We share this recently published article entitled “New Records of the Andean Cat (Leopardus jacobita) in the Central Andes of Chile: Filling Gaps in the Distribution Range through Private-Social Partnerships”
From December 2020 to May 2021, or 135 days, eight trail cameras were placed in the central Andes of Chile, in Parque Andino Juncal, with the goal of filling in the species distribution map of the Andean cat. An Andean cat was recorded on two independent events in January and March 2021.
These two sightings were both relevant as they were located between previously identified evolutionary significant units (ESU) (26-35° S). The next steps will be to collect and analyze scat from these sites to determine whether these cats are a part of previously identified ESUs or a new ESU requiring special conservation measures.
Image: Martín Sapaj