Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) Case Study

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MBZF Grant 220528991
Mammal

Continent: South America

Country: Brazil

Grant Amount: $5,000

Awarded Date: June 16, 2022

Felipe Bortolotto Peters

Geoffroy’s Cat Working Group (GCWG)


Aurora Street, Number 1100

Canoas

Rio Grande do Sul

CEP 92020-510

Brazil

Tel: +55 51 992142717

Mob: +55 51 992142717

Geoffroy’s cat as a flagship species for the conservation of small Neotropical cats in the Brazilian Pampa

Geoffroy's cat is the most abundant wild cat in the Brazilian Pampa, where it coexists with margay, jaguarundi and pampas cat. Misinformation about species results in conflicts associated with retaliatory hunting and the transmission of diseases derived from free-range domestic cats/dogs. We have implemented strategies to mitigate these threats in the Seival locality, using Geoffroy's cat as a local emblematic species.

 

We minimize the risk of disease transmission through vaccination/neuter campaigns of free-range domestic dogs and cats; we compensated farmers who suffered losses associated with chicken predation and developed a prototype anti-predation chicken coop; we use educational materials addressing the ecological importance of Geoffroy's cat and other sympatric species of wild cats; and in partnership with Geoffroy's Cat Working Group and Small Wild Cats Conservation Foundation, we revitalized the community skate park using wild cats as a theme and installed informational signs about each of the species.

 

The next steps include expanding actions to combat retaliatory killing by replicating and disseminating anti-predation chicken coops to as many farmers as possible; increase the area of "sanitary security" by carrying out more vaccination/neuter campaigns, start monitoring the dispersal and interaction of free-range domestic dogs/cats with wild cats; and include measures to mitigate another important local impact on wild cat populations: roadkill.


 

Grant documents

MBZF Grant 220528991 - located in Brazil, South America