Puma Research and Outreach
(Puma concolor) may also be known regionally as the mountain lion, cougar, or panther
1. Puma, Nudo del Azuay, Ecuador 2009 (Thanks to Fundacion Cordillera Tropical).
Pumas are among the top three most widely distributed wild carnivore on the planet, occurring from Alaska to Patagonia. However they are not thriving everywhere and are protected by law in some regions. There is no evidence yet for breeding pumas in Wisconsin although every year eye-witness reports and other evidence of pumas migrating through Wisconsin are reported. Since 2008 CCL has incidentally captured photographs of pumas in the Ecuadorian highlands (photo 1). In 2012, CCL entered into a long-term collaboration with Fauna Australis, the laboratory founded by Dr. Cristian Bonacic of Pontifica Universidad Catolica in Santiago de Chile (photo 2). See below for a more complete description of the July-August 2012 collaborations. CCL's work in Chile is led by Omar Ohrens through a Conicyt grant from the Chilean government and Dr. Treves has been supported by a Fulbright Senior Specialist award to conduct research, outreach, and teaching activities (photo 3). Several project sites are active and data on pumas are accumulating (photos 4,5). We look forward to future Chilean visitors coming to Madison.
2. Cristian Bonacic, Omar Ohrens, and Jorge Leichtle in Tarapaca, Chile 2012 (photo credit: Adrian Treves).
3. Omar and Adrian in the Altiplano conducting pilot fieldwork on puma-livestock conflicts in Tarapaca, Chile 2012.
4. Puma, Tarapaca, Chile, 2012 (Thanks to J. Leichtle & M. De la Maza. Fauna Australis).
5. Puma, Rio de las Cipresas Chile 2012 (Thanks to N. Guarda, Fauna Australis).
We are grateful for help and support from the following organizations:
- Fulbright Senior Specialist Program
- Fauna Australis and Dr. Cristian Bonacic of Pontifícia Universidad Católica in Santiago, Chile
- CALS International Programs and Laura van Toll
- Derse Foundation