In a significant development in wildlife conservation efforts, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) along with data specialists Go Insight, have pinpointed a crucial lack of comprehensive data on the trafficking trends of big cats including tigers, lions, cheetahs, and jaguars. Recognizing the urgent need for a centralized data hub, these organizations have come together to launch an innovative project named CatByte.
CatByte was conceptualized following intensive discussions within networks facilitated by EIA and Go Insight. These discussions revealed a strong demand for a unified analysis that could compare and contrast the dynamics of illegal trade among various big cat species. Thanks to a generous grant from The Ho Family Foundation in late 2023, the initiative is now set to become a pivotal resource in the fight against big cat trafficking.
The purpose of CatByte is to collate a wide range of data including records of seizures, both legal and illegal trades, and contextual information such as pricing, consumer preferences, and policy impacts. This extensive database will be processed and visualized to provide insights through four primary perspectives: sourcing, trafficking, species-specific trends, and criminal profiling.
By offering a holistic view of the illicit big cat trade, CatByte aims to enhance the capabilities of governments, intergovernmental agencies, and non-governmental organizations. These stakeholders will benefit from a data-driven approach that promises to bolster the global response to big cat trafficking. The project will emphasize collaboration and adaptability to ensure that the insights generated are both relevant and timely, thereby maximizing the utility for all partners involved.
The establishment of CatByte marks a significant step forward in leveraging technology and data to safeguard the world’s big cat populations by addressing and interrupting illegal trafficking networks more effectively.