Research overview: small-felid coexistence at the Latin American agricultural frontier

As agriculture and settlement advance into Neotropical forests, small cats face habitat loss, road mortality, retaliatory killing over poultry depredation, and competition with free-ranging dogs. This overview synthesises social-ecological research on how ocelots, jaguarundis and other small felids fare at the agricultural frontier, the drivers of human tolerance or persecution, and conservation strategies including corridors, predator-proof poultry housing and community engagement. It examines how the matrix surrounding forest remnants determines felid survival and how livelihood and attitude factors shape outcomes. The synthesis frames frontier coexistence as a combined ecological and social challenge for conserving small cats.