Defenders' Experts
International Great Cats and Rare Canines
Many of the world’s rare feline and canine species face an uncertain future due to a variety of threats including habitat loss and degradation, increasing conflict with humans, poaching and exploitation for skins and the medicinal trade, disease and pollution. Defenders of Wildlife is working to pass legislation that would help conserve 15 species of great cats and rare canines that exist outside the U.S. These species are internationally recognized as threatened or endangered.
The Great Cats and Rare Canids Act
Defenders supports H.R. 411 and S. 529, the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act, which would help secure funding for cheetahs, African wild dogs, lions, dholes, jaguars, Ethiopian wolves, snow leopards, Iberian lynxes, European wolves, clouded leopards, maned wolves, bush dogs, leopards, Darwin's foxes and Borneo bay cats. The Act will benefit these species, and many others that share their ecosystems, by:
- Allocating vital resources for conservation efforts within the species’ ranges;
- Leveraging private conservation dollars;
- Fostering international cooperation for conservation initiatives.
Protecting keystone species
Wild feline and canine species face an array of specific threats driven by humanity’s long fascination with and fear of large carnivores, as well as the habitat loss, poaching and pollution that threaten wildlife worldwide. Human-wildlife conflict, persecution and exploitation for skins and the medicine trade have a disproportionate impact on the world’s wild feline and canine species.
The conservation of rare cat and canine populations requires a global commitment. Unfortunately, many countries lack the funding and infrastructure to conserve species of concern. Those countries that are taking action to aid threatened species need further assistance in implementing effective conservation strategies.
Through the Multinational Species Conservation Fund (MSCF), the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act would provide much needed financial resources for 15 species, from the majestic jaguar of South and Central America to the shy dhole of Asia, that are recognized as endangered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and/or the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List of Endangered Species.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with the support of Congress, has led America’s effort to aid other species covered by the MSCF, such as rhinos, tigers, Asian elephants, African elephants, great apes, sea turtles and migratory birds. The Service has time and again leveraged funds provided under MSCF to produce effective, on-the-ground conservation actions in host nations. Wildlife experts from around the world agree that protecting “keystone” or “umbrella” species such as large carnivores can provide ancillary benefits for the many other species that share their ecosystems. Remarkably, however, the tiger is the only carnivore species currently receiving support through the MSCF.
The bipartisan Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2009 is co-sponsored by Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Ben Cardin (D-MD), John Kerry (D-MA), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Tom Udall (D-NM) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in the Senate and Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA), Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), Henry Brown (R-SC), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), John McHugh (R-NY), Harold Rogers (R-KY), Ed Royce (R-CA) and John Tanner (D-TN) in the House of Representatives.
