About Us

The International Society for Endangered Cats ISEC) Canada was incorporated as a federally registered, tax charitable non-profit organization in Canada in 1990. We are based in Calgary, Alberta. None of the directors or other personnel involved receive a salary – we are a totally volunteer organization. This allows us to spend all profits from donations, memberships and product sales directly on wild cat conservation programs.

ISEC Canada founder and Director Pat Bumstead is a member of the IUCN/Species Survival Commission Reintroduction Specialist Group. ISEC Canada is also an invited member of the Canadian Commission for the World Conservation Union.

Our Mission: To aid in the wild conservation and captive preservation of endangered and threatened small wild cat species though education and support for scientific observation.

Wild cat conservation is a multi-faceted process, with four equally important areas to be addressed. Since our inception, we have been supporting the following objectives.

Support for Field Research Projects

Please note ISEC Canada does NOT recommend or hire any staff or volunteers for conservation research projects. Research projects we fund are staffed by the researchers, or the institution organizing the project.

Current Projects

Argentinean Cat Conservation - Headed by Dr. Mauro Lucherini, Grupo de Ecologia Comportamental de Mamiferos (GECM) has started the Argentinean Cat Conservation Biology Program, with the aim of contributing to the understanding and conservation of Argentinean cats. Particular attention is given to four species, whose reported geographical range is widely included within Argentinean borders: Geoffroy's cat, kodkod,Pampas cat and Andean Mountain cat.

The Black Footed Cat Project - The tiny black footed cat is one of the least studied of all African species, being rarely encountered. The study gathered information on activity patterns, range use, behavioural patterns and feeding ecology of this endangered cat. The biologist obtained the first ever photo of black footed cat kittens in the wild, at two days old. Research project is ongoing.

African Golden Cat Study - This ongoing research project will continue for the next two years at several sites in Gabon that differ in their level of human disturbance. The camera traps will be used at these sites to determine the golden cat’s density in these areas, their preferred habitat, their activity patterns, to what extent they compete with leopards, and the effect on them of human activities such as logging and hunting.

Past Projects

• Wild Cats of Brazil - a large scale multidisciplinary effort to study Brazilian felids.
• Spatial Ecology and Conservation of Felids - a long-term field study on the ecology of several rare and endangered felids in Thailand.
• Malaysia Carnivore Project - An international scientific team dedicated to the conservation of Asian carnivore species. 
• The Global Cheetah Project - an ambitious count of cheetah populations and status throughout its African range.
  The Clouded Leopard Project - An initial survey in the Indian states of Mizoram and Sikkim to access the occurance and status of the clouded leopard.
• The Alberta Cougar Project - this project was the longest running study of the cougar in North America, with data collected in the mountains of south western Alberta 
• The East Kootenay Lynx Project - regional distribution, abundance and habitat association, spatial organization, dispersal and movement patterns of the lynx in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia. 

Education and Public Awareness

Established a members' network around the world, and provide newsletters on the status of, and issues concerning, small wild cats. 

Compiled and continue to maintain a Research Library with scientific and popular data 

Prepared Feline Facts, a booklet of fact sheets on all wild cat species, and Wild Cat Facts, a junior version of the same information. These books have been distributed to schools, libraries and conservationists around the world  

Published articles in newspapers and magazines, written a variety of informational brochures and booklets on wild cat conservation issues.   

Supplied books and information on conservation, ecology and wild cats to over 18 countries   

Created school programs for Grades one through six, dealing with the dangers facing wild cats  

Maintain a website, blog and a presence on all social media sites 

Support for Captive Breeding

• SOS Care, a private breeding facility in southern California 
• The Iberian Lynx El Acebuche Captive Breeding Centre in Spain 
• The Clouded Leopard Project in Thailand 

Habitat Preservation - Costa Rica, Brazil, Cambodia and Canada

The International Society for Endangered Cats (ISEC) Canada is a registered non-profit charity under Canadian law, Charity Number 13308-8641-RR001. Tax receipts will be issue to Canadian citizens for donations over $10.00. Sorry - we cannot issue tax receipts for membership dues or international donations.