Wildlife

Big Cats

Challenges

In addition to habitat degradation and loss of prey, many of these iconic predators are hunted directly for their fur, bones, or other body parts. They are also threatened by conflicts with people—their need for space leads them to range outside protected areas and to become a real or perceived threat to local people and their livestock.

Our Goal

Ensure stable populations and stable ranges. For tigers and lions, in particular, since they have been subject to such losses, the long-term objective is to support their recovery to sustainable levels.

How will we get there?

• Prevent illegal killing.
• Ensure any hunting of big cats' prey species is legal and sustainable.
• Reduce conflict with humans.
• Ensure connectivity between populations.

Ensure Any Hunting of Big Cats' Prey Species is Legal and Sustainable

Critical to saving big cats is to conserve their prey. In areas where all hunting is illegal, such as most protected areas, SMART-based patrols by well-trained rangers are effective in maintaining those prey populations. In areas where prey species can be hunted legally, we work with local communities to ensure that it is sustainable.

Reduce Conflict With Humans

For tigers, conflict reduction can involve the voluntary relocation of people living within key tiger reserves. For lions and jaguars, conflict is primarily with livestock. WCS works with communities to change their husbandry practices to reduce the conflict and end retaliatory killings.

Ensure Connectivity Between Populations

The links between different big cat populations are essential to ensure genetic diversity is maintained. We rely on studies of animal movements to advise governments on the establishment of corridors to connect them. Where those pathways bring big cats into danger, we work with local communities to garner support for the animals' conservation.