World’s smallest cat: black-footed cat Felis nigripes in South Africa.

Many of the world’s 36 species of wild cat have never been studied.  CAT is helping to build the knowledge base necessary for effective conservation of these species.  CAT has funded the first scientific studies of some of the world’s rarest cats.

Researchers at the Texas A&M University’s Feline Conservation Study are carrying out the first study of rare tropical Asian rainforest cats.  At left, anaesthetized clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa female fitted with radio collar.  Above, PhD candidate Lon Grassman and Dr. Mike Tewes examine an anaesthetized Asiatic golden cat Profelis temminckii.

“Tiger” Thein Aung acquired his name after surviving a tiger attack in Myanmar’s Arakan mountains.  At right, a group of Vietnamese businessmen display a tiger skeleton for sale for traditional medicine to undercover investigators from the wildlife trade monitoring group TRAFFIC.

CAT projects are developing innovative approaches to reducing conflicts between big cats and people.  When large predators live alongside human settlements, which is the case through most of big cat range, conflict over resources is inevitable.  Big cats are a danger to people and threaten their livelihood when they attack livestock.  People often subsist on the same wild prey as the cats, threatening their survival.  The black market value of cat skins and other parts provides additional incentive to poach.

The Cat Specialist Group’s Cat Action Plan lists over 100 projects recommended to conserve the full spectrum of felid diversity.  Several species, such as the flat headed cat (left, photographed in Borneo by Shigeki Yasuma), remain virtually unknown.  All across their range, the wild cats are losing ground.  Please contact CAT if you can help support projects critical to cat survival.

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