The Cats of the Silk Road
Cat species as indicators for healthy Central Asian ecosystems
Photo: IUCN SSC Cat SG, Niloufar Raesi and Kevin McFarland
The Central Asian ecosystems supporting several species of wild cats, such as the Persian leopard (Panthera pardus tulliana), caracal (Caracal caracal), Asiatic wild cat (Felis lybica), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), Jungle cat (Felis chaus), sand cat (Felis margarita) and Manul (Otocolobus manul) have unique ecological characteristics that are currently under intense anthropogenic pressure.
A Range-Wide Strategy for the Conservation of the Persian Leopard (2023 - 2032) endorsed in Tbilisi, Georgia in 2022 is up for adoption at COP14. It is a blueprint for strengthened monitoring and conservation activities across the range.
Of the smaller cats, manul and Eurasian lynx are proposed for inclusion in Appendix II at this COP and concerted actions have been proposed.
This side event brings together governments and conservation experts to provide an overview on these cats and demonstrate how range-wide cooperation in monitoring, management, and conservation can preserve their prey and habitats and build a more harmonious relationship with local people.
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