Conservation Research In The Field

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.

What Is Conservation Research?

Conservation, or field, research is the scientific study of a species' natural history. Where are the cats located? What kind of habitat do they use? What do they eat? What are their activity patterns and social organizations?

Population status surveys confirm the presence or absence of a species and estimate the density of the population. Repeated surveys on the same animals monitor their changing dynamics.

Without all these answers, it is impossible to design an effective conservation plan. Without knowing how large the population is, or their preferred habitat, suitable protected areas cannot be determined. Information is gathered with the use of radio telemetry equipment, camera traps, box traps, scat and track surveys, and interviews with local people.

Funds are always need to finance conservation research projects, and always difficult to find for small wild cat projects. Learn more about our featured conservation research projects below and see how you can help. All donors will receive our online monthly member's newsletter. Tax receipts will be issued for all Canadian donations, but we are unable to issue receipts for international funds.

 Black Footed Cat, South Africa

 Ecology & Conservation of Four Sympatric Cat Species, Argentina

 Wild Cats of Brazil

Prairie Cougar in Alberta