Introduction to the Special Issue on Managing Human‐Wildlife Conflict in Big Cats

Big cats from the genera Acinonyx, Puma, Neofelis, and Panthera are among the most iconic and ecologically significant terrestrial carnivores. Their role in ecosystem regulation underscores their importance; however, their conservation is increasingly threatened by habitat loss, prey depletion, illegal trade, and human-wildlife conflict (HWC) (Ripple et al. 2014). As large carnivores, big cats can pose risks to human life and livelihoods, often leading to retaliatory killings. Addressing HWC is paramount for the conservation of these species, necessitating an understanding of both ecological and socioeconomic drivers of conflict (Inskip and Zimmermann 2009). In this Special Issue of Wildlife Letters on Managing Human-Wildlife Conflict in Big Cats we provide case studies from across the geographic range of big cats—Asia, Latin America, and Africa—illustrating some of the challenges and opportunities for conserving iconic species such as lion Panthera leo, jaguar Panthera onca, and tiger Panthera tigris amidst changing socioeconomic backgrounds (Jin et al. 2025; Carvalho et al. 2025; Dickman et al. 2025). A Forum piece by Harrison Carter and colleagues explores how, as big cat conservationists, we need to be influencing the development of emerging market-based financial instruments to ensure benefits are equitable and such mechanisms support genuine human-wildlife coexistence (Carter et al. 2025). This Special Issue is particularly timely given recent conservation commitments, such as the 30 × 30 initiative, that emphasize the expansion of protected areas and the restoration of species across their historical ranges (Gray et al. 2023). While such efforts are promising, they must be coupled with strategies that enhance human tolerance and coexistence with big cats. Conservationists must integrate ecological data with socioeconomic considerations to formulate effective mitigation strategies. Jin et al. (2025) apply such thinking to the expanding interface between humans and tigers in the Laoyeling landscape of Northeast China. Using an extensive database on the occurrence of tigers and they prey in the landscape, Jin et al. (2025) identified 1173 km2 of high-risk Human Tiger Conflict (HTC) zones, with 374 km2 located outside of protected areas. This underscores the need for targeted conflict mitigation strategies in Priority Management Areas to ensure both human safety and continued tiger recovery. Without addressing the socioeconomic dimensions of HTC, conservation efforts risk alienating local communities and undermining the long-term viability of tiger recovery programs. Carvalho et al. (2025) robustly document an underappreciated aspect of human big cat coexistence with a pioneering study on the impact of subsistence hunting on jaguar mortality in the Brazilian Amazon. This highlights the significance of subsistence hunting as a source of mortality for species such as jaguar and puma Puma concolor. Despite being largely incidental, subsistence hunting contributes to population declines emphasizing the need for targeted conservation interventions that address this threat. The factors influencing big cat mortality in subsistence hunts include individual hunter attitudes, social norms, and contextual elements such as weapon type and hunting conditions. Efforts to mitigate this impact must incorporate community engagement strategies, education programs, and alternative livelihood opportunities to reduce human dependence on hunting for subsistence. From Kenya and Tanzania, Dickman et al. (2025) describe efforts to promote human-wildlife coexistence through an innovative incentive-based Community Camera Trapping program. This program links the detection of wildlife on communal land with financial benefits to communities. The authors describe how this model has been adapted to further incentivize conservation-friendly behaviors, provide documentation of changing perceptions toward lions since the program was implemented, and provide recommendations of how such approaches could be replicated in other landscapes around the world. A natural extension of the Community Camera Trapping Plus model, detailed by Amy Dickman and colleagues, are market-based financial mechanisms to generate payments for conservation success. In response to the biodiversity funding gap—estimated between US$598–824 billion annually—such mechanisms, including biodiversity credits, are gaining traction as potential solutions (Manez and Julian 2025). Given their iconic status, big cats may represent attractive opportunities for developing such new financing approaches. The 2024 Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscape Conference, held in Bhutan under the leadership of Her Majesty the Queen of Bhutan and the Royal Government of Bhutan, and co-organized by the Tiger Conservation Coalition, of which we are members, highlighted such potential. Among the nature financing models emerging from this Conference included the Tiger Landscape Investment Fund (TLIF), a bankable solutions fund for tiger landscapes, and Tiger Impact Certificates—high integrity tiger, community, and climate conservation impact certificates aligned with the guidelines for biodiversity credits. However, these mechanisms pose risks particularly if conservation metrics are inadequately designed or if affected communities are excluded from the decision-making process. The Forum piece of Carter et al. (2025) explores this issue and succinctly presents some of the challenges and opportunities around how market-based financial mechanisms can impact and influence coexistence with big cats. Carter and colleagues conclude that it is crucial for conservation practitioners, local communities, and financial experts to collaborate in developing these tools to ensure equitable distribution of benefits and prevent adverse effects. While we believe that innovative Nature Financing Models have huge potential to support big cat and wider biodiversity conservation, this paper is an important piece and is likely to be influential within this emerging field. Big cat conservation requires a multifaceted approach that integrates ecological research, socioeconomic considerations, and financial innovation. While market-based financial mechanisms offer new funding opportunities, their implementation must be guided by robust conservation metrics and equitable stakeholder engagement. Similarly, addressing HWC necessitates localized strategies that incorporate scientific data, traditional ecological knowledge, and community-driven solutions. By balancing conservation priorities with human livelihoods, the global conservation community can work toward sustainable coexistence between humans and big cats, ensuring the long-term survival of these keystone species and the ecosystems they inhabit. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.