A Study of Feline Conservation: the Science and the People Civic Habitat Summer Elemental Rebecca Haynes Princeton University, Class of 2015 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Environmental Studies

The Problem Direct hunting Habitat loss and fragmentation Overhunting of prey Previously more widespread being killed off Now after hunting ban… but if “problem animals” are allowed to be killed. in some countries, Bolivia, trophy hunting still allowed. no protection in Ecuador/Guyana eat livestock

Why protect cats? Keystone species Umbrella species Aesthetic value Ecotourism Keystone – critical role in environment Low gen. diversity = hard to breed, inbreeding may occur. Low survivorship, low sperm quality, more susceptible disease. some of these slides focus on jaguars – most endangered. GONE from the USA ecotourism – revenue what % ?

Objective 1. Camera traps: Mammal populations Feline habitat preferences Community composition Community composition – is it changing? ?? CONFLICT & reasons for retaliation

Objectives 2. Interviews: Assess attitudes towards conservation Understand social problems (retaliation killings)

Where was I? CORRIDOR!

The Osa Peninsula Home to half of all species in Costa Rica

The Osa Peninsula Panthera onca Leopardus pardalis Puma concolor . cougar, mountain lion, panther, puma. Puma concolor

Methods Camera trapping

What data did I get? 400 photos of animals Mostly smaller mammals (off-trail) White-nosed coati, Nasua narica Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis Nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus Central American agouti, Dasyprocta punctata Collared peccary, Pecari tajacu Lowland paca, Agouti paca Great Tinamou, Tinamou major Common opossum, Didelphis marsupialis Northern tamandua, Tamandua mexicana Tayra, Eira barbara Great Curassow, Crax rubra Striped hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus semistriatus Red brocket deer, Mazama americana Crab-eating raccoon, Procyon cancrivorus

CURASSOW

Interviews

Interviews Read a quote from this man

Interviews Stories Conflicts Conservation values Honesty? FRAGMENTATION Trends???????

What did I gain? Research experience (camera trapping) Experience with a social study Material for a paper Conservation as a career Confidence that I am going to go into conservation!

Thank You Ray E. Newton, III ’86 and Elizabeth A. Smith ’86 Professor Andy Dobson Professor David Wilcove Peter Molnar, Claire Standley, Natalka Melnycky Juan Carlos Cruz Diaz (and all other Osa staff)