The Geopolitics of Israel: Biblical and Modern, from STRATFOR. Also, a SAXI feline (no, it's not who you think of...): The Persian Leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor). World-class maximum cards from my friend "Tangorn" (Israel)

Please read about Israel:
http://app.response.stratfor.com/e/es.aspx?s=1483&e=290046&elq=f0bd9bf94b1c4615915f09dde1dc2c13

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"The Persian leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica) is the largest leopard subspecies, and native to eastern Turkey, the Caucasus mountains, northern Iran, southern Turkmenistan and parts of western Afghanistan. It is endangered throughout its range in the Middle East with fewer than 871-1,290 mature individuals and a declining population trend.^[1]"

^"The Russian explorer Satunin first described the Caucasian leopard P.p. ciscaucasica in 1914 from a specimen in the Kuban region of North Caucasus.^[4] 

In the 1920s, the British zoologist Pocock collected specimens from different areas of Persia and described them as Persian leopard P.p. saxicolor in 1927, though recognizing the similarity to P.p. ciscaucasica.^[5] 

Today, these names are considered synonyms.^[6]"

"The Persian leopard is a flag-ship species. 

Its presence is a sign of the health of the entire ecosystem."

"The leopards are threatened by poaching, depletion of their prey base due to poaching, human disturbance such as presence of military and training of troops in border areas, habitat loss due to deforestation, fire, agricultural expansion, overgrazing, and infrastructure development.^[9]

In Iran, primary threats are habitat disturbances followed by illegal hunting and excess of livestock in the leopard habitats. 

The leopards' chances for survival outside protected areas appear very slim.^[22]"

^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panthera_pardus_saxicolor}

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Leopard

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Happy PFF (Postcard Friendship Friday)!

Please visit: http://thebestheartsarecrunchy.blogspot.com/ (wait until Beth posts the today's Linky tool for the meme, then make your entry, if you want to join).