IUCN - Cat Specialist Group

The Cat Specialist Group is a body of over 160 scientific and pratical experts on wild cats set up under the IUCN - the group is run on a voluntary basis with each of its member contributing hie/her knowledge and expertise to further understanding of the wild cat species through reserch and conservation. The CSG has drawn up a Cat Action Plan containing over 100 projects in the field of wild cat conservation - areas included in the plan are Habitat Loss, Management of Big Cats near people, Research, Trade, Cats in captivity, Reintroduction and Species specific projects.

The CSG have formulated a global ranking of cat species vulnerability based on statistical analysis of habitat, geographic range, body size relating to population density and hunting pressure. Species are ranked from 1 through to 5a,5b and 5c, with the ranking of 1 being the most threatened.

 CITES

To help in the control of animal and plant trading, an international treaty, CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna) was established in 1975. CITES lists all species under threat in its Appendix 1, 2 and 3. Appendix 1 lists those species threatened with extinction and forbids trade, whilst Appendix 2 lists species that will become extinct if trade is not controlled. Most species of wild cat are CITES listed, with many, including he tiger, leopard, cheetah, snow leopard, jaguar, spanish lynx, ocelot, tiger cat and jaguarundi all appearing in Appendix 1. The IUCN also lists at least twenty of the worlds wild cat species in its Red List of Threatened Animals and again features the tiger, spanish lynx and snow leopard as those facing the most danger.

 Traffic

The conservation of the worlds wild cats is a continual struggle against illegal hunting and trade - TRAFFIC (Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce), has been established by the WWF and the IUCN to monitor trade in animals and plants throughout the world. TRAFFIC works with customs authorities across the globe and helps investigate reports of illegal trading in live animals as well as the movement of skins and furs.