Publication trends and captive population dynamics: complementary insights for advancing conservation efforts of endangered Brazilian wild cats

Sales, MLS, Passos, LF, Pires, MRS and de Azevedo, CS (2025) Publication trends and captive population dynamics: complementary insights for advancing conservation efforts of endangered Brazilian wild cats. Biodiversity and Conservation. pp. 1-20. ISSN 0960-3115

Text Publication trends and captive population dynamics complementary insights for advancing conservation efforts of endangered Brazilian wild cats.pdf - Accepted Version Access Restricted until 23 May 2026. Download (1MB)

Abstract

Due mainly to habitat destruction, feline species are threatened with extinction in Brazil. The future of feline research and conservation can benefit from the knowledge about these species and how they are managed in zoos. The present study analysed how the information contained in the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) and the scientific literature can be complementary to understanding the current scenario of studies on the species, highlighting the gaps in knowledge, and evaluating the ex-situ population dynamics. The results indicated that all threatened feline species are kept and bred in zoos. There was a population decline for Leopardus tigrinus and L. colocolo and an increase for L. wiedii and L. guttulus, while the other species showed stabilization in captive populations. Age pyramids suggest future growth for Panthera onca and L. wiedii captive populations. Species with restricted distributions, such as L. colocolo and L. tigrinus, are less frequent in zoos, reproduce less ex-situ, and the age pyramids indicate a future decline of captive populations. The most charismatic species, P. onca and Herpailurus yagouaroundi, have been the most studied. Despite the increase in studies in the 2000s, knowledge gaps remain, especially in genetic and reproductive studies. The findings of this study underscore the need for further research and the potential for zoos to play a significant role in the conservation of Brazilian wild felines, playing parts not only in the maintenance of viable ex-situ populations but also in filling knowledge gaps with individuals from their collections in scientific research.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-025-03094-x
Uncontrolled Keywords:	41 Environmental Sciences; 31 Biological Sciences; 3103 Ecology; 4104 Environmental Management; 15 Life on Land; 0501 Ecological Applications; 0502 Environmental Science and Management; 0602 Ecology; Ecology; 3103 Ecology; 4102 Ecological applications; 4104 Environmental management
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions:	Biological and Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	Springer
Date of acceptance:	9 May 2025
Date Deposited:	02 Jun 2025 09:09
Last Modified:	02 Jun 2025 09:15
DOI or ID number:	10.1007/s10531-025-03094-x
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26471

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