Research overview: inbreeding depression in wild and captive felids

Small or isolated cat populations frequently show the hallmarks of inbreeding depression, including reduced fertility, abnormal sperm, congenital defects, weakened immunity, and elevated juvenile mortality. This overview surveys evidence from the Florida panther, the Asiatic lion, the cheetah, island and mountain-bounded pumas, and captive breeding programs, drawing out common physiological signatures of genetic depletion. It discusses how researchers distinguish inbreeding effects from environmental stressors, how heterozygosity correlates with fitness, and why obligate carnivores with naturally low densities may be especially vulnerable. The survey frames inbreeding depression as a central concern linking population genetics to practical conservation management.