Research overview: perceived versus actual losses in jaguar and puma conflict

This overview synthesises studies across Latin America comparing ranchers' perceived livestock losses to jaguars and pumas with verified depredation, a recurring theme in big-cat conflict. It reviews evidence that perception often overstates actual predator-caused mortality, with deaths from disease, poison plants, theft, and accidents misattributed to cats, and that perception strongly drives killing. The literature discusses verification methods, the psychology of risk and blame, and communication strategies to align beliefs with evidence. The survey argues that addressing the perception gap, through transparent loss assessment and outreach, is a low-cost intervention that can reduce retaliatory killing independent of changes in actual depredation rates.