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From People to <i>Panthera</i> : Natural SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Tigers and Lions at the Bronx Zoo Open
The human-animal-environment interface of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an important aspect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that requires robust One Health-based investigations. Despite…
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Range contractions of the world's large carnivores Open
The majority of the world's terrestrial large carnivores have undergone substantial range contractions and many of these species are currently threatened with extinction. However, there has been little effort to fully quantify the extent o…
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Leopard (<i>Panthera pardus</i>) status, distribution, and the research efforts across its range Open
The leopard’s ( Panthera pardus ) broad geographic range, remarkable adaptability, and secretive nature have contributed to a misconception that this species might not be severely threatened across its range. We find that not only are seve…
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Prey depletion as a threat to the world's large carnivores Open
Large terrestrial carnivores are an ecologically important, charismatic and highly endangered group of species. Here, we assess the importance of prey depletion as a driver of large carnivore endangerment globally using lists of prey speci…
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Spatio-temporal interactions facilitate large carnivore sympatry across a resource gradient Open
Species within a guild vary their use of time, space and resources, thereby enabling sympatry. As intra-guild competition intensifies, such behavioural adaptations may become prominent. We assessed mechanisms of facilitating sympatry among…
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Spatial and temporal avoidance of risk within a large carnivore guild Open
Within a large carnivore guild, subordinate competitors (African wild dog, Lycaon pictus , and cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus ) might reduce the limiting effects of dominant competitors (lion, Panthera leo , and spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta )…
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Cecil: A Moment or a Movement? Analysis of Media Coverage of the Death of a Lion, Panthera leo Open
The killing of a satellite-tagged male lion by a trophy hunter in Zimbabwe in July 2015 provoked an unprecedented media reaction. We analyse the global media response to the trophy hunting of the lion, nicknamed “Cecil”, a study animal in …
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Estimating large carnivore populations at global scale based on spatial predictions of density and distribution – Application to the jaguar (Panthera onca) Open
Broad scale population estimates of declining species are desired for conservation efforts. However, for many secretive species including large carnivores, such estimates are often difficult. Based on published density estimates obtained t…
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The jaguar's spots are darker than they appear: assessing the global conservation status of the jaguar<i>Panthera onca</i> Open
The IUCN Red List is widely used to guide conservation policy and practice. However, in most cases the evaluation of a species using IUCN Red List criteria takes into account only the global status of the species. Although subpopulations m…
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Leopards provide public health benefits in Mumbai, India Open
Populations of large carnivores are often suppressed in human‐dominated landscapes because they can kill or injure people and domestic animals. However, carnivores can also provide beneficial services to human societies, even in urban envi…
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Recovery of tigers in India: Critical introspection and potential lessons Open
In a world where biodiversity is on the decline, examples of conservation success especially of large carnivores are of interest to policy makers and conservation practitioners. Herein, we elucidate the conservation actions that have been …
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Assessing the umbrella value of a range‐wide conservation network for jaguars (<i>Panthera onca</i>) Open
Umbrella species are employed as conservation short‐cuts for the design of reserves or reserve networks. However, empirical data on the effectiveness of umbrellas is equivocal, which has prevented more widespread application of this conser…
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The evolutionary history of extinct and living lions Open
Lions are one of the world’s most iconic megafauna, yet little is known about their temporal and spatial demographic history and population differentiation. We analyzed a genomic dataset of 20 specimens: two ca. 30,000-y-old cave lions ( P…
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Conservation threats from roadkill in the global road network Open
Aim The road network is increasing globally but the consequences of roadkill on the viability of wildlife populations are largely unknown. We provide a framework that allows us to estimate how risk of extinction of local populations increa…
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When, where and whom: assessing wildlife attacks on people in Chitwan National Park, Nepal Open
Wildlife attacks on people in and around protected areas have become one of the main challenges for wildlife management authorities. We assessed all correlates of wildlife attacks during 2003–2013 in the vicinity of Chitwan National Park, …
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Prey Preferences of the Jaguar Panthera onca Reflect the Post-Pleistocene Demise of Large Prey Open
Documenting the impacts of the Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions on predator-prey interactions is a challenge because of the incomplete fossil record and depauperate extant community structure. We used a comparative ecological approach to…
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Prevalence and determinants of stereotypic behaviours and physiological stress among tigers and leopards in Indian zoos Open
India's charismatic wildlife species are facing immense pressure from anthropogenic-induced environmental perturbations. Zoos play a major role in the conservation of threatened species, but their adaptation in captivity is posing a major …
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Jaguar Densities across Human-Dominated Landscapes in Colombia: The Contribution of Unprotected Areas to Long Term Conservation Open
Large carnivores such as jaguars (Panthera onca) are species of conservation concern because they are suffering population declines and are keystone species in their ecosystems. Their large area requirements imply that unprotected and ever…
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Characterizing conflict between humans and big cats Panthera spp: A systematic review of research trends and management opportunities Open
Conservation of big cats (Panthera spp.), a taxonomic group including tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards and snow leopards, is a daunting challenge. As expanding human populations across Panthera range countries exacerbate competition for la…
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When roads appear jaguars decline: Increased access to an Amazonian wilderness area reduces potential for jaguar conservation Open
Roads are a main threat to biodiversity conservation in the Amazon, in part, because roads increase access for hunters. We examine how increased landscape access by hunters may lead to cascading effects that influence the prey community an…
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Leopard distribution and abundance is unaffected by interference competition with lions Open
Lay SummaryWe tested the population-level effects of a dominant competitor—lions—on a subordinate—leopards. Although lions were a common cause of leopard mortality, they did not suppress or displace leopards. Population growth was similar …
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Population dynamics and threats to an apex predator outside protected areas: implications for carnivore management Open
Data on the population dynamics and threats to large carnivores are vital to conservation efforts, but these are hampered by a paucity of studies. For some species, such as the leopard ( Panthera pardus ), there is such uncertainty in popu…
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Monitoring Natural SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Lions (Panthera leo) at the Barcelona Zoo: Viral Dynamics and Host Responses Open
To date, no evidence supports the fact that animals play a role in the epidemiology of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, se…
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A roaring trade? The legal trade in Panthera leo bones from Africa to East-Southeast Asia Open
The African lion is the only big cat listed on CITES Appendix II, and the only one for which international commercial trade is legal under CITES. The trade in lion body parts, and especially the contentious trade in bones from South Africa…
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From Attitudes to Actions: Predictors of Lion Killing by Maasai Warriors Open
Despite legal protection, deliberate killing by local people is one of the major threats to the conservation of lions and other large carnivores in Africa. Addressing this problem poses particular challenges, mainly because it is difficult…
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A Comparative Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Structure in Jaguars (Panthera onca), Pumas (Puma concolor), and Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) in Fragmented Landscapes of a Critical Mesoamerican Linkage Zone Open
With increasing anthropogenic impact and landscape change, terrestrial carnivore populations are becoming more fragmented. Thus, it is crucial to genetically monitor wild carnivores and quantify changes in genetic diversity and gene flow i…
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Under the Skin of a Lion: Unique Evidence of Upper Paleolithic Exploitation and Use of Cave Lion (Panthera spelaea) from the Lower Gallery of La Garma (Spain) Open
Pleistocene skinning and exploitation of carnivore furs have been previously inferred from archaeological evidence. Nevertheless, the evidence of skinning and fur processing tends to be weak and the interpretations are not strongly sustain…
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Road development in Asia: Assessing the range-wide risks to tigers Open
Roads are encroaching on tiger range in Asia, increasing tiger extinction risk and necessitating bold new planning strategies.
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Patterns of livestock depredation and cost‐effectiveness of fortified livestock enclosures in northern Tanzania Open
Human–carnivore conflicts and retaliatory killings contribute to carnivore populations' declines around the world. Strategies to mitigate conflicts have been developed, but their efficacy is rarely assessed in a randomized case–control des…
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Investigating the potential impact of trophy hunting of wild ungulates on snow leopard<i>Panthera uncia</i>conservation in Tajikistan Open
Declining availability of prey is potentially a major factor limiting snow leopard Panthera uncia populations in Tajikistan and neighbouring states. Conservation initiatives to develop community-based trophy hunting programmes for ibex Cap…