Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2007

Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2008 - (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance for projects for the conservation of rare felids and rare canids. Authorizes the Secretary to convene an advisory group of individuals representing public and private organizations actively involved in the conservation of felids and canids.

Restricts the use of grants for captive breeding or display purposes.

(Sec. 5) Establishes in the Multinational Species Conservation Fund as a separate account the Great Cats and Rare Canids Conservation Fund.

Defines "rare canid" to: (1) mean any of the canid species dhole, gray wolf, Ethiopian wolf, bush dog, African wild dog, maned wolf, and Darwin's fox, including any subspecies or population of such a species; and (2) exclude any subspecies or population that is native to the area comprised of the United States and Canada or the European Union.

Defines "rare felid" to: (1) mean any of the felid species lion, leopard, jaguar, snow leopard, clouded leopard, cheetah, Iberian lynx, and Borneo bay cat, including any subspecies or population of such a species; and (2) exclude any species, subspecies, or population that is native to the United States and any tiger.

Authorizes the Secretary to convene an advisory group, to assist in carrying out this Act, consisting of individuals representing public and private organizations actively involved in felid and canid conservation.

(Sec. 6) Requires the Secretary to initiate a study of felid and canid species listed under the IUCN Red List (the Red List of Threatened Species Maintained by the World Conservation Union) that are not rare canids and rare felids (as defined in this Act), to determine: (1) the conservation status of the species in the wild, including identification of those that are critically endangered or endangered; and (2) any such species that should be made eligible for project assistance. Requires a report to Congress.

(Sec. 7) Makes ineligible for assistance under this Act any project in a country the government of which the Secretary of State has determined has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism pursuant to provisions of the Export Administration Act of 1979, the Arms Export Control Act, and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

(Sec. 8) Authorizes appropriations.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov