IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Ginsberg, J.R. | |
| Establishing priorities for carnivore conservation: balancing rarity, threats and political realities | |
| 1998 Conference Proceeding | |
Assessments have been made of the status of many carnivore species, however status alone tells us little about how to set priorities for carnivore conservation. Carnivores, particularly medium and larger sized carnivores, tend to occur at relatively low densities, and hence are usually relatively rare. Many rare species are widely distributed, and while extinction of even the rarest of these species is unlikely, local extirpation of carnivores, and the effect of these extirpations on ecosystem function, are serious but poorly studied. While we know the major threats to reverse, and impact on populations both within, and outside, protected areas. Yet, with adequate protection of habitat and prey, carnivores can quickly rebound and recover their populations, as has been documented for many species across North America and Europe. If threatened carnivores are to persist across their natural range, we must develop management plans which reflect local, national and international priorities for conservation, and distinguish among options which provide short term fixes, but do not address long-term consequences of wide-spread extirpation and, in rare cases, extinction. |
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