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IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group

IUCN COMMISSION GROUP

IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group

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Overview and description

Description:
The high degree of specialization that the cats have acquired during their evolution makes them vulnerable to environmental changes; 45 % of the 38 cat species are threatened. The IUCN SSC Cat ...
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The high degree of specialization that the cats have acquired during their evolution makes them vulnerable to environmental changes; 45 % of the 38 cat species are threatened. The IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group (CSG) promotes the long-term conservation of the wild living cat species and their habitats by means of continuous monitoring and assessment, information-sharing, identification of conservation priorities and facilitation/delivery of these priority actions through collaborative conservation work.
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Group leadership

Dr Christine BREITENMOSER-WÜRSTEN

Co-Chair

Dr Urs BREITENMOSER

Co-Chair

I am a carnivore ecologist and former senior scientist at the University of Bern and the former director of the Foundation KORA – Carnivore Ecology and Wildlife Management. I have been involved in ...

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I am a carnivore ecologist and former senior scientist at the University of Bern and the former director of the Foundation KORA – Carnivore Ecology and Wildlife Management. I have been involved in research projects on carnivore ecology for 40 years and have supervised projects in the frame of the Swiss carnivore projects. My main field of interest is the reintroduction of Eurasian lynx and the re-integration of large carnivores into human dominated landscapes.

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More about the Specialist Group

The Cat Specialist Group is active in many of its own initiatives, focusing on the development of tools for the assessment of the species’ status, on the compilation and distribution of intelligence and on supporting the work of its members. A central concern is to promote the dialogue among scientists and practitioners throughout the world. The group believes that cooperation and sharing of knowledge are critical for the conservation of the wild cats.

The ...

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More about the Specialist Group

The Cat Specialist Group is active in many of its own initiatives, focusing on the development of tools for the assessment of the species’ status, on the compilation and distribution of intelligence and on supporting the work of its members. A central concern is to promote the dialogue among scientists and practitioners throughout the world. The group believes that cooperation and sharing of knowledge are critical for the conservation of the wild cats.

The main tasks include:

  • maintaining the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species for the cat species;
  • advising governmental and private organizations engaged in species conservation;
  • developing conservation strategies and action plans;
  • establishing and distributing information on the status and conservation; needs of all wild cat species through an own publication series Cat News and the Cat SG website;
  • education and training of nature conservation experts (capacity development).
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Mission
The Cat Specialist Group is responsible for the global monitoring and conservation of all 40 wild living cat species.

Specialist Group work

Cat conservation faces a number of specific challenges as a consequence of biological features of the felids and their particular relations with humans.

Understanding threats to cats

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Cat conservation includes habitat protection, prey management, conflict mitigation, and law enforcement over large areas and for many years.

CSG on the IUCN Red List

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CSG assesses species for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species to inform conservation efforts.

CSG Annual Report

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Learn about CSG’s work and results in 2021

At a glance

Official name:
IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group
Associated Commissions:
Species Survival Commission
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