Conservation in Action: The Geoffroy’s Cat Working Group in Brazil
Guardians of the Grasslands: Protecting Geoffroy’s Cats, One Community at a Time
How local voices, veterinarians, and Indigenous partners are saving South America’s “shadow cats.”
In southern Brazil, tiny wild cats move like shadows, but Dr. Flavia Tirelli, the lead coordinator for the Geoffroy Cat Working Group, brings their plight to life. When disease from unvaccinated pets threatened them, neighbors, vets, and Indigenous artisans united—backed by Big Cat Rescue—to protect the Geoffroy’s cat and its forest home. Watch local hero Mr. Aldoir, then see how vaccines, education, and culture are making the wild safer for everyone.
Watch: A Neighbor Becomes a Guardian
Meet Mr. Aldoir, a rural resident who’s proud to protect the small wild cats that share his land. His story shows how conservation succeeds—when local people lead.
“My name is Aldoir. I’ve lived here my whole life. These cats—Geoffroy’s cats—walk the forest edges at night. They keep the fields healthy. We vaccinate our dogs and cats, we keep the area clean, and we teach the kids to respect the animals. If we care for our own, we care for the wild ones too. That’s our responsibility.”
Watch: Saving the Silent Hunters of South America
When two wild cats were lost to infections traced to domestic pets, the Geoffroy’s Cat Working Group sprang into action—vaccinating, deworming, and educating to protect both pets and wildlife. Partnerships with Indigenous artisans spread the message even farther.
In the forests of southern Brazil, tiny wild cats move like shadows—rarely seen, but vital to the balance of life.
When two wild cats were found dead from infections traced to domestic pets, the Geoffroy’s Cat Working Group, supported by Big Cat Rescue, sprang into action.
Flávia Tirelli and her team—veterinarians, professors, and volunteers—set up vaccination and deworming campaigns in rural communities. They treated pets for diseases like FIV, FeLV, and mange—protecting both pets and their wild neighbors.
Even parasites found under the microscope tell a story: human carelessness can ripple into the forest, endangering species we rarely meet.
But science isn’t the only tool. Partnerships with local artisans and the Poty Guarani Indigenous Association spread awareness through art—cat-themed crafts, handmade flags, and stories shared across generations.
Voices like Mr. Aldoir’s are rising—people proud to stand guard over the wild cats that share their land.
Each vaccine, each conversation, each new friend builds a safer world for the Geoffroy’s cat and all who depend on this fragile ecosystem.
Big Cat Rescue is proud to fund these efforts across South America—because protecting wild cats begins with protecting the communities beside them.
Why Vaccinating Pets Protects Wild Cats
Shared edges, shared risks. Domestic cats and dogs often roam at the forest edge, where they can transmit parasites and viruses to wild felids.
Simple actions, big impact. Vaccination, deworming, and basic pet care dramatically reduce spillover threats like mange, FIV/FeLV, and other infections.
Community first. Conservation succeeds when the people who live with wildlife every day lead the way—with science, culture, and pride.
Women’s Artisan Group and the Indigenous Association
The Geoffroy’s Cat Working Group also collaborates with both the women’s artisan group and the indigenous association which are focused on promoting native wild cats as symbols of local conservation.
Dr. Tirelli says, “We encourage them to create sculptures of native small cats as “ambassadors” for conservation. Our support includes providing or donating funds to purchase the materials they need to produce these pieces.
In return, they create sculptures of the wild cat species and we help promote or sell their work. Sometimes they also donate pieces for us to display at our events, which helps raise awareness about their sustainable craftsmanship and our conservation message.
It’s a way of supporting the local sustainable economy while spreading conservation awareness through art.
What Your Sharing Makes Possible
Mobile veterinary campaigns in strategic forest-edge communities.
Diagnostics and lab work that identify and track parasite risks.
Education through culture, from Guarani artisans to local radio.
Rapid response when threats to small wild cats are detected.
Read & share: If you care about wild cats, the most powerful thing you can do today is share this page and talk to your vet about keeping pets vaccinated and dewormed—especially if you live near natural areas.
Partners on the Ground
Geoffroy’s Cat Working Group (GCWG) – field coordination, research, and community campaigns. https://geoffroyscatwg.org/ingles/
UFRGS / Instituto Pró-Carnívoros – scientific leadership and veterinary expertise.
Associação Poty Guarani – Indigenous knowledge, education, and cultural stewardship.
Bichos do Mar de Dentro – artisan collective creating cat-themed awareness crafts.
Jaime Diehl (the one that organized the vaccination campaign) instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaimediehl.gatosdomators/
Prof. Sr. João Fabio Soares from Protozoovet (the one that took picture of mange and did the vaccination of animals, he is a vet) (instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protozoovet/)
Projeto Felinos do Pampa https://www.instagram.com/felinosdopampa/
Lead coordinator: Flávia P. Tirelli, PhD (GCWG; UFRGS; Instituto Pró-Carnívoros)
How We Measure Progress
Veterinary reach: number of pets vaccinated, tested (FIV/FeLV), and dewormed per campaign.
Risk mapping: locations where parasites or disease are detected and mitigated.
Community engagement: Indigenous and artisan collaborations, school talks, and radio segments.
Conflict prevention: safe responses to cats near poultry, plus roadkill hotspot mitigation.
Video Photo Highlights
“Vaccination campaign – Encantado”
“Veterinary team vaccinates community pets in Encantado to protect nearby wild cats.”“Microscope: Mange sample”
“Live mange parasite under the microscope from a dog living near forest edge.”“Indigenous partnership”
“Poty Guarani leaders and GCWG coordinator display cat-themed flags supporting small wild cats.”“Roadkill awareness with Jaime”
“Community member marks a roadside hotspot to reduce wildlife collisions.”“Radio outreach”
“Local radio host interviews conservationists about protecting small wild cats.”“Municipal partnership”
“GCWG team meets with the Mayor of Alegrete to strengthen small-cat protection.”“ICMBio partnership (flood response)”
“Conservation partners coordinate after regional floods to safeguard wildlife corridors.”“Human–wildlife conflict response”
“Team safely responds to a Geoffroy’s cat spotted near a chicken coop, preventing conflict.”
Credits & Usage
Videos: GCWG / Flávia Tirelli; Mr. Aldoir featured with permission.
Photography: GCWG field teams, Indigenous partners, and local collaborators.
Funding: Big Cat Rescue—supporting community-led conservation for small wild cats across South America.
Share this page to help more people learn how caring for pets helps save wild cats.
