Camera trap surveys and observational records of the flat-headed cat Prionailurus planiceps in Brunei Darussalam over 10 years (2009–2019) were obtained from Forest Reserves and Outside Forest Reserves. They have revealed that of 36 examined sites (19 within Forest Reserves, 17 outside), the flat-headed cat FHC was detected in 17 of them, with all these sites being aquatic habitats -peat swamps, forest streams, forest mosaic with swamps, salt licks and vicinity of lakes. Future surveys are recommended in localities that showed non-detection with a minimum of 2000 camera-trap nights but focused on aquatic habitats. The flat-headed cat was detected in 59 % of sites in Outside Forest Reserves as opposed to 37% in Forest Reserves, emphasising the importance of aquatic habitats in the former. Local community perception of endangered cats as obtained from interviews revealed their lack of knowledge of these cats and their inclination to have FHC as a pet which need to be addressed in conservation educational programmes. Ecological and human threats arising from anthropogenic activities that could affect the survival of flat-headed cats include forest fires in peat swamps and draining for residential development, agricultural runoffs, fragmentation of aquatic habitats, clearing of river bank vegetation that act as corridors, road kills and poaching for pet trade. Some of the ecological threats that are being mitigated include raising the water table in previously drained peat swamps and attempts at peat swamp restoration.

Supporting Online Material

Table T1-T3

In this work we present the first confirmed record of the Asiatic golden cat Catopuma temminckii in Phou Hin Poun National Protected Area NPA (better known as Khammouane Limestone Key Biodiversity Area) in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR.

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Table T1

Demand for clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa body parts including skins, bones, and teeth, through an illegal black market, appears to be high across Southeast Asia. Our report contains information representing the hunting of three clouded leopards, and the sale of their body parts, to be opportunistic but potentially easy sources of income for local communities. To contextualise further, we also report on the history and legacy of hunting in villages surrounding or bordering Murlen National Park in north-eastern India over the past several decades. With this part of India sharing a border with China, Myanmar and Bangladesh, all of which have been identified as playing a key role in illegal wildlife trade routes, it is possible that trade in clouded leopard parts from India has been seriously underreported until now. We further suggest that potentially high levels of regional and local trade across porous borders amongst diverse tribal cultures and governments necessitate broader cooperation, and more effective mechanisms, for monitoring and addressing illegal wildlife trade in the region.

Supporting Online Material

Figures F1-F4

Approximately 80% of the fishing cat’s Prionailurus viverrinus predicted global distribution overlaps with human modified landscapes. Here, we examine the presence of the fishing cat in four ecological sectors of Chilika lagoon, India, with varying hydrological regimes – freshwater dominated, brackishwater and saline – using interview surveys and camera traps. We found the Fishing Cat to be present in all sectors of Chilika but with significantly higher presence in its freshwater rich Northern sector which has a 115 sq km Phragmites dominated marshland. Presence was found to be poor in sections of Chilika where tall and dense riparian vegetation was absent and where conditions were most saline. We also discuss the conservation implications of our study.

Supporting Online Material

Tables T1 and T2

Understanding the interspecies interactions between predator and prey is important to assess the prey preferences, species coexistence, and abundance for creating conservation and management strategies. In India, many studies have been conducted to understand interspecific interactions between large carnivores and their prey. But to our knowledge, no study has recorded the interaction between leopard Panthera pardus and wild boar Sus scrofa feeding on a sambar Rusa unicolor kill of a leopard. We present the first photographic evidence of such interaction between predator (leopard) and prey (wild boar) feeding together on a carcass in the Shiwalik foothills of the Himalaya.

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Figure F1

We report four sympatric cat species from the semiarid landscape of Jawai,
Rajasthan, in western India, namely the Asiatic wild cat Felis lybica ornata (Gray 1830), jungle cat Felis chaus (Schreber 1777), leopard Panthera pardus (Linnaeus 1758) and rusty-spotted cat Prionailurus rubiginosus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire 1834). The species' presence was confirmed with direct sightings and photos captured by motion-sensor camera traps deployed between January 2017 to April 2017. This article contributes to a better understanding of the distribution of these species.

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Table T1

For large-scale, e.g. range-wide species assessments, a collation of records of various kinds such as direct observations, photographs, dead specimens, indirect signs or genetic samples is generally used. However, assessing reported records is not straightforward for elusive species such as the European wildcat Felis silvestris, which can furthermore be confused with the domestic cat Felis catus. Moreover, wildcat and domestic cat hybrids make the topic additionally complicated. In this article, we make a proposal on how to apply the so-called SCALP criteria for evaluating records, originally developed for the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx, to the European wildcat.

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SOM 1-3

Two new potential areas for Iberian lynx reintroduction were considered in Aragon, Spain. Human Dimension characteristics are considered apart from ecological ones. Interviews of local interest groups revealed a moderate positive view, with difference between areas and groups. An information campaign about the lynx and its coexistence with people should be developed, together with a better knowledge of possible conflicts with extensive shepherd farming. Locals should be involved in the initiative.

The use of wildlife derivative products has been identified as an important aspect of the culture of African peoples. Integrated in traditional medicine, fetish, spiritual and religious beliefs, as well as in various culturo-religious ceremonies, it results in a thriving domestic and transnational consumer demand for different wild animals and their body parts, including those of wild cats. We explored the trade in wild cat products in 20 markets in ten towns and cities within the Republic of Ghana and found that 75% of the markets visited sold felid body parts. Full leopard skins and leopard and lion skin pieces were the most common wild cat products sold, although both species are fully protected locally under the Schedule I of the Wildlife Conservation Regulations of 1971 (LI 685). Skins, skulls, bones, teeth, tails, body fat, paws and claws were mostly used for cultural, religious and spiritual purposes, with traditional healers, (religious) chiefs, ordinary people and those working in dangerous jobs reported as consumers. Our results highlight the extensiveness and scale of the trade in wild cat products, which has so far not been recognised in Ghana, and remains poorly documented in many parts of West Africa. Our work can form the basis for future research. We emphasise the necessity to better regulate the sale of wild cat products and understand the typology of people engaging in the trade and those who do not. Assessing opportunities and feasibility for complementary and coordinated demand reduction initiatives such as behaviour change campaigns would also be crucial if we are to better protect wild cats in the region.

Supporting Online Material

Table T1

We report the first camera-trap photographic record of a melanistic jaguar Panthera onca for northern Central America. Previous records had been reported from Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and South America. Jaguars are extinct in El Salvador, and extensive camera trap surveys in Guatemala, Belize and Nicaragua have not documented melanistic jaguars. Between 2007 and 2023, a survey effort of 13,296 night/cameras yielded 20 individual spotted jaguars and one melanistic jaguar in Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve in eastern Honduras. This reserve is also home for other regionally threatened and endangered species such as the white-lipped peccary Tayassu pecari, Baird’s tapir Tapirus bairdii and the giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla. Narco-trafficking operations have fueled a lack of environmental law enforcement in the area. The resulting deforestation, poaching, illegal cattle ranches and new roads in the area threaten this strategically important jaguar population.

We provide an update of jaguar predation trends on the four species of sea turtle that nest in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica, previously reported by our team for the period 2005–2013. The latest data provided here (period 2014–2022) allowed us to analyse predation rates over a larger temporal scale, and provide further evidence determining whether jaguars pose a threat to the survival of the sea turtle nesting populations at a local and regional level. Further, we described how our scientific data help to guide effective management actions to protect not only the four species of sea turtles but also the jaguar at a local level.

We conducted a questionnaire using the Participatory Research PR approach on Google Forms to collect information and data on the jaguarundi Herpailurus yagouaroundi for the IUCN Red List Assessment RLA. We collected information on ecological and conservation aspects from 69 participants from 18 countries, covering most of the species’ range and gathering novel information. So, the method proved to be efficient in collecting the needed data for the RLA. Although this technique will be improved over time and with more experience, we encourage researchers dealing with similar situations to consider this method as an additional source to obtain data from species where scientific or published information is scarce.

Supporting Online Material

SOM 1 and SOM 2