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Redfield, B.
Wild Cat Conservation Needs: A comparative Analysis of Public Perception
2012 Full Book
When one considers cat conservation or wild cats in general, it is likely that an image of a lion, tiger, or leopard will come to mind. But in reality, there are 37 species of cats and of these, only 6 species are considered "large" cats (Sanderson & Watson, 2011). That leaves 30 species of "small" cats that receive little public attention, and in many cases are much more critically endangered. But why is this? Have the zoo-going public been better educated to the conservation needs and efforts of large wild cat species or small wild cat species? During the months of September through November, 2012 zoo guests at the Cosley Zoo in Wheaton, Illinois were surveyed on a number of issues, including factors that directly relate to this question. The results of the survey showed that zoo guests not only displayed a greater knowledge of large wild cats than small wild cats, but that they were also more familiar with non-native wild cats than they were with the wild cat species that could be found in their own backyards.
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