The extinction of species of wild cats would be an inestimable loss to the world, not least because of their ecological role as predators. It behoves us to make every effort to prevent it, because human activities are largely responsible for their deteriorating status. Why Cats should be Conserved 2.1. Human beings have no right to eliminate other species. Indeed, in view of the extent of human domination of the natural environment, we have a responsibility and obligation to all species and to our descendants to perpetuate their existence.
Extinction is forever.
The decline of a carnivore generally alters the ecological balance of its biological community. Cats are linked through predation to herbivores, which are, in turn, linked to each other through competition and to plant communities by their foraging. They are particularly sensitive to environmental disturbance, and the decline or disappearance of these vulnerable cat species serves as an indicator of changes in their ecosystem, which may be the result of natural phenomena or, as is increasingly the case in present times, of the impact of human activities. These changes frequently involve a deterioration in the human environment, such as the loss of forests and grasslands and their valuable animal and plant products, or impairment of water supplies essential to human life and agriculture. Furthermore, large cats, being at the pinnacle of the food chain, need considerable space, and are, therefore, key species in determining the area required to define an appropriate ecosystem.