Small Cat Conservation Alliance - Jim Sanderson
www.smallcats.org

Dr. Jim Sanderson has become one of the world's foremost experts on small cats, particularly the Andean mountain cat and the guigna ("gween-ya"). Jim tracked the elusive Andean mountain cat for months before finally meeting face-to-face with the beautiful subject of his study. The landmark photo that resulted from this encounter appeared in the February 2000 issue of National Geographic - one of only 5 documented sightings of this cat. He is also a landscape ecologist and an active member of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group. He has used radio-telemetry and camera photo-trapping to study small cats in Central & South America, Asia and Africa.

There are 36 recognized species of cats in the world. Most people are familiar with the big cats - lion, tiger, cheetah, leopard, etc. - and medium sized cats like bobcat and lynx, but few people could name the 22 "other" cats. These miniature felines are found in every corner of the world, living in protected reserves, in high-altitude mountain ranges, in jungles and forests, and in close proximity to human populations. Like many other carnivores, the small cats are believed to be surviving in very low numbers. Like their bigger cousins, small cats are threatened by the loss of valuable habitat and prey, indiscriminant killing, and conflict with humans, livestock and domestic animals. Because there is so little information on the small cats, it is very difficult to obtain funding for conservation projects, provide protection for them, and establish conservation protocols. Very few researchers are investigating the ecology and behavior of small cats. Indeed, the number of species of small cats is still being debated and there is little doubt that new species will be named.

The World Conservation Union is responsible for determining the status of cat species in the wild. Categories such as Critically Endangered or Threatened are used to characterize populations. One category, Data Deficient, means that almost nothing is known about the species. Three species of cats are currently listed as Data Deficient, and all of them are small cats.

Jim conducts his own research, focusing on the Andean mountain cat and the guigna, and collaborates intensively with local scientists and volunteers who are leading work on other small cat species around the world. Collaboration with local scientists and volunteers has been a key to the success of these small cat studies. Colleagues work in remote areas, collecting valuable data that can be compiled into a larger database of information on these rare cats.

Sanderson and his SCC collaborators use a 3-step process to gather information.

Step1) Use remote camera traps to photograph anything that passes by in the area - cats, other mammals, birds, even humans. These pictures give a rare glimpse into the natural behaviors and activities of the small cats and others that share their territory.
Step 2) Radio collar and track the cats with radio telemetry to study range requirements and behaviors, including contact/conflict with human populations.
Step 3) Work intensively with local people and scientists on education and conservation planning to ensure the survival of the population and inspire further study and work with these rare cats.

Jim Sanderson's goal is to coordinate the implemention of this 3-faceted strategy at sites around the globe to reveal the current distribution of the world's small cats. He is currently working to establish four high priority long-term research sites in Kalimantan (Borneo), Sumatra, Chile, and China. He also supports the efforts of alliance colleagues in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, India, Sarawak, Suriname, and Vietnam. Sustained camera photo-trapping efforts will enable him to monitor the populations of small cats and to detect changes in their population trends. Dr. Sanderson's resourceful methods - carrying out arduous research with very limited resources - are the hallmark of a true entrepreneurial scientist.