A Study of Feline Conservation: the Science

and the People

Rebecca HaynesPrinceton University, Class of

2015Ecology and Evolutionary

BiologyEnvironmental Studies

The Problem• Direct hunting • Habitat loss and fragmentation• Overhunting of prey

Why protect cats?

• Keystone species• Umbrella species• Aesthetic value• Ecotourism

Objective

1. Camera traps:– Mammal populations – Feline habitat preferences– Community composition

Objectives

2. Interviews:– Assess attitudes towards

conservation – Understand social problems

(retaliation killings)

Where was I?

The Osa Peninsula

The Osa Peninsula

Leopardus pardalis Panthera onca

Puma concolor

Methods

• Camera trapping

What data did I get?

• 400 photos of animals• Mostly smaller mammals (off-trail)

White-nosed coati, Nasua naricaOcelot, Leopardus pardalis Nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctusCentral American agouti, Dasyprocta punctataCollared peccary, Pecari tajacuLowland paca, Agouti pacaGreat Tinamou, Tinamou majorCommon opossum, Didelphis marsupialisNorthern tamandua, Tamandua mexicanaTayra, Eira barbaraGreat Curassow, Crax rubraStriped hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus semistriatusRed brocket deer, Mazama americanaCrab-eating raccoon, Procyon cancrivorus

Interviews

Interviews

Interviews

• Stories• Conflicts• Conservation values• Honesty?

What did I gain?

• Research experience (camera trapping)

• Experience with a social study

• Material for a paper

• Conservation as a career

Thank You

• Ray E. Newton, III ’86 and Elizabeth A. Smith ’86

• Professor Andy Dobson• Professor David Wilcove• Peter Molnar, Claire Standley, Natalka

Melnycky• Juan Carlos Cruz Diaz (and all other Osa

staff)