Oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus oncilla)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 190520765

An overlooked endangered endemic small-cat? Defining priority conservation areas and actions for the oncilla in the highlands of Costa Rica.

In this project we will determine key conservation sites for Leopardus tigrinus oncilla in the Talamanca and Central Mountain Ranges, in Costa Rica, assessing the current conservation status of the subespecies and characterizing the threats it is facing in the study area.

We will also set the base for a genetic study in order to determine if Leopardus tigrinus oncilla in Central America and L. t. pardinoides in South America are different species. Finally, we pretend to establish a long-term small-cat conservation project in Costa Rica using the oncilla as flagship.