Bhutan Wild Cat Health Project

The Bhutan Wild Cat Health Project is an innovative, first-of-its-kind effort to protect some of the world’s rarest and least-studied wild cats. Launched in one of Asia’s most important biodiversity hotspots, this groundbreaking project combines cutting-edge technology with local knowledge—deploying Bhutan’s largest camera trap network and establishing the country’s first-ever K9 Conservation Unit using rescued dogs to detect and collect wild cat scat. These non-invasive tools allow us to monitor elusive species, assess health threats like zoonotic diseases from domestic dogs, and generate science-based strategies to protect both wildlife and public health. With strong local leadership and deep community engagement, this project is setting a new global model for how conservation can be ethical, data-driven, and rooted in One Health.