"Dbon shkin" the clouded tiger cat in the Comarca Naso Tjër Di, Panama
A project from F.A.W.N. Deutschland e.V. in Timiyic, Panama
Scientific study on the presence of the new cat species Leopardus pardinoides capacitating th elocal organisation ODESEN to conduct Camera trap transsects and analyze the obtained data. As a result ODESEN can direct conservation action independantly.
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About this project
J. Ziegler from F.A.W.N. Deutschland e.V. is responsible for this project
Until recently the tiger cat complex had 2 species – Leopardus tigrinus and Leopardus guttulus (De
Oliveira et al. 2024). Both are listed vulnerable in the IUCN Red list (Payan & de Oliveira 2016).
Following Principal Component Analysis specimen inhabiting the cloudforests of Central and South
America belong to a new species – Leopardus pardinoides (clouded tiger cat/”Dbon shkon” in Naso
language). Tiger cats are rare with low population densities throughout their range (Oliveira et al
2011, 2013). Because they occur in threatened ecoregions they have lost 50-70% of their historic
range. Intensive hunting for the fur trade, retaliatory killing, road kills and the presence of ocelots
are other reasons for their rarity. Very limited information on the distribution, density, relative
abundance of the clouded tiger cat is available. Since it is a new species there is no Red List
assessment. In Costa Rica even extensive surveys (Gonzales-Maya & Schipper 2008) had little
success documenting it. Data on its distribution and ecology is vital in order to direct conservation
policies and actions on a community, local, national and international level. Following habitat
suitability modeling the species` distribution in Central America is isolated and confined to the
Talamanca mountain range. Terrain ruggedness was one of the variables positively affecting
habitat suitability. The Comarca Naso Tj.r Di is part of the protected area Bosque Protector Palo
Seco and the La Amistad International Park. It was established in 2022 following a Supreme Court
ruling. Elevations rise from sea level to above 3000m. The area is rugged and can only be reached
by boat. Naso folklore tales report the presence of a cat high up in the mountains, most likely
describing the new species. The last 13 years I have supported ODESEN in their quest for
sustainable development and conservation. In the community camera trap study “Dbon Tjang” in
2014 we documented all six felids and almost all Central American mammal species (Ziegler 2016).
Lack of funding allowed only 8-10 cameras to be deployed. Now ten years later we want to set up
a professional camera trap transect which allows to verify the presence of L. pardinoides and
obtain data on its ecology, density and distribution and other small cat species in the area. The
equipment and training provided capacitates the local organisation ODESEN to independently and
continuously conduct species` monitoring. In the future surveys for other species can be
conducted with invited researchers combining modern science with indigenous knowledge.
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