mean comedian Daniel Tosh is the next Tom Bergeron? But I digress. The show that highlights weird viral clips, many of them forced efforts to be racy or “Jackass’’-like, ends its first season tonight. A new season is scheduled to begin in October. Into the Pride 8 p.m., Animal Planet I know some big cats who could stand to learn a few little lessons.

HUA HIN, Thailand - A dozen Asian nations and Russia vowed yesterday to double the number of wild tigers by 2022, crack down on poaching that has devastated the big cats, and prohibit the building of roads and bridges that could harm their habitats. However, the historic declaration adopted by the 13 countries that have wild tigers includes no new money to finance the conservation efforts. The agreement includes only plans to approach international institutions such as the World Bank for money and to develop schemes to tap money from ecotourism, carbon financing, and...

ST. PETERSBURG — Wild tigers could become extinct in 12 years if countries where they still roam fail to take quick action to protect their habitats and step up the fight against poaching, global wildlife officials said at a summit convened to discuss the animals yesterday. The World Wildlife Fund and other groups said that only about 3,200 tigers remain in the wild, a dramatic plunge from an estimated 100,000 a century ago. James Leape, director general of the World Wildlife Fund, told the meeting in St. Petersburg that if the protective measures aren’t taken,...

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Maggie the German wirehaired pointer has arrived with an unusual task - sniffing out tiger droppings in one of Cambodia's largest nature reserves. The unorthodox move to employ a dog trained in Russia to search for signs of the big cats is part of a campaign to boost a tiger population in Asia that has plummeted to as few as 5,000 from 100,000 a century ago. Starting next week, the salt-and-pepper 6-year-old will begin scouring the undergrowth and sniffing for tiger scent on trees at the 1,158-square-mile Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area in...

With 120 lions, tigers and other big cats on the grounds, the owner of a Colorado refuge didn't think he needed a security system. Nick Sculac says he changed his mind after two January break-ins at Serenity Springs Wildlife Center, 20 miles east of Colorado Springs. The Colorado Springs Gazette reports ( http://bit.ly/xZJT6H) someone scaled a 10-foot fence lined with barbed wire and cut a hole in a cage, letting three tigers out. Workers found the tigers roaming the compound the next morning.

ST. PETERSBURG — Wild tigers could become extinct in 12 years if countries where they still roam fail to take quick action to protect their habitats and step up the fight against poaching, global wildlife officials said at a summit convened to discuss the animals yesterday. The World Wildlife Fund and other groups said that only about 3,200 tigers remain in the wild, a dramatic plunge from an estimated 100,000 a century ago. James Leape, director general of the World Wildlife Fund, told the meeting in St. Petersburg that if the protective measures aren’t taken, tigers...

American Idol 8 p.m., Channel 25 So Ellen. Yeah, she’s been fine so far, but I still don’t have a sense of why she’s on the judges panel. She doesn’t bring any musical insight to the table. Still, she does deploy a few jokes, some of which are pleasingly snarky. No Paula, she. Pictured: Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres. Lost 9 p.m., Channel 5 I’m enjoying this season, but only when I’m able to let go of that gnawing - and very human - hunger for logic and sense.

HUA HIN, Thailand - A dozen Asian nations and Russia vowed yesterday to double the number of wild tigers by 2022, crack down on poaching that has devastated the big cats, and prohibit the building of roads and bridges that could harm their habitats. However, the historic declaration adopted by the 13 countries that have wild tigers includes no new money to finance the conservation efforts. The agreement includes only plans to approach international institutions such as the World Bank for money and to develop schemes to tap money from ecotourism, carbon financing, and...

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Maggie the German wirehaired pointer has arrived with an unusual task - sniffing out tiger droppings in one of Cambodia's largest nature reserves. The unorthodox move to employ a dog trained in Russia to search for signs of the big cats is part of a campaign to boost a tiger population in Asia that has plummeted to as few as 5,000 from 100,000 a century ago. Starting next week, the salt-and-pepper 6-year-old will begin scouring the undergrowth and sniffing for tiger scent on trees at the 1,158-square-mile Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area in...

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. - Santa Claus posed with a very large kitty on his lap - and now, unfortunately, he might need rabies shots. Jonathan Bebbington was playing the jolly old elf during a Santa Paws photo event at a PetsMart store when he was bitten Sunday on the wrist and hand. The event was to raise money for Penny Angel's Beagle Rescue group. The cat and owner disappeared after the incident. At least one person thought it was a bobcat, said Joan Kerr, president of Penny Angel's.

FLORIDA PANTHER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE -- Schoolteacher Theresa Ryan sensed an eerie presence behind her as she sat at a picnic table at her boyfriend's rural home. Then she heard the breathing. "I turned around and there was a panther 15 feet away. We were face-to-face," she said. "It had no place to go except at me or by me. " She flailed her arms and screamed to scare the cat. "It just sauntered away -- no hurry. It was never afraid," she said. "It was very freaky. " For decades, such encounters with Florida panthers were extraordinarily rare, like the endangered animals themselves.

GRAMBLING, La. -- Ernie "Big Cat" Ladd, who played on championship football teams before finding more lucrative success in pro wrestling, died Saturday after a bout with cancer. He was 68. Mr. Ladd played in the American Football League and was a member of the World Wrestling Federation Hall of Fame. Mr. Ladd, who was almost 6-foot-10 and weighed about 300 pounds, was the 15th player taken in the 1961 AFL draft and played for the San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers, and Kansas City Chiefs.