Felis concolor: from endangered to extinct

The panther
John James Audubon: Felis Concolor -- Linn: The Cougar. -- Panther

“It is clear why the panther, or ‘painter’ as he was sometimes called, attracted so much unfavorable attention. The Moravians, in recording the wildlife around them in the Piedmont in 1764, described the panther as being ‘the color of a Deer, and is of about the same size, not counting feet. It has large claws, with which it climbs trees, and head like a cat. It is a cruel beast, eating only fresh meat, will not eat carrion, nor what has been dead only a short time. But they are not numerous, and so soon as one is seen it is killed.’ This was, indeed, a strange animal in the eyes of Europeans. From his home at Brunswick in the early spring of 1767, Governor William Tryon wrote the Earl of Shelburne:”

‘As the Panther of this continent I am told has never been imported into Europe, and as it is the King of the American forests, I presume to send a male panther under your Lordships patronage to be presented for his Majesty’s acceptance. He is six months old; I have had him four months, by constantly handling he is become perfectly tame and familiar: When full grown his coat will much resemble that of the lioness. Panthers have been killed (for it is very uncommon to catch them alive) ten feet in length from the nose to the end of the tail. I am very solicitous for his safe arrival, as I am ambitious that he may be permitted to add to his Majesty’s collection of wild beasts.’

“Tryon’s gift from the forests of North Carolina was accepted and became a part of King George’s menagerie at Kew.”

-From William S. Powell’s “Creatures of Carolina from Roanoke Island to Purgatory Mountain,” North Carolina Historical Review, April 1973. Although North Carolina wildlife officials have long considered the panther, a.k.a. the Eastern Cougar or Felis Concolor, extinct in our state, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) did not declare the animal extinct from the eastern United States until yesterday. FWS officials say those who report sightings are likely seeing bears, dogs, the Florida panther, or, perhaps, the Western cougar, which is headed this way.

Wikipedia wrestles with the case of Eve Carson

If Bismarck (or whoever) were alive today, he might liken sausage not to laws but to Wikipedia entries.

“Murder of Eve Carson” ranks 63rd on this list of Wikipedia’s most contentious Article for Deletion (AfD) discussion threads.

Why such a fuss? Sample comments:

— “Wikipedia is not a memorial. Prior to her tragic death, the only aspect that stands out about her is that she served as student body president.”

— “There is no reason to delete this article. Wikipedia is the people’s encyclopedia, and if the people are interested in reading biographical information about a person in the news, then they should be able to.”

— “I could easily argue that Natalee Holloway is no more notable than Eve Carson…. No one outside her circle ever heard of her until her disappearance. So why does she merit her own article? Only one reason: Intense media coverage.”

Library science in the 21st century?