A longtime Livingston, New Jersey, professional, Jay Sailesh Sheth is a financial advisor who works with physicians, dentists and other professionals on tailored asset management strategies. Through his work with Fincadia and prior experience at Citibank, he focuses on clear communication, careful risk assessment and diversified portfolios spanning equity, fixed income and alternative markets. Serving many high earning families, he understands that clients interested in significant experiences, such as international travel and wildlife excursions, benefit from reliable, well researched information. Drawing on his detail oriented approach to financial documents and projections, he supports readers who want to better understand the animals they may encounter on safari and the importance of respecting wildlife for personal safety, helping them approach potential big cat encounters with greater awareness.
A Basic Overview of the World’s Big Cats
The term “big cat” refers to the five largest feline species: lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards, and snow leopards. While these species have many differences, they stand apart from the nearly 40 species of wild cats as the largest.
Size is a key factor in identifying and understanding big cats. That said, scientists look for two key traits when examining big cats. First, all big cats belong to the genus Panthera. Second, all big cats have a two-piece hyoid bone in their throats, resulting in the unique ability to roar.
Cheetahs and cougars share certain similarities with the other five big cats, including impressive strength and size, but, because they lack the hyoid bone adaptation, they cannot roar. Big cats, meanwhile, lack the ability to purr, like cheetahs, cougars, domestic cats, and other smaller wild cats. Cheetahs are the only species in the Acinonyx genus, while cougars make up the entire Puma genus, which also disqualifies both species from true big cat status. The impressive size of these wildcats cannot be overstated; cougars, for example, can grow up to eight feet in length and weigh approximately 200 pounds.
While cougars are the only species in the genus Puma, they go by many names in different parts of the world. In fact, the cougar holds the world record for the animal with the most names, including more than 40 names in English alone. Pumas, mountain lions, catamounts, and panthers are all cougars, or Puma concolor, meaning none of these animals figure into the big cat family.
On the subject of names, people may wonder whether jaguars and leopards occupy the same position in the big cat family. While the two animals closely resemble one another, scientists classify the jaguar and leopard as Panthera onca and Panthera pardus, respectively. The jaguar’s habitat distribution is limited to the Americas, while leopards primarily occupy sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Visually, while both animals feature dark rosette spots along their coats, jaguar rosettes contain black spots. Jaguars have larger, bulkier bodies compared to the more slender leopard.
When discussing big cats, one question comes up more than any other: which big cat is the largest? While the lion has earned the moniker “king of the jungle,” it is not the largest wildcat, nor does it live in the jungle. The Amur tiger ranks as the largest of all big cats, at approximately 10 feet in length and over 600 pounds. Male lions, by comparison, max out at about seven feet and 420 pounds.
Unfortunately, the Amur tiger, along with many big cat species, stands among the world’s most endangered species. Experts believe that only 400 Amur tigers remain in the wilds of Russia, China, and North Korea.
Many other wildcats face similar battles against extinction. Exotic pet traders prize tiger cubs, while Hunters seek out jaguars for their fangs. The explosion of online wildlife trafficking has exacerbated issues. Individuals interested in joining the fight to protect and begin rehabilitating big cat populations around the world can join philanthropic organizations such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
IFAW has launched several initiatives to defend big cats and other animals, including the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online, which works alongside the World Wildlife Fund and TRAFFIC. Individuals can learn more by visiting ifaw.org.
About Jay Sailesh Sheth
Jay Sailesh Sheth is a Livingston, New Jersey, based financial advisor whose practice emphasizes client focused service and personal interaction. He works with physicians, dentists and high net worth families, providing strategies that combine equity, fixed income and alternative investments, including Real Estate, Private Credit and Pre IPO opportunities. A graduate of Adelphi University with early experience at Citibank, he remains active in community organizations such as the Rajasthan Alliance of North America and the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin.
