1973 iucn yearbook

took place in Corbett National Park in April. WWF has already commenced
funding for essential equipment involved.
A field project for study of the tiger in Nepal has started. Plans have
been made for studies on the tiger in Java and Sumatra. No recent
sightings have been reported of the Caspian tiger in Afghanistan and a
preliminary survey of part of the range of this race in Iran produced no
firm evidence of its existence there.
Other cats
Major surveys of threatened cats were continued, these being undertaken
by Norman Myers (cheetah and leopard in Africa) and by Carl B.
Koford (jaguar and ocelot in Latin America). The surveys aim to provide
status information on the animals concerned to guide conservation
action and are linked with discussions with the fur trade in regard to
halting exploitation.
Norman Myers completed his survey work and action was in hand
to finalize reports for publication. Cheetah populations were found to
be under considerable pressure and unless exceptional conservation
measures are taken, present numbers may be cut to half within another
decade. Urgent conservation action is called for and some form of
multiple-use exploitation of rangeland resources seems necessary for
its protection. The leopard seems to be under rather less threat in that
it appears to have adapted better to man's pressures on natural environments
than most large mammals in Africa.
Preliminary work on Latin American felids shows the strong pressure
from commercial hunting on jaguar, ocelot and other spotted cats.
Action to halt the trade in cat skins has been taken by several of the
countries concerned.
Paul Leyhausen, Chairman of the Cat Specialist Group, is planning,
in collaboration with Japanese colleagues, conservation action on the
Iriomote cat, a rare small felid found on a few islands in Japan.
Seals
Resolutions on conservation of the world's seal resources and individual
resolutions on particular species or areas, arising from the Seal Group
meeting in Guelph, Canada, (August, 1972) were sent to all countries
involved. In March an aerial survey of the Caribbean found no evidence
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