There are seven large bodied extant (still in existence) cats (Turner, 1997). All seven of these large bodied cats are in the Felidae family (Turner, 1997). In the Panthera genus there are the tiger, lion, leopard, jaguar, and the snow leopard (Turner, 1997). In the Puma genus there is the mountain lion, also known as the cougar, panther, puma, and several other names (Elbroch, 2020; Hansen, 1992; Williams, 2018). In the Acinonyx genus there is the cheetah (Turner, 1997). 

 

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) is an international agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival (CITES, 2020). CITES was drafted in 1963 and agreed upon and entered into force on July 1, 1975 (CITES, 2020). CITES classifies species by using three appendices depending on the level of protection they need (CITES How, 2020). Appendix I focuses on species threatened with extinction and trade of these specimens are only permitted with exceptional circumstances (CITES How, 2020). Appendix II focuses on species not necessarily threatened with extinction but trade must be controlled for their survival (CITES How, 2020). Appendix III focuses on species that are protected in at least one country that has asked CITES to step in and help control the trade (CITES, 2020). 

 

All big cats, except for the African lion, are listed under CITES Appendix 1 (UNODC, 2020). The tiger was added to Appendix I on October 22, 1987 (CITES Checklist Panthera, 2020). The African lion has been listed under Appendix II since January 2, 2017, however, the lion population in India has been listed under Appendix I since November 26, 2019 (CITES Checklist Panthera, 2020). The leopard, jaguar, snow leopard and cheetah have been listed under Appendix I since July 1, 1975 (CITES Checklist Acinonyx jubatus, 2020; CITES Checklist Panthera, 2020). On November 26, 2019 the puma populations of Costa Rica and Panama became listed under Appendix I, while all other puma populations became listed under Appendix II (CITES Checklist Puma, 2020). 

 

The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species is the world’s most comprehensive source of information on the global extinction risk status of animal, fungus, and plant species (IUCN Background, 2020). Both government and non-governmental agencies have been using the IUCN Red List since its creation in 1964 (IUCN Background, 2020). The IUCN Red List is not always up to date, but it takes time to study every species on earth. As of 2020 the IUCN Red List labels jaguars as near threatened and pumas as least concern (IUCN Jaguar, 2020; IUCN Puma, 2020). As of 2020 the IUCN Red List labels lions, leopards, cheetahs and snow leopards as vulnerable (IUCN Cheetah, 2020; Leopard, 2020; IUCN Lion, 2020; IUCN Snow leopard, 2020). As of 2020 the IUCN Red List labels tigers as endangered (IUCN Tigers, 2020). Of the seven large bodied cats, five are in trouble with another one heading towards trouble. 

 

It is important to know the CITES Appendices listings and the IUCN Red List status because these animals are facing serious threats and impacts at the hands of humans. Human behaviors drive ecosystem and species declines (Cowling, 2014; Inskip, et al., 2014; Verissimo, 2013).  As carnivore populations decrease the ecosystem in which they are in begin to function differently and are not as resiliente to becoming increasingly compromised (Inskip, et al., 2014). It is no secret that humans are altering, affecting and impacting every inch of nature. At 10,898 meters the Mariana Trench is the deepest place in the ocean, and humans have placed their mark on it when a plastic bag was found polluting the deepest part of the ocean (Chiba, et al., 2018). Just like marine animals terrestrial animals can become entangled in plastic, mistake plastic for food, or use the plastic in their habitat by mistaking it for natural resources (Macklin, 2015). In California alone between 95% and 97% of fires are human caused (Syphard et al., 2007; Balch et al., 2017). One study believes that climate change and human-caused mortality of carnivores is the most significant anthropogenic impact on nature (Inskip, et al., 2014; Ripple, et al., 2014). 

It is pretty obvious that humans are impacting the world more than any other species on earth. Humans are negatively affecting the big cats through poaching, habitat loss, prey depletion, retaliatory killings, illegal pet trade, illegal wildlife trade, and climate change (IUCN Cheetah, 2020; Leopard, 2020; IUCN Lion, 2020; IUCN Puma, 2020; IUCN Tiger, 2020;  IUCN Snow leopard, 2020). Human-big conflict is a major threat to these animals and we must learn to tolerate and coexist with them to ensure they have a future. Panthera is an organization that focuses on all cats all over the world and they have a powerful mission to “ensure a future for wild cats and the vast landscapes on which they depend” (Panthera Mission, 2020). Jane Goodall once said, “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make”. Choose to make a positive difference in this world. Choose to make a difference for the big cats, and all the species that depend upon them, including humans.

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*In text citations can be found on the References page.