Threats & Conservation
The treats to this cat’s survival in the wild are ,as usual, almost uniquely due to human activity:
- Loss of habitat – deforestation resulting in loss of prey and the cat itself.
- Bush meat trade – negative impact on population of prey.
- Incidental wire trapping.
- Fake medicine (my terminology) – skins thought to have medicinal use.
- Good luck charms – skins
- The leopard preys on the African Golden Cat.
Listed in CITES Appendix II, which means, “…species that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled.” (quoted verbatim for accuracy). CITES attempts to control the trade in animals and animal parts.
In regards to conservation, hunting is prohibited in:
- Angola
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Congo
- Ghana
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Sierra Leone
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- and regulated in Gabon, Liberia and Togo
However, how good is enforcement? And the major threat is loss of habitat so prohibiting hunting probably has limited impact on conservation. In June 2018 it was reported that the government of Congo was opening the famous Virunga and Salonga National Parks to oil drilling. Twenty-one percent of the park will be declassified allowing commercial activity. This is a classic example of how commerce erodes the survivability in the wild of these special wild cat species. It will only get worse in Africa. Africa is being exploited by the Chinese to dig up metals etc. for their burgeoning manufacturing businesses.
Note:
1. Wildcats of The World by Mel and Fiona Sunquist — 2. IUCN Red List.
