An elusive Andean cat (Leopardus jacobita) has been sighted by conservationists in Argentina for only the third time in as many consecutive years.
The recent footage, captured by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Argentina in the La Payunia Protected Natural Area, Mendoza Province, builds on only two previous sightings of the species in this region, highlighting the importance of camera traps in monitoring the rare cat.
“Every discovery is great news; it confirms that the Andean cat is still present in the area and that conservation efforts are yielding concrete results,” commented Dr. María José Bolgeri, regenerative management manager at WCS Argentina.
ABOVE: The elusive Andean Mountain Cat captured on a Bushnell trail camera
The Andean cat is the only one in the Americas listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Threatened by hunting, habitat loss, and a reduction in its prey, WCS Argentina estimates that there are around 2,100 mature individuals across South America.
WCS began studying the distribution of the species in northern Patagonia in 2005, later, in 2023, placing fourteen Bushnell hybrid photo-video cameras in the La Payunia area.
Dr. Bolgeri explained that the cameras ran for more than a year, with researchers returning every five months to download footage and replace the batteries.
This was followed by, according to Dr. Bolgeri, “months of analysis” to identify recorded species, which, along with the elusive Andean cat, included foxes, pumas, pampas cats, rodents, and birds.
“Technology is an excellent ally in nature conservation and makes our work as researchers more efficient,” she said.
To expand monitoring of the Andean cat, WCS Argentina plans on installing 20 more cameras in La Payunia. However, as a nonprofit, Dr. Bolgeri explained that the organization will first need to raise more funding to buy the equipment and cover their operational costs.
“We have always had excellent results using camera traps, so we would love to expand their use to other sites and projects,” she said. “Specifically for the Andean cat, these cameras have enabled us to identify new sites where we need to address threats in order to conserve the species.”
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