The global distribution of the Asiatic cheetah Acinonyx jubatus venaticus, with as few as 50 individuals left in the wild, is now restricted to two habitat patches of over 140,000 km² in Iran’s central plateau. Already Critically Endangered, in 2001 an international initiative entitled Conservation of the Asiatic Cheetah, Its Natural Habbitat, and Associated Biota in the I. R. of Iran CACP was put together to halt the imminent cheetah extinction. Efforts associatedwith CACP have successfully

1. Promoted establishment of new protected areas across the cheetah range (known as cheetah reserves CRs);
2. Strengthened law enforcement in CRs;
3. Recovered CRs’ ungulate prey populations;
4. Raised awareness of the pubblic and stakeholders abbout the cheetah conservation; and
5. developed research and conservation capacity.

However, conservationists are now divided on whether these achievements have been sufficient to reverse the Asiatic cheetah’s extinction trajectory.

With the cooperation of CACP, the Iranian Department of Environment DoE and several local partners, the Iranian Cheetah Society ICS set up a large-scale monitoring effort across multiple CRs in 2011 to update the conservation status of the Asiatic cheetah population. Through five years of intensive camera-trapping surveys with the total effort of over 28,500 trap-nights at 467 stations in 11 sites across 13,000 km² core of the cheetah range, only 17 adult cheetahs (10 males, 5 females and 2 of unknown sex) were identified. Disturbingly, no verifiable evidence of female cheetahs was obtained across two-third of the subspecies’ presumed range. No new cheetah individuals were recorded since 2012. In addition, human-related deaths of two photo-captured cheetahs (one male and one female) are already confirmed (Fig. 1). ICS’ surveys strongly suggest that viabble cheetah subpopulations with reproducing females are now limited to the northern habitat patch.

The Asiatic cheetah conservation is entangled with the subspecies’ extremely low population size, but more importantly that this population is fractured into smaller subpopulations across two landscapes with little to no connectivity. ICS findings show that cheetahs of different sex and age groups disperse widely across multiple CRs in an unpredictable movement pattern. On the one hand, this nomadic lifestyle can be imperative for persistence of the Iranian cheetah population by reversing local extinctions. On the other hand, the complex life history and social behaviour of Asiatic cheetahs in combination with the weak enforcement capacity outside the current CRs make their effective conservation extremely difficult. Additionally, the apparent male-skewed sex ratio of cheetah subpopulations turns them into declining sink populations. The inadequate political will to mitigate continuing external threats to the Asiatic cheetah survival has been partly responsible for the failure of current conservation activities:

1. Traditional pastoralism within CRs continues to bring tens of thousands of livestock, guarding dogs and herders to the core of cheetah habitat and has resulted in direct killing of at least 21 cheetahs since 2001. This herding practice also poses indirect threats to cheetahs by disturbing the habitat and through competition with the wild prey over food and water sources.
2. Hotspots of cheetah-vehicle collisions are not mitigated and the habitat fragmentation is continuing and increasing. Road mortalities of cheetahs include at least 15 individuals of both sexes since 2001.
3. Unsustainable mining development and its associated secondary impacts, such as habitat alteration, infrastructure expansion, human migration and illegal hunting, remains one of the biggest threats to the cheetah habitat, and new exploration plans are even threatening CRs as the decline in cheetah numbers weakens DoE’s position in relation to extractive ministries and industries.

CACP has been a collaborative effort of numerous national and international partner organisations and conservationists during the past 16 years. The extinction of the Asiatic cheetah would a conservation failure not only for Iran, but also for the entire initiative. All partners must admit the urgency of the situation, and play an active role in the decision-making process to safeguard the future of Asiatic cheetahs. What Asiatic cheetah conservation urgently requires is negotiations at high levels to encourage the Iranian government to take a clear responsibility about the fate of the Asiatic cheetah. If the Iranian government really wants to save cheetahs, it must be ready for huge investments and large-scale conservation interventions. Simultaneously, the current initiative needs to prioritise pragmatic solutions, and seriously consider manipulative management actions for subpopulations with no evidence of female cheetah presence. Delaying immediate measures for the sake of gaining more data on the cheetah status will only lead to monitoring cheetahs to extinction. Without a country-scale rigorous conservation effort that puts its goal to solely, and urgently, preservethe cheetah population and its habitat, the Asiatic cheetah will soon be a conservation failure story.

The Conservation of the Asiatic Cheetah Project CACP in Iran has reached by 2016 some degree of achievements for 63% of the activities proposed in the 2010-2014 Action Plan.  The objectives related to capacity building, protection and law enforcement could be considered reached, whereas those linked to policy, economics, monitoring and land use planning were in general less achieved. CACP operation suffered from low and unstable funding, frequently changing leadership at the Department of Environment DoE level, weakly responsive administrations, a lack of collaboration between national partners and a rather complex and sometimes confusing Action Plan. Despite a reasonably high level of achievement of activities proposed by the 2010-2014 Action Plan, the Asiatic cheetah Acinonyx jubatus venaticus remains Critically Endangered. A review of threats and actions should be considered for the next Action Plan.

Supporting Online Material

Figures F1 & F2 and Tables T1-T3

The current distribution of Asiatic cheetah Acinonyx jubatus venaticus in Iran is fragmented in three scattered subpopulations in the central arid plateau. Population size is unknown but tentatively estimated at less than 50 individuals. We review the historic and current status, population trend, and threats to cheetah survival in Iran, and present conservation actions recommended by Iranian experts. Between 2015 and 2017, 26 different individuals have been recorded in protected areas based on camera trapping and direct observation. The northern subpopulation in Touran Biosphere Reserve BR and Miandasht Wildlife Refuge WR is the only one with evidence of reproduction. No reproduction has been observed in the southern subpopulation since 2012, suggesting that it is decreasing in size and range. No cheetah presence has been recorded in the western subpopulation since 2013. Despite the conservation efforts of the last 15 years the cheetah in Iran remains Critically Endangered. Urgent conservation interventions are needed to protect the last remaining individuals. The combined engagement and contribution of national and international partners will be critical for the success of these interventions.

Supporting Online Material

Figures F1 & F2 and Table T1

Records suggest that Arabian leopard Panthera pardus nimr distribution may has declined by over 90% since the beginning of the 19^th century, with the population reaching its presently highly precarious status at the start of the 21^st century. A National Strategy and Action Plan developed by Prince Saud al-Faisal Wildlife Research Centre PSFWRS based on the Regional Strategy and Action Plan together with the Saudi Vision 2030. The overall objective of the plan is “to prevent the extinction of Arabian leopards in Saudi Arabia and the loss of the Saudi Arabian leopard gene pool”. The key actions and targets are (1) update comprehensive distribution maps for leopards in Saudi Arabia; (2) Determine the status of wild populations, and identify current trends and threats; (3) Identify critical sites within which the full protection of wild leopards is feasible and support the Saudi Wildlife Authority SWA initiatives to gain formal recognition for such sites; (4) Enhance the captive population; (5) Coordinate the leopard conservation programme within Gulf Cooperation Council and (6) Commence environmental education & awareness.

Supporting Online Material

Figures F1 & F2 and Table T1

Despite its wide distribution, little is known about the breeding period or litter size of the caracal Caracal caracal schmitzi in Oman. We present here the first camera trap photograph of twin kittens in the wild.

We report here on the first sighting and photographic documentation of kittens of African sand cats Felis margarita margarita in the region of Addrar Souttouf in the Moroccan Sahara near the Atlantic coast in late April 2017.

Supporting Online Material

Figure F1 and link Video V1

Video V1

Based on opportunistic sightings, we studied the conflicts between the jungle cat Felis chaus and free-ranging urban dogs at Pulchowk Engineering College, Lalitpur, Nepal in 2014-2015. In the space of two years two jungle cats were killed, two managed to escape, while the status of another one was unknown. We believe that such killing and chasing may cause serious threats to the survival of the jungle cat. Proper and timely management of free-ranging urban dogs is necessary to save the jungle cat in an urban environment.

Supporting Online Material

Figures F1 & F2 and Table T1

Leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis, one of the most widespread and adaptable small felid in Asia, is generally living in a variety of habitats, except high alpine areaswith deep snow cover. We camera trapped a leopard cat in remote highlands of Bhagajang Wetland Complex, Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh, India, at 4,250 m, in a rhododendron-juniper alpine scrub habitat. This record represents the highest documented presence record of the species in India and shows the versatility of the leopard cat in surviving in harsh habitats.

The snow leopard Panthera uncia is probably the most charismatic carnivore to roam the mountains of Asia. The aim of our study was to collect more information about snow leopard presence, prey availability in the area and other carnivores and wildlife in the Kumaon region of Himalayas, the west-central section of the Himalayas in northern India. Our study was conducted from November 2013 to January 2014. Snow leopard occurrence in the region was confirmed and we report here the first photographic evidence of snow leopard in Bageshwar district, State of Uttarakhand.

Estimates of population density are helpful to prioritise investments and assess the effectiveness of conservation interventions for wildlife and their habitat. This paper outlines the first application of systematic camera trapping to estimate density and abundance of fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus in the Lothian Wildlife Sanctuary WS in the Indian Sundarbans. A total of 13 individual fishing cats were identified based on their pelage patterns. Using mark-recapture statistical models, we estimated a population size of 14 ± 2.5 individuals and a density of 0.44 ± 0.13 individuals per km². The activity pattern of fishing cats was mainly crepuscular. The study has established a baseline for the long-term monitoring of fishing cats in the Sundarbans. It is a poorly known threatened felid species and future research is recommended to understand its status, resource use, reproductive biology and home range in a mangrove ecosystem as well as in other forested areas.

Supporting Online Material

Figure F1 and Table T1

Leopard Panthera pardus is the most widely distributed large felid which profoundly uses human dominated landscapes. A leopard was observed by local people on 18 May 2014 in Boksepani of Gorkha bazaar, Nepal. The news was broadcasted by local FM radios, initiating a field survey of leopards to understand the potential hazards to humans and possible human-leopard conflicts. Field observations were made from 18 June to 29 November 2014 in the middle of the human settlement in Boksepani, Gorkha. Direct observations and formal and informal interviews with the local community revealed that the leopard used the area frequently as a den. The leopard was observed six times and its behaviour was recorded. During the study period, the leopard was once recorded entering the human settlement. There were records of the leopard raiding poultry, pig and stray dogs but the direct impact on humans could not be determined. Albeit the leopard was not seen again in June 2017 and may has already left the area, it possibly will return in the future and potentially cause human-leopard conflicts.

Supporting Online Material

Tables T1 & T2 and Figure F1

The marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata is an elusive small cat on which few specific studies were conducted. This article reviews the literature on distribution records of marbled cat to assess the likelihood of its current existence in Nepal. Beside a single record from the early 1980s, there are no recent records to prove the existence of the marbled cat in Nepal. However, the Government of Nepal and the distribution map of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species assume that the marbled cat is extant in Nepal. To support the Government’s official statement on marbled cat presence in the country and to validate the IUCN distribution map for Nepal, a marbled cat targeted camera trap survey in potential habitats is urgently needed.

Supporting Online Material 

Table T1

Large solitary felids have to communicate indirectly with their conspecifics to advertise their presence and social status, to find mates and to maintain their land tenure system. However, there is little information about the social behaviour of jaguars Panthera onca. We investigated the marking behaviour of several jaguars on a trail located within the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve BR, southern Mexico. We evaluated the different marking behaviours of jaguars and the jaguar preferences to mark certain trees. We found that jaguars preferred the highest trees and those with a wider diameter at breast height for claw marking. Recorded marking behaviours included: claw marking a tree, spraying urine and rubbing the tree. One male jaguar visited the marking tree at three different occasions accompanied by two different females. The most interesting aspect of our findings is that at least seven individuals (four males and three females) used the exact same tree as an important communication spot.

Supporting Online Material

Tables T1-T3

Video V1 copyright Natura & Ecosistemas Mexicanos A.C

Video V2 copyright Natura & Ecosistemas Mexicanos A.C

We report here new sites where jaguars Panthera onca prey upon sea turtles in Costa Rica. We conducted carcass counts (n = 228) along eight beaches located in Santa Rosa National Park NP, which makes part of Guanacaste Conservation Area, between June and August 2016. The olive ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea was the most common species predated by jaguars (50% carcasses), followed by the green sea turtle Chelonia mydas (30%) and the hawksbill sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricata (0.44%). The site with the most predation events (41%) was Nancite beach. Our results suggest that predation levels could be influenced by both prey availability (e.g. sea turtles) and jaguar distribution on each beach. This information will not only improve our knowledge regarding the distribution of jaguar predation across the country, but also increase our understanding about this predator-prey interaction.

Supporting Online Material

Table T1

Largely studied across the American continent, the puma Puma concolor has been considered a solitary-living species. However, 118 interactions between adult pumashave been documented in Grand Teton National Park NP, USA, providing evidenceof unusual social behaviour for this species. In 2016, while filming pumas in Torres del Paine National Park TPNP in Chile, our team documented a total of 11 social interactions between adult and subadult pumas, confirming that the species is not as solitary as thought.