What is the primary factor driving the decline in margay populations?
Answer
Human encroachment and habitat modification.
The primary factor contributing to the species' decline and its current conservation ranking is human encroachment, specifically deforestation driven by agricultural expansion, cattle ranching, and logging.

Related Questions
What is the official IUCN Red List conservation status for the margay?What remarkable ability allows margays to descend trees headfirst?What is the primary factor driving the decline in margay populations?Which two countries mark the southernmost extent of the confirmed margay geographic range?Why are standard ground-based census methods inefficient for tracking margays?When considering habitat viability, what aspect is deemed more critical than the sheer estimated total count?How many recognized subspecies of margays did past taxonomy indicate existed?Which specific habitat type is noted as representing a high-quality but fragile environment demanding focused protection efforts?What growing threat results from expanding infrastructure into wild areas where margays reside?Which physical trait aids the margay in pinpointing prey sounds in dim light?