Purpose: This bill would assist in the conservation of great cats. Financial resources would be provided to conservation programs in nations within the range of these animals’ populations, and funding would be provided to those with demonstrated expertise in protecting these animals.
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Status: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Action: SUPPORT. Please contact your Congressperson and urge him/her to support H.R. 1913. Tell your Congressperson that many wild populations of felids — that once were considered common — are now in decline. Their long-term survival in the wild is in serious jeopardy, and this legislation will help to conserve rare species.
Talking Points for your letter:
- Of the 37 wild felid species worldwide, all are currently recognized as species in need of protection under federal and/or international law.
- Large felids are considered indicator species. Healthy populations of these species act as an important indicator of the integrity of entire ecosystems and, because they require large wild spaces to persist, their presence benefits entire ecosystems and a large number of other species. Measures taken to benefit these keystone species will ultimately benefit a great number of other species.
- Rare felids face an array of threats, including loss of habitat, intentional and unintentional takings by humans, and disease transmission. These threats need to be addressed in a coordinated fashion.
- Conservation of rare felid populations requires global commitment. Adequate funding for conservation is sorely lacking, and many range countries for those species do not have adequate infrastructure to protect species of concern. Those countries that do provide assistance to threatened populations need further assistance in implementing effective conservation strategies. In particular, in developing nations with limited resources, poverty, population growth, and habitat loss all present significant challenges to conservation of rare felids.
- Although some protections and initiatives exist to conserve rare felid populations and their habitat, those efforts can be significantly strengthened and enhanced by increased coordination and the infusion of targeted funding to benefit species of concern.