Shrinking Habitat for Lions, Tigers, Leopards and Other Wild Felines

Posted by Dawn M. Smith Mar 13, 2009

Reclusive Habits Make Wild Cats Difficult to Study

When Macho B, the last known jaguar (Panthera onca) in the United States died, some organizations and individuals spoke out against the Fish and Wildlife Service decision to radio collar him when he was accidentally caught in a trap meant for capturing other species for study. But despite the fact that this jaguar was recognizable and occasionally photographed, little was known about where he traveled. This makes it difficult to know what habitat to put under protection because the habitat needs of the jaguar are still not well understood.

Panthers (Puma concolor) in Florida have been radio tracked for many years as efforts to prevent their extinction continue. The date from these radio-collared animals has allowed wildlife corridors to be developed in prime panther habitat, reducing the number of panthers killed on Florida roads.

Habitat and Food Sources Critical for Wild Felines to Survive

In India, tiger (Panthera tigris) numbers are decreasing as poaching continues to take its toll. But another factor in the loss of tigers and leopards (Panthera pardis) in India, snow leopards( Panthera uncia or Uncia uncia) in the Himalayas, Amur leopards (Panthera pardis orientalis) in Russia and clouded leopards (Neofelis diardi) in Borneo and Sumatra.

Habitat loss and with it, a reduction in the amount of prey available, are making things very difficult for big cats. Deforestation, land put into agriculture and livestock being grazed in prime wild feline habitat have changed the way the big cats behave. Tigers and leopards learn to prey on the livestock because they are unable to find their natural prey. They learn that livestock is easy prey but are then killed by the livestock owners.

Smaller wild cats like the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) are also affected by habitat and prey loss. The rabbits(Oryctolagus cuniculus) they depend on for food have been decimated by disease. The rabbits’ grazing activity also creates good scrub habitat for the elusive lynx to hide in. The small wild feline is one of the luckier ones as the lynx population is beginning to increase.

Wild cats are often keystone species whose presence is vital to a healthy ecosystem. Protecting their habitat benefits many species.