Wildlife

Wild Cat Conservation Coexistence

Small wild cats including ocelots, servals, and pumas face habitat loss and persecution that compromise both conservation and welfare.

Key Facts

Wild cats outside of lions, tigers, and leopards receive far less conservation attention
Many small cat species are killed in persecution for poultry predation
Retaliatory killing removes individuals before they can move beyond prey-rich areas
Camera trap programs help document wild cat presence and movements
Livestock protection measures reduce killing without harming wild cat populations

Welfare Considerations

Wild cats facing habitat loss and persecution suffer individual welfare harms alongside population decline. Animals injured in snares or from pest control poisons may suffer for days before death. Coexistence programs providing livestock protection, community education, and compensation for losses reduce killing while improving wild cat welfare and survival.

What You Can Do

Support wild cat coexistence programs in range countries
Avoid poultry protection methods that trap or poison wild cats
Support camera trapping research on under-studied small cat species
Donate to wild cat conservation organizations
Engage with small wild cat welfare as an extension of the big cat conservation movement