Answer

Saving the Marbled Cat

The rapid loss of biodiversity in the world today has become a major reason for worry; conservationists present that major extinction events are currently underway, with a wide range of species threatened. Indeed, the population size(s) of many a species has drastically declined in recent years, particularly due to human threats in terms of habitat destruction and direct exploitation (hunting) (Hoffman et al., 2011). The threat of extinction that many species face is directly or indirectly related to human activity, hence the elevated role of human action in saving such species (from extinction). Unsustainable hunting as well as habitat destruction represent significant threats to many vertebrae species, more so in South America, Africa, and Asia, regions that are home to most of the world’s rare species. One of the species facing extinction and that needs saving is the marbled cat (Pardofelismarmorata). This paper discusses the threats that this species is facing and how they can be overcome.

Species Description, IUCN Red List Status, and Threats

Previously, the marble cat had been categorized as vulnerable but a check on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List shows that it has been relegated to its current status: Near Threatened. Ross and colleagues (2016) inform that this change in status was prompted by the confirmation of earlier predicted distribution in some areas, through set-up camera traps.

The marbled cat is a felid species that is mainly found in Asia’s tropical forests. Specific locations where it is found include tropical Indo-Malaya, the stretch from the Himalayan hills to Nepal and going east to the Sumatra and Borneo islands in southwest China (Lyngdoh et al., 2011). It is to be found in various locations across China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, Malay Peninsula, India, and Cambodia. As it is a species that is facing extinction, there are few other known confirmed locations. Belonging to the Bay cat lineage, the marbled cat is morphologically well-suited to, according to Hunter and Barret (2011), lead an arboreal life.  They species is mainly associated with “moist and mixed deciduous-evergreen tropical” forests where it also, at least sometimes, preys on other arboreal species (Selvan et al., 2013, p.3583). The species is nocturnal and largely elusive, occurring in low densities in the aforementioned locations. These factors contribute in unity to the resulting minimal interaction with humans. In fact, confirmed identities as well as presence have been by way of camera traps.

In light of the fact that the marbled cat is a rare species that is nocturnal and elusive, its behavior is virtually unknown. Ross et al. (2016) inform that there is no much published data on the marbled cat because, a fact that elevates the current case for the need to save the species. Perhaps if there were enough numbers of the marbled cat there could be enough data.  Encounters with the marbled cat has only been possible though camera traps in animal surveys and the fact that they are found in remote areas characterized by political instability and difficult terrain makes it very difficult to conduct ecological studies.

As to what preys on the marbled cat, larger carnivores found in tropical forests are mentioned in literature (Fedriani et al., 2000).  This identification has been in the context of the spatial distribution of marbled cats and other similar-sized mammals.  Larger carnivores, particularly those that live in social clusters, more often than not exert dominance over smaller ones, specifically in terms of preying (interspecific killing), kleptoparasitism, and access to vital resources just to mention but a few.  In fact, it is the dominance of larger carnivores that determines the population abundance and distribution of smaller carnivores, the marbled cat included. In this vein, the concept of dietary overlap gains relevance and gives insight into the possible preys of the marbled cat. According to Ross et al. (2016) and Lynam et al. (2013), there is a general activity and dietary overlap between the marbled cat and the leopard cat as they both mainly feed on small arboreal and terrestrial rodents. This factor has been attributed to competition between these species and a notable temporal segregation in the locations where they occur (Lynam et al., 2013). The species have also been observed to stalk birds, a behavior that indicates birds could be part of its diet. Otherwise, not much is known about what else the marbled cat preys on.

As earlier implied, threats to the marbled cat and other endangered species mainly arise from habitat destruction and direct exploitation through hunting. In reference to the Asian regions where this species occurs, Wright (2005) points out that nearly half of the tropical forests there have been destroyed and turned to other uses (of land), for instance settlement and farming. Even the portions of the tropical forests that remain face the risk of gradual deforestation, which is in fact a global problem. An ever-growing human population and related developmental pressure as well as hunting for both commercial and subsistence purposes threaten not only biodiversity in general but also specifically the existence of the marbled cat (Clements, 2014; Wilcove et al., 2013). The appeal of the marbled cat and as such its target by hunting elements is magnified by the fact that its skin, bones, and meat are highly valued (IUCN, 2019). The risk for this species becomes even more considering that wildlife conservation efforts for instance through prohibition of poaching do not pay much attention to the marbled cat as to other species. The IUCN (2019) also reports indiscriminate snaring as a significant threat besides deliberate retaliatory killing on claims that marbled cats are poultry pets.

In light of the threats identified above, an inference can be made that humans in their individual and collective capacity (in the context of organizations) are the main threat to the survival of the species under focus. Therefore, human action is crucial to the saving of the marbled cat and other endangered species.

Solutions to Threats

Since the major threats to the species include habitat destruction (deforestation), hunting, snaring, and illegal trade (in marble cat products), it goes without saying that addressing this issues through legal efforts and general law enforcement is crucial in saving the marbled cat. Thus, legislation has been at the core of conservation efforts across the regions where the species occurs. Many countries like China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, and Nepal among others have prohibited hunting (IUCN, 2019). Many action groups advocate for increased legal protection of endangered wildlife as could be achieved through protection of their natural habitats. It is for this reason that many countries have nationalized forests and placed them under protection of national authorities. Marking some areas and fencing them off as protected national parks and game reserves are also crucial actions in the biodiversity conservation narrative.

 Imperatively, other solutions can be suggested to help in saving the marbled cat. For instance, while many countries have put in place relevant legal protection, there is need to increase this protection through increased/stiffer penalties for those engaging in deforestation and hunting. More could also be achieved if developed countries increased regulatory support for developing countries engaged in conservation efforts.

As some communities in various regions across the globe are naturally hunters, governments could try and provide them with alternative foods (Coad et al., 2010). It could be beneficial to sensitize the communities on the need to spare rare and endangered species so that if they must hunt, they only target species that are in abundance and as such resilient to the pressure of hunting, because perhaps they reproduce very fast and in large numbers. In the same breath, such communities could also be provided with incentives to shift their dependence on wild meat to protein-rich plant foods like beans and peas. Last yet important is improvement of governance so that loopholes in existing policies and regulatory frameworks with respect to conservation can be sealed. That way, both developed and developing countries can speak with one voice on matters conservation and sustainability.

Personal Conservation Efforts

There is no denying that knowledge on the marble cat’s distribution, habitat preference, and population density as well as conservation requirement is limited.  However, it is important to initiate programs that would reduce the threats identified (above) so that ultimately this species is saved from extinction. True as it were, almost all environmental and conservation problems are connected to human behavior. It is, therefore, important that the factors and motives influencing humans to engage in environmentally friendly actions and sustainable lifestyles in general are understood. In the current conversation, I have adopted an ecological worldview informed by my concern for the environment and a belief that environmental degradation at one part or point of the globe equally affects everywhere in general. This makes sense when the interrelated nature of ecological systems is taken into consideration.

In my resolve to help save the marbled cat, I have decided to engaged in environmental behavior (more precisely pro-environmental) which, according to Kollmuss and Agyeman (2002) is the behavior that “seeks to minimize the negative impact of one’s actions on the natural and built world” (p.240). While it may seem that my personal behavior has nothing to do with saving the marbled cat, I believe I am part and parcel of the natural environment so my personal behaviors will go a long way in saving it. Minimizing environmental degradation means preserving the natural habitat of the marbled cat.

Being aware of how deforestation threatens the marbled cat, I decided to avoid using paper and recorded the data to help assess the impact. I have traditionally been in the habit of taking down notes on a sheet of paper as I read and considering that I go to my library every evening (for three hours), I usually use about 10 sheets of paper for note taking. I decided to change this habit and instead use a text marker to highlight the main points in the books as I read so that I can always locate them and make reference whenever need arises. I recorded the data as thus: On average, I would need about two sheets of paper for every 6 pages I read.

In total, I avoided using 19 sheets of paper. If I continue implementing this change for a year, I will save, more precisely avoid using (19×52) = 988 sheets of paper. Taking into account the economics and logistics of paper production, this will have saved a significant number of trees. The relation to the global issue of deforestation is clear. I will have contributed to saving the marbled cat, albeit indirectly through habitat preservation because in the context of globalization, there is a possibility that the trees that would be used in paper production will be sourced from tropical forests in Asia, home to the marbled cat.

In conclusion, the cat is one of the endangered species in the world that needs saving. It has been classified by the IUCN as Near Threatened species. The fact that it is mostly nocturnal and elusive means knowledge on this species is limited. However, a few sources in literature inform that it preys on arboreal and terrestrial rodents and perhaps the birds it has been observed to stalk. Major threats include hunting, illegal trade, snaring, and habitat destruction. Having in place strong laws and regulatory frameworks will go a long way in addressing these threats. Importantly, the collective efforts of various actors at organizational, communal, and personal levels and particularly the adoption of environmental behaviors will help save the marbled cat from possible extinction.