Global Wild Cat Monitoring CatData
One place to organize, standardize and trace monitoring evidence for small wild cats worldwide — helping researchers see what is known, what is missing, and what may support future IUCN Red List assessments.
Monitoring projects and wild cat sightings
Explore the monitoring network and the species it covers, or view public-source sightings.
Monitoring projects
Explore the locations, species and working groups reported in the current Wild Cats Monitoring workbook.
Preview of an incomplete collection. This map includes only workbook rows that supply a country and usable location. The legend identifies groups still awaiting location data, and the map can be regenerated when updates arrive.
109 markers shown. Filter by working group or species. Use the + and − buttons at the left to zoom, drag the map to move, and click or tap a dot for details. A row with several monitoring areas produces several markers.
Location privacy: every source coordinate was independently replaced with a randomized display point inside its own approximately 22 km grid cell. Exact coordinates, contact information and member details are not included in this public map. Knowing the true location of one point does not reveal the offset used for any other point.
Wild cat sightings
Explore existing iNaturalist Research-grade observations published through GBIF, with their source credits and links preserved.
Not yet checked by the Cat Specialist Group. These GBIF/iNaturalist records have not yet been checked by the Cat Specialist Group. Automated screening and iNaturalist Research Grade do not replace specialist review. Species identifications may be incorrect. These sightings are not population estimates or confirmed monitoring projects.
Choose a species, then click or tap a circle. Its observations and source credits appear below the map. Use the + and − buttons at the left to zoom, and drag the map to move. You do not need to know any coordinates.
Advanced: choose an area by coordinates
Optional latitude/longitude navigation, including a keyboard-friendly alternative to the circles. These are broad display areas—not monitoring sites or TrailCam deployments.
Loading the screened public map…
Locations are grouped into 5° × 5° cells. Zoom helps compare those broad areas, but it does not reveal exact sighting sites or the true spacing of records inside one circle.
A blank area means no records in this limited release—not that wild cats are absent or that the area has not been surveyed. Multiple records can concern the same animal. Made with Natural Earth.
What is included—and what stays private?
Wild cat species of every conservation status, including endangered cats, are eligible. This release uses the iNaturalist Research-grade source dataset, observations dated January 2000 through September 20, 2026, and individual CC0, CC BY 4.0 or CC BY-NC 4.0 licenses. Domestic cats, hybrids, unresolved species matches, invalid dates and serious location warnings are excluded. Species appear in the selector only when qualifying records are available.
Routine GBIF processing flags for coordinate rounding or deriving a continent are allowed. The source species identifier lookup warning is accepted only where the original species name agrees with GBIF’s accepted species name and a species key is present. This does not constitute a fresh expert identification.
Locations are grouped into 5° × 5° display areas. Unobscured source locations require reported uncertainty of at most 5 km. We also accept the explicit source notice that uncertainty was increased to protect a threatened taxon, up to 50 km; we use only those already-public obscured coordinates, never infer the original location. Other withholding, generalization and access restrictions remain excluded. Areas describe grouped public location estimates, not verified sighting boundaries. Original source links may show more detail than CatData.
GBIF has no universal “Research Grade” verification badge. The label here comes from the iNaturalist dataset at the September 20, 2026 download, not a new CatData scientific review. Source classifications and identifications can change. Automated screening is not proof that every identification or wild/captive assessment is correct.
Photographs, genetic/sample details, contact information and original coordinate precision are not republished here. Restricted records are not unlocked by the pilot password. A future private map needs individual administrator identity and permission checks; permission to view would not itself allow sharing.
Source: iNaturalist contributors, iNaturalist Research-grade Observations, accessed through GBIF Occurrence Download, September 20, 2026. Credits, original records and individual licenses are linked below each selected area. CatData changes locations to broad display markers and dates to years; source notices remain available at the linked records. No endorsement by contributors is implied. Data are supplied without warranties; see the linked licenses and source notices. This is a snapshot, not a live iNaturalist feed.
Reuse permissions differ: CC0 permits broad reuse; CC BY requires attribution; CC BY-NC additionally restricts commercial use. CatData displays these records for noncommercial conservation information and does not grant broader rights. Check each record’s license before reuse. Photographs have separate permissions and are not included.
| Wild cat | Year | Contributor / rights-holder credit | Original records and license |
|---|
Current monitoring map at a glance
These figures come from the current Wild Cats Monitoring workbook and will update when the map data are regenerated.
Monitoring & evidence readiness
Search by species, region or evidence need. The proposed permanent taxon ID keeps historical observations intact even if scientific names change later.
Demonstration species table
| Species / taxon | Sites | Repeat | Coverage | Evidence readiness |
|---|
All table metrics are manufactured demonstration data. Clicking a row opens an illustrative species record.
Data pipeline
Records cleared through the contributor workflow
This separate area is for contributions that complete CatData scientific and permission review. The public-source GBIF map above uses a different, clearly labeled source-screening policy; it does not imply Cat Specialist verification.
A gap finder, not an automated assessment
The CatData would never decide whether a species is Vulnerable, Endangered or another category. It would show whether the evidence needed by human assessors is complete, partial or missing.
43 named wild cat species are currently available, including the Clouded Tiger Cat, Leopardus pardinoides; Eastern Tiger Cat, Leopardus emiliae; and Tilcayo Tiger Cat, Leopardus tilcayo. Stable taxon-concept IDs allow additional tiger cats, pampas cats and other future species to be added without rewriting older records.
Select a taxon
Local evidence, connected all the way to the Cat Specialist Group
The deployed Kobo workflow now connects each leader, project, monitoring site, deployment or survey, and evidence record through stable IDs.
Recommended hierarchy
Connections must remain flexible
Linked Kobo form set and permanent IDs
Instead of one enormous form, contributors open the short form that matches the record they need to add. Every form uses the same multilingual labels and connects through stable IDs.
Leader & organization profile
Creates a contributor identity, organization, countries, working-group relationships and contact permissions.
LEADER IDLocal project registration
Creates the umbrella project, local leader, taxa, geographic scope, methods, partners, permits and sharing rules.
PROJECT IDMonitoring site registration
Creates a reusable site beneath the project, with protected coordinates, habitat, boundaries and access restrictions.
SITE IDDeployment or survey round
Records the equipment, dates, effort, protocol, observers and method used during a particular monitoring period.
DEPLOYMENT IDObservation & evidence module
Adds detections, signs, samples, mortality records, analysis results and repository links to the correct deployment.
EVIDENCE IDCorrection & review action
Updates an existing record, records who changed it and routes material corrections back to the appropriate reviewer.
AUDIT RECORDFrom separate research projects to useful shared evidence
CatData is a working pilot. Its monitoring-project map and headline dashboard now reflect the current Wild Cats Monitoring workbook using generalized locations, and its public-source map shows a screened subset of real GBIF observations. Species-readiness and workflow examples remain fictional. Experienced researchers are still needed to test the full contribution and review workflow before wider participation begins.
How projects and locations stay connected
Each item is entered once at the level where it belongs and receives a stable ID. A project may contain several monitoring sites. Each site may contain repeated deployments or survey rounds. Observations and evidence link to the deployment that produced them. Every record can therefore be traced back through its site, project, leader and Working Group without forcing different projects into one enormous spreadsheet.
Protection and quality are separate checks
How protected records can still guide conservation
Once approved records use the same species, site, method, effort and time-period fields, CatData can combine only the information permitted for that purpose. It can summarize monitoring coverage without exposing exact coordinates; compare repeat surveys without publishing individual detections; identify geographic, species or method gaps; and show where longer-term evidence is strong enough for scientific review. Those summaries can help Working Groups plan the next monitoring priorities, avoid duplicated effort and present funders with a clearer, evidence-based case for filling important gaps. Restricted source records remain traceable to their owners and are not made public merely because they contribute to an approved summary.
One master workbook, organized as linked tables
New researcher input confirms that a monitoring site is not the same thing as a survey, a camera station or a detection. Keeping these as separate but linked records makes repeat monitoring, population trends, embargoes and future exports dependable.
Recommended tabs in the chair-managed master workbook
| Tab | One row represents | Essential contents | How it is populated |
|---|---|---|---|
| People & organizations | One person or organization | Stable IDs, roles, contact permissions and affiliations | Leader Registration plus chair review |
| Projects | One research or monitoring project | Project Name, Project Leaders, Contact Email, Institutions, Countries, ownership, partners, permits, purpose, methods and data-use agreement | Project Registration |
| Sites | One persistent monitoring area | Project ID, Study Site, Country, Latitude, Longitude, Protected Area, Start year of monitoring, habitat and location sensitivity | Site Registration |
| Project–site taxa | One taxon associated with one project and site | Project ID, Site ID, Common Name, Scientific Name, taxon ID and whether target, incidental, detected or not yet detected | Repeat section in Site Registration, normalized into its own table |
| Stations | One camera or sampling point | Station ID, protected coordinates, setup and parent Site ID | Survey form or Camtrap DP import |
| Surveys & deployments | One repeatable sampling period | Dates, protocol, equipment, target taxa, intended effort, actual effort, failures and camera nights | Deployment/Survey Registration or import |
| Observations & evidence | One detection, sign, mortality event or sample | Taxon, date/time, evidence type, identification confidence, verification and parent Survey ID | Kobo for field records; batch import for TrailCams |
| External media & sample references | One file, sequence or physical specimen reference | Permanent URI, checksum, media type, repository/accession, storage status and related Evidence ID | References supplied by project owners, GenBank/BOLD or specialist repositories |
| Access & release | One dataset-level permission decision | Owner, embargo date or indefinite restriction, allowed users, public-coordinate precision, license and release approval | Project owner; CSG chairs administer but do not override |
| Review & audit | One validation or correction action | Reviewer, decision, date, original value, revised value and reason | Working-group and CSG review |
| Import batches | One submitted legacy dataset | Source system and file, Project/Site IDs, owner, license, sensitivity, protocol, reviewer, status and import totals | Authenticated Existing Dataset Import Request plus review |
| Import review | One warning, error or mapping decision | Source row, original value, proposed value, severity, resolution and destination record | Import adapter plus reviewer decision |
| Code lists & crosswalks | One controlled term or export mapping | Taxon IDs, methods, evidence types, uncertainty terms and mappings to Camtrap DP/Darwin Core | CSG chairs maintain centrally |
Exact crosswalk from the existing IUCN form
The existing workbook contains 16 columns across three tabs. Repeated labels such as Project Name and Study Site become ID links in the master workbook, while the readable names remain available in chair-facing views and exports.
| Existing IUCN tab | Existing columns retained | Organized destination | Kobo source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project_Information | Project Name; Project Leaders; Contact Email; Institutions; Countries | Projects, linked to People & Organizations | Leader Registration + Project Registration |
| Study_sites | Project Name; Study Site; Country; Latitude; Longitude; Protected Area; Start year of monitoring | Sites, linked by projectID and siteID | Site Registration |
| Species_info | Project Name; Study Site; Common Name; Scientific Name | Project–site taxa, linked by projectID, siteID and taxonID | Repeatable “Cats at this site” section in Site Registration |
Compatibility check: the first two IUCN tabs are already represented in the hierarchical reference. The field that must be made explicit is Common Name, paired with Scientific Name at the project–site level. Chair-facing export views should reproduce the three original IUCN tabs and column order whenever needed.
Changes to the Kobo forms
What should not be typed into Kobo
A large TrailCam project may contain millions of files and detections. Kobo should register the project, site and survey, then accept a reference to a reviewed batch—not become the image-processing database.
Working September 2026 prototype based on the current research summary and CSG input received to date. CameraSweet compatibility now follows Jim Sanderson’s documented file structure and 60-minute independent-event rule.
Come back, continue the work, and correct mistakes
The finished CatData should recognize a signed-in researcher and show only the projects, sites and records that person is authorized to manage.
My projects & sites
PLANNED WORKSPACEIllustrative records only. These buttons show the intended return path and do not yet alter Kobo or scientific data.
Proposed return workflow
Role-based access
| Role | Appropriate access | Primary responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| CSG administrator | All working groups, projects, sites and approved records | Global standards, oversight and final coordination |
| Working-group coordinator | Records carrying the coordinator’s assigned approval_scope_id | View, correct and validate only the matching Working Group’s submissions |
| Regional coordinator | Assigned countries, regions or partner projects | Support local leaders and check regional completeness |
| Local project leader | Own project, sites, team and submissions | Maintain accurate project and monitoring records |
| Field researcher | Assigned sites and data-entry modules | Add deployments, observations and field evidence |
| Scientific reviewer | Review and validation without ownership controls | Check methods, taxonomy, evidence and uncertainty |
| Public visitor | Approved summaries and generalized locations only | Learn from public conservation evidence |
Use existing systems instead of rebuilding them
The CatData would act as the coordinating and evidence layer. Existing specialist systems remain the right homes for raw imagery, genetic sequences, tracking streams and official IUCN assessments.
TrailCams
Keep deployments, media and observations compatible with Camtrap DP and systems such as Wildlife Insights.
InteroperableGenetic samples
Track sample provenance, repository, accession number, analysis type and taxonomic interpretation without exposing sensitive locations.
Human review requiredTelemetry
Reference studies and derived evidence from established movement-data systems such as Movebank rather than duplicating raw tracking archives.
Linked evidenceLiterature
Connect the Digital Cat Library to a reviewed evidence queue so relevant findings from papers are discoverable by species, geography and evidence type.
Review queueField forms
KoboToolbox shows the same linked forms in each partner’s language, works offline, and maps controlled answers into one standardized data structure. Existing datasets use one authenticated request followed by review—not thousands of individual form entries.
Multilingual + offlineIUCN workflow
The CatData prepares traceable evidence packages. The official assessment and review process remains in IUCN SIS under authorized users.
Never automate categoryKoboToolbox at the point of entry
All five linked forms can appear in the contributor’s chosen language. Dates, numbers and controlled choices map into one shared data structure. Narrative answers retain the original wording for review. KoboToolbox can also save work offline and upload it when a connection returns. See how KoboToolbox translations work ↗
One common core, then the right method module
Every project would first provide the same core information: organization, taxon, site, dates, survey effort, methods, permissions and source. The contributor would then complete only the module that matches the evidence collected.
TrailCam module
Deployments, active days, media-derived observations and analysis results, aligned with Camtrap DP. CatData stores monitoring data and references, not photos or videos. Original media remain with the project or its chosen external repository.
Demonstration availableField sightings & signs
Direct human sightings, tracks, calls, uncollected scat, scrape or rub marks, survey route, effort, observer, identification confidence and links to externally held supporting photographs. Structured around shared event and occurrence concepts.
Planned Kobo moduleBiological & genetic samples
Collected scat, hair, tissue or environmental DNA, with collection event, preservation, permits, repository, accession, laboratory method, result and taxonomic interpretation. The original sample remains linked to its field event.
Planned Kobo moduleRoadkill & mortality records
Roadkills and other carcasses, with date, location, taxon, identification confidence, external photograph references, apparent cause, age or sex when known, specimen disposition and collector. Any tissue or DNA sample from the animal links to the same mortality record.
Planned Kobo moduleOther linked evidence
Telemetry, interviews and literature use their own small modules or reference established repositories, while sharing the same project, site and taxon IDs.
Linked evidenceA scat record can follow two routes: if it is only observed, it is a field-sign record; if it is collected for analysis, it is also a biological-sample record. The two records stay connected in the primary database.
Current hierarchical data intake reference
The linked Google Sheet mirrors version 2026090302 of all seven Kobo forms, including the controlled approval_scope_id, the Site Taxa child table and the legacy-data import tables. The working species list now contains 43 named wild cat species. It is a public structural reference, not the private master database.
View the Hierarchical Data Intake Reference ↗Choose the data-sharing terms first
Before entering or importing observations, the contributor should choose how the submitted data may be shared. No open licence should be selected automatically. The safest starting choice is Private / undecided, so the data can be reviewed inside CatData without being released publicly while the contributor considers the options.
Separate protection: The sharing licence does not decide whether exact coordinates, den locations or other sensitive details are exposed. Location visibility and scientific-use permissions remain separate controls, and restricted details stay protected even when a public version of a record is released.
Bring published Felidae records into view without double-counting them
CatData should be able to compare new submissions with published Felidae occurrence records from GBIF. The preferred starting point is one family-wide GBIF Darwin Core Archive, rather than a separate permanent download for every species. A family-wide archive reduces gaps and overlaps caused by synonyms, taxonomic changes and records identified only to genus or family.
Keep the source and licence
Every imported record retains its GBIF ID, occurrence ID, dataset key, publisher, rights holder, licence, citation, download DOI and import date. CC0, CC BY and CC BY-NC records remain distinguishable; CatData does not replace the original attribution or permissions.
Traceable provenanceProtect sensitive locations
Coordinate uncertainty, information withheld, data generalizations and access restrictions are preserved. Importing a public record never authorizes CatData to reveal a more precise location supplied privately by a conservationist.
Location safeguardsMatch before adding
Incoming spreadsheets are first checked for exact identifiers such as GBIF ID and occurrence ID plus dataset key. Records without stable identifiers are compared using source dataset, catalog or record number, species, date, location, observer and supporting media.
Exact + probable matchesLink copies; do not erase history
An exact duplicate is linked to the existing observation instead of counted again. A probable match or conflicting version is held for human review. CatData keeps each source assertion and its permissions while using one canonical observation for analysis.
Human review for uncertaintyPublic-source release: the map uses screened iNaturalist records from the September 20, 2026 GBIF download, including endangered species, with individual credits and licenses. Only the broad-location display fields have been cleared; the imported data archive remains private, and photo and video evidence stays with its original owners or source platforms. These GBIF/iNaturalist records have not yet been checked by the Cat Specialist Group. Scheduled refreshes and a permission-scoped administrator map are not yet enabled.
Become a Wild Cat Watcher
Specialist review is still needed. Existing GBIF/iNaturalist records in CatData have not yet been checked by the Cat Specialist Group. New community observations also require specialist review before they can be described as checked by the Cat Specialist Group.
You do not need a scientific title or an institutional affiliation to contribute useful knowledge. Local residents, guides, rangers, travelers, photographers and naturalists can document wild cats and signs of their presence through iNaturalist. We call these contributors Community Wild Cat Observers.
Create your iNaturalist account
Join for free, complete your profile, check your iNaturalist messages and include a contact method you are comfortable sharing. Cat Specialists may need to ask what you saw, where you saw it and whether other evidence exists.
Document what you observed
Upload original photographs or sounds to iNaturalist when possible. CatData does not store photos or videos. Include the most accurate date and location you can, identify whether the animal was wild or captive, and add useful notes about behavior, tracks, threats or habitat. Never disturb a wild cat or publicly reveal a sensitive den or breeding location.
Help specialists investigate
CatData is planning a quarterly report of relevant wild cat observations. Cat Specialists would review promising records, contact observers through iNaturalist when more evidence is needed, and decide whether a record is suitable for the private CatData review process.
Why your knowledge matters
People who live, work and travel in wild cat habitat often notice changes before a formal survey begins. Their observations can reveal overlooked species, possible range changes, mortality, conflict, habitat pressure and places where monitoring or funding is urgently needed. A single report is not automatically treated as verified science; it becomes a lead that specialists can investigate.
Create a free iNaturalist account ↗
Planned CatData feature: You can sign up and begin posting observations on iNaturalist now. The quarterly CatData report, specialist review and transfer process are not yet automated. Only records that pass scientific, permission and location-sensitivity review would enter CatData.
CatData Start Here
New researchers, returning researchers, Working Group leaders and administrators each have a separate path. Enter the shared pilot password, then choose your role; no one needs to navigate Kobo’s My Projects screen.
Open Start Here