Protecting Wild Cats

The goal of wild cat conservation is to preserve and protect big cats, small wild cats and their habitat. Conservation is necessary because wild cat populations are rapidly decreasing across the planet. Some species even face possible extinction.

Wild cats are beautiful and captivating animals. They have lived on earth for tens of millions of years. Not only are they part of our history, they have also become part of our culture.

There are between 38 and 40 different species of wild cats.  They inhabit Africa, North America, South America and Europe. You can find them in many different habitats, from dry deserts to cold mountains.

Predators and Apex Predators

All wild cats are predators that play an important role in maintaining a balanced ecosystems. A predator is any animal that preys on other animals. They hunt and kill these animals for food. An apex predator is an animal that is at the top of a food chain and not preyed upon by any other animal. They kill other animals to eat, but are not killed and eaten themselves. The word “apex” means at the top or highest part of something. Examples of apex predators include the American crocodile, wolves, polar bears, killer whales, great white shark, lions, tigers,  and many other wild cats.

Both predators and apex predators keep their prey population in check. They will typically prey on weaker, slower and sick animals, which helps the prey population maintain its overall health. When an apex predator is taken away, it creates an environmental imbalance that can lead to an unhealthy ecosystem.

The Importance of a Balanced Ecosystem

a live ecosystemAn ecosystem (ecological system) is a community of living things such as animals, birds, plants and organisms, along with non-living matter such as soil, sunlight and water, that interact with each other.

All the members of an ecosystem are linked to each other in some way.

Ecosystems can be harmed by climate, natural disasters, human activity and many other factors.

When an ecosystem is damaged, it can make it difficult for its living inhabitants to survive.

Wild Cat Conservation Threats

Habitat Loss

One of the main threats to wild cats is habitat destruction. A wild cat’s habitat is where it lives, takes shelter, hunts, drinks, reproduces and raises its young.

Habitat loss can occur naturally, but many times it is the result of increased land use by humans:, such as:

  • Residential and commercial development – the building of homes, industrial sites, retail centers, roads and parking lots
  • Acquisition and utilization of land for farming and ranching (plowing fields and livestock grazing)
  • The building of roads and railways
  • Logging and wood harvesting (cutting down trees)
  • Dam construction and the re-direction or elimination of water sources
  • Wars and other conflicts
  • Pollution (fertilizers, pesticides, poisons, untreated sewage, the waste from mines, etc.) from all of the above

Hunting

In addition to habitat loss, many wild cats are also being hunted to extinction. There are three main types of hunting: killing wild cats for their fur and body parts (illegal trade and poaching), retaliation killing and trophy hunting.

Illegal wildlife trade is the unlawful commercial sale of products that come from wild animals, such as their skin or bones. The animals are either trapped or killed in their own environment, or raised on a farm of some kind (read about canned lion hunting), and then slaughtered. Poaching refers the illegal act of trespassing on somebody else’s property to hunt without their permission. Wild cats are primarily killed for their fur. However, the body parts of some cats (like tiger), are also used in Asian medicine.

Illegal wildlife trade is the “second-biggest direct threat to species habitat destruction…Particular problems are associated with illegal wildlife trade, which is usually driven by a demand for rare, protected species which need to be smuggled and/or by a desire to avoid paying duties. In illegal wildlife trade, some species involved are highly endangered, conditions of transport for live animals are likely to be worse and wildlife is more likely to have been obtained in an environmentally damaging way. The existence of illegal trade is also worrying because it undermines countries’ efforts to protect their natural resources.” The World Wildlife Federation 

Wild cats will sometimes attack domestic livestock and other domesticated animals. In retaliation, livestock owners will hunt and kills the cats, also known as retaliatory killings. Hundreds of wild cats are killed each year to protect livestock.

Trophy hunting is the licensed (legal) shooting of animals for pleasure. “Trophy” refers to the body or any body part of the animal the hunter keeps as a souvenir. Lions have been hunted as trophies for hundreds of years, along with other big cats like the tiger, cougar and jaguar. Today lions are being raised on farms to be shot and killed by “hunters.”

“Each year, hundreds of thousands of wild animals around the world are killed for their heads, hides, pelts and other body parts. Animal parts are hung on walls; their bodies are stuffed and posed for bragging rights. Cruel and unsportsmanlike practices like baiting, hounding and trapping—also captive hunts, in which hunters pursue animals who can’t escape—ensure that animals don’t stand a chance and hunters bag an easy prize.” The Human Society of the United States

Loss of prey

Protecting wild cats also means protecting its prey. Wild cats are carnivores and need an abundance of prey to survive. Damaged ecosystems, disease and invasive species can reduce prey populations, which can lead to starvation and death.

Pet Trade

The illegal (exotic) pet trade refers to the breeding or capturing of wild animals to sell as pets. Many of these “pets” are young animals that die during the capturing and transportation process.  Their mothers are also killed to make the capture easier. Most owners know very little about the health care and other needs of their wild pets, especially as the animal gets older. This can create a very dangerous situation, both for the animal and its owner.

“Every year, people succumb to the temptation to purchase “exotic” animals like hedgehogs, macaws, lizards, and monkeys—even tigers and bears—from stores, auctions, or the Internet to keep them as “pets.” But often, life in captivity rapidly leads to pain and death for these animals, who can easily suffer from malnutrition, an unnatural and uncomfortable environment, loneliness, and the overwhelming stress of confinement. The exotic animal trade is also deadly for animals we don’t see: For every animal who makes it to the store or the auction, countless others die along the way.” PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Wild cats need help and protection more than ever before.

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