It’s always exciting to go to the convention to hear the latest updates on the great cats of our planet from knowledgeable guest speakers.  Sadly, the news is never any better than the year before. Dr. Jim Sanderson, conservation advisor to FCF, spoke to us about his never-ending quest for the flat-headed cats in southern Thailand. 

All of Southeast Asia is a hot bed for the small cats. The fishing cat is one that is not being found. Another one that has never been photographed in the wild is the Chinese Mountain Cat.  (note: Jim captured the first ever photo of a hunting Chinese Mountain Cat less than two months after this review)

Another speaker at Convention,  Fernando Vidal, operates Fauna Andina, dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of native species and the breeding of endangered species.

Fernando is also the only person in the world known to have both a male and female guiña. (Leopardus guigna)  This has been a long process, as Fauna Andina held only male guiña. Recently the facility received an orphan female. Plans are underway for a breeding program in the future.  The rescue center has done a lot of work on the protection of pumas, capturing and translocating problem cats and also fighting illegal hunting of pumas.

In the last 100 years Chile has lost over 50% of their forest. Chile stretches over 2700 miles along the southwestern coast of South America with the Pacific Ocean on the western coastline and the Atacama Desert, the driest in the world on the east side of the Andes. At the same time its width never exceeds 150 miles, making the country more than 18 times longer than its widest point.  The habitat is fragmented, and natural resources such as copper, iron ore, precious metals, wood products and hydropower are a priority for the country. Native species continue to pay the price. 

What can be done to help nature?
1. Field researchers have to get the government and the local people involved.
2. Research and confirm with camera trapping.
3. Capture and radio collar and monitor.
4. Determine and mitigate any threats.
5. Continue to monitor high conservation value populations. 

What is the plan?
1. Get help
2. Be patient.  For instance, the Flat headed cat was caught on camera in 1996 with no more pictures until 2005. Hundreds of thousands of camera trap photos and just two of the Flat-headed cat
3. Follow through with conservation:
    *  Identify areas of high conservation value.
    *  Establish long-term presence, a base of operation to attract students and researchers.
    *  Work towards international cooperation involving everyone.

To sum it up, conservation and education will have to be the priority of the human race if we want any future with the amazing animals of this great planet. Captive breeding of all species needs to stay in the forefront of Feline conservation Federation efforts. It will take all of us working together. We can make a difference.

Tom Harvey