The Objectives The general objective of PROFELIS is to contribute to wildcat conservation and spread new alternativas onto this field. More specifically through: 1. Generating information about ethological, ecological and clinical     aspects of felines in the wild and in captivity 2. Making the generated information accessible to the public, as a     tool for promoting a change in public awareness, thus reducing or     abolishing the reasons for the decline of wildcat populations.   Painting on the clinic wall, showing five of the six Costa Rican feline species Therefore, our work concentrates on two primary tasks: Investigation (in situ / ex situ)   Environmental Education   Investigation Investigations are carried out in the field (in situ) as well as in the center (ex situ), aided by compilation of the existing written information about wildcats. Investigations in situ Population densities and structure Habitat preferrence, homerange size and structure of biologigal corridors used by the felines Feeding habits and other aspects of their natural behavior Genetic variation Investigations ex situ Environmental enrichment and its influence on the behavior of the captive wildcats. This aspect of captive maintenance is of vital importance for the successful reintroduction of the animals into their natural environment; environmental enrichment allows us to reduce certain unnatural behaviors of an animal and promote its innate natural bahavior. Improvement of techniques of captive breeding. As soon as the necessary techniques are established, the possibility of recurrent assisted reproduction of felines will be evaluated. As existing previous studies have shown, reproduction in captivity can contribute di- rectly to the conservation of feline populations. Veterinary investigations, including: Compilation of physical data Setting of normal clinical parameters of Costa Rican felines Compilation of data on pathology and infectious diseases Improvement of techniques for anesthesizing felines Studies on epidemology and biosafety on captive populations   Environmental Education Very soon we will start to set up a separate Environmental Education Area open to the public. It will resemble a natural history center with permanent and rotative exhibitions including printed and audiovisual education material that have been worked out by PROFELIS or other institutions. Specific intentions are to increase public awarenes to the current situation for endangered wildcats, explaining the importance of healthy, species-rich eco- systems, and also to emphasize how tourists, by their behavior, may influence local developments. To achieve this, the program will offer: Audiovisual presentations about the investigative activities of the center, thus making our scientific work more accessible to the public, promoting a better understanding of the function of feline predators in tropical rainforest. Seminars for local communities, especially those close to the field study areas, to inform them about the whole process, thus preventing unfounded fears or negative sentiments against wildcats and facilitating their future colaboration. An educative trail where adults and children can obtain information about the effects of deforestation, hunting, the reduction of predators deprived of their prey - to name but a few factors - and their effects on ecological equilibrium. A live exhibition about felines and other animals, where visitors can observe several species that live in Costa Rica. This collection will be composed of those animals that for various reasons were excluded from the investigation and reintroduction program. Also brochures will be offered to the visitors including information about the the exhibited animals, their behavior, their ecological functions, and the particular problems faced by each individual and their species.   Furthermore:... Extension, Training, Reintroduction Extension One of our most important tasks is to promote active participation of neigh- boring communities in different phases of the project. We have financed and trained women of a neighboring community for building up breeding stations for guinea pigs, rabbits and quails that will be sold to us for feline food. Training We offer training for local officials and groups of volunteers who work in wild- life conservation. This training includes manners of rescue, subjection, main- tenance, transport and nutrition of animals that are confiscated or voluntarily handed over. Moreover we offer basic training about natural history of wildcats, tropical rainforest ecosystems, and wildlife conservation work. Reintroduction or Reinforcement of Populations To support populations isolated by habitat fragmentation or reduced by over-hunting, the reintroduction of captive individuals offers a possibility to increase genetic variation. This process happens naturally in wild populations through migrating individuals. However, this may not be possible any more due to the absence of biological corridors connecting protected areas, not only in this country. The reintroduction of captive felines can serve as an important tool for the preservation of natural ecosystem processes. This has to be accompanied by profound scientific control to ensure physical, behavioral and genetic aptness of the released individuals and avoid risks of spreading infectuous diseases among wild populations. Lately, during the setting up of the new station we unfortunately did not have the possibility to follow that task. Nevertheless we will resume the reintroduction of animals to their natural environment as soon as possible, since this has always been one of the most important objectives of our project.