1. 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

2. 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

4. 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 % ?

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

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

7. Where was I?
CORRIDOR!

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

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

11. Methods
Camera trapping

13. 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

14. CURASSOW

18. Interviews

19. Interviews
Read a quote from this man

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

21. 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!

22. 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)