Research overview: population viability analysis for isolated urban felids

Population viability analysis integrates demography, genetics and connectivity to project the persistence of small felid populations isolated by urbanisation, guiding conservation triage and intervention. This overview synthesises modelling approaches and landmark applications, including projections of elevated extinction risk for freeway-bounded Los Angeles pumas that helped justify a major wildlife crossing. It examines how models incorporate inbreeding depression, stochastic mortality from roads and poisons, and the rescue effect of restored gene flow. The synthesis frames viability modelling as the quantitative bridge between monitoring data and decisive action such as crossings and genetic rescue for stranded urban felid populations.