Leopards are the most endangered big cats in the world. While their populations are still plentiful in Africa, they are at risk outside of the continent. One critically endangered subspecies, the Amur leopard, is particularly threatened due to its habitat loss in far eastern Russia. Amur tigers and deer species depend on the Amur leopard for food and shelter. If these felines were to disappear, their habitat would be lost forever.
The Asiatic cheetah was once widely distributed in the Iberian Peninsula, southern France and Portugal. Unfortunately, human-caused diseases and habitat destruction have nearly wiped out this species. In the United States, more tigers live in captivity than in the wild. Their populations may disappear forever within our lifetimes. Therefore, we need to protect the Asiatic cheetah as much as possible.
The fishing cat is another critically endangered big cat. Known as the “fishing cat,” it once lived throughout Southeast Asia, but is now almost extinct in some areas. The primary threats to its habitat are conflict with humans and habitat destruction. The fisherman is also one of the main threats to its survival. The cat is extremely good at swimming, and depends on wetlands for food. So, it is a good thing there are some conservation efforts in place.
The Iberian lynx is also on the list of critically endangered big cats. This species is on the verge of extinction, and the Iberian lynx Conservation Breeding Program is attempting to protect this cat from becoming extinct. Its population once numbered around 4,000 cats, but today it is estimated to be as low as 100 or 200 cats. If this is the case, the Iberian lynx may soon be the last big cat to die out in this century.
The snow leopard is a beautiful species that lives in mountain ranges in Central Asia. Its altitude range is between three and six thousand meters. A 2003 study of its population estimated that the population ranged between four and five hundred animals, with a reproductive population estimated at fewer than 2,500 individuals. The primary threat to the snow leopard is habitat loss. This species is also a major cause of cat extinction in Mexico, with only a few hundred snow leopards remaining.
Another species of felines is the flat-headed cat, which has less than 2,500 mature individuals in the wild. It was previously found in Thailand, but now only about two hundred live in the wild. It depends on wetland forests and wetlands for its survival. Conservationists hope to implant the fertilized eggs into surrogate cats of a closely related species. If the surrogate pregnancy is successful, it could increase the population of the Iberian lynx.
A third species is the Andean mountain cat. This small feline, which lives only in the Andes Mountains, is one of the least-known cats in the world. Researchers are unsure as to whether the reasons for its plight are purely human-related or not. Although captive Andean mountain cats have been found in a small number of regions in Chile, the species is not widely known. Despite its rarity, conservation organizations and researchers are working together to preserve their habitats and prevent its extinction.
