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SES Statement
French: chat de Geoffroy
German: Geoffroykatze
Spanish: gato de mato, gato montés
Mission Statement AZA institutions. The holding space formally held by Geoffroy's will be devoted to species deemed higher priority by the Felid TAG. CITIES. Very little research has been done on the genetic viability and fragmentation in situ. The Geoffroy's cat MAC hopes to encourage and assist in situ research.
The Geoffroy's Cat Species Enhancement Strategy (SES) mission is to develop a long-range captive management plan for the North American population of Oncifelis geoffroyi, to assist holders of this species in management issues and genetic information to maintain the strongest possible population, to encourage and aid both in situ and ex situ research projects, to aid in establishing new holders and additional captive holding space.
Goals for the Geoffroy's Cat SES program include:
Locating, identifying, and obtaining genetic background information for all Geoffroy's cats in North America.
Assist in managing the population to the greatest possible genetic potential.
Serve as a source for current husbandry practices and special health concerns or considerations.
Aid and encourage both in situ and ex situ research and conservation efforts.
Assist in placing surplus animals.
Encourage new breeders and expand the captive holding capacity.
Determine the validity of sub-species from a DNA perspective.
Determine the extent of Geoffroy/domestic hybrids and ability to positively identify such hybrids
The AZA Felid TAG has chosen to manage this species to extinction because of lack of holding space and the small population being held by
We feel that there is a good genetic base within North America, mainly held by the private sector, including recent importations from Europe and several offspring from wild caught specimens. Further importation of founders is possible and being pursued. Dr. William Swanson, of the Cincinnati Zoo, also is holding a limited amount of frozen semen collected from wild Geoffroy's cats in South America that could add founders to the genetic base. His research on artificial insemination techniques with Geoffroy's cats was suspended when a privately held collection with which he was working was forced to be dispersed. It is hoped that the SES can aid in putting together another group of specimens to continue this research.
The ability of private holders to expand their holding space and the possibilities of adding new holders greatly enhances the outlook for maintaining a self-sustaining North American captive population.
Named after the French naturalist Geoffroy St. Hilaire, Geoffroy's Five subspecies have been described:
Oncifelis geoffroyi geoffroyi
Central Argentina
O. g. euxantha
Northern Argentina, Andean Bolivia
O. g. leucobapta
Patagonia
O. g. paraguayae
Paraguay, south east Brazil, Uruguay, north Argentina
O. g. salinarum
North west to central Argentina
Genetic evaluation of the validity of Geoffroy's cats subspecies has been conducted by Warren Johnson of the Cancer Institute. We are awaiting the results of this study to determine if Geoffroy's should be managed on a species or sub-species level. Preliminary information indicates that there is not enough genetic variability to merit sub-species. The extent of the sample tested population also would have to be determined. This may not rule out the possible existence of subspecies that were not part of the research.
Availability of captive holding space: AZA captive holding space is very limited and has been recommended to be used for other species by the Felid TAG. For this reason, holding space in the private sector must be utilized to sustain the captive population.
Status of the wild South American population: Geoffroy's cats are listed as Appendix I by
Determining the extent of Geoffroy's cat/domestic hybrids and the ability to positively identify such animals.
$250 for copy of SPARKS software for species coordinator
$150 for Studbook publishing and distribution
Short-term Goals for the Upcoming Year
Begin identifying all existing Geoffroy's cats in North America and listing them in the studbook.
Establish the Management Advisory Committee and elect officers, a species coordinator, and a studbook keeper.
Establish guidelines and methods to assist facilities in finding appropriate mates
Identify all current in situ and ex situ research projects involving Geoffroy's cats and explore their needs, financial and otherwise.
Identify budgetary needs and establish a budget.
Identify methods for achieving budgetary needs.
Identify methods for achieving budgetary needs.
Set a date and location for an annual meeting of the Geoffroy's cat Management Advisory Committee where members present the work/accomplishments of the prior year and plan work/research for the upcoming year.
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