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Background and Threats
The Andean cat is the most endangered cat species
in the Americas. It is also one of the most rare
and least known felines worldwide. In the last
25 years there have been fewer than 10 documented
sightings of this small carnivore, which lives
exclusively in the remote high-altitude deserts
of the Andes in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and
Peru. In addition to natural rarity and habitat
loss, the prime threat to the survival of the
Andean cat is direct persecution by humans. Some
local residents kill the Andean cat because they
consider it dangerous to humans and domestic animals,
though it is only slightly larger than domestic
cats. Other local people use stuffed cats and
skins in traditional dances and religious ceremonies
and believe that killing a cat will bring good
fortune.
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About the Andean Cat
The Andean cat (Oreailurus jacobita) is
small but sturdy with long ash-gray fur patterned
with rusty red spots. Its thick, long tail is
banded with approximately seven dark rings. Living
in rocky areas at high elevations, it is impressively
adapted to the harsh climate of the Andes, which
experiences frequent freezes, intense solar radiation,
large daily thermal variations and low precipitation.
Because food in these severe conditions is scarce,
the home ranges of the Andean cat are very large
and their population densities low. The cats may
be seen in pairs during mating season but are
generally believed to lead solitary lives.
Slideshow
of Andean Carnivores in Argentina
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Andean Cat Alliance
The Andean Cat Alliance, Alianza Gato Andino (AGA),
works to protect the Andean cat in all four range
countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru).
Conservationists from these countries, as well
as from the United States, created the Alliance
in 2004. Collaboratively, they review current
threats to the cat and coordinate their conservation
activities.
AGA's integrative approach has yielded groundbreaking
accomplishments, including:
first capture and radio-collaring of an adult-female
Andean cat
first photographs of Andean cats in Argentina
use of camera trapping and DNA analysis of feces
to confirm the Andean cat's presence in three
additional departments in Peru and one additional
province in Argentina
completion of cat diet studies in Bolivia and
Peru, yielding important information on prey abundance
and preferences
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To increase public awareness and acceptance of
the Andean cat, AGA coordinates education activities
in each of the four range countries. In November
2005, the Alliance conducted a multinational education
workshop in Salta, Argentina. AGA's innovative
and highly participative approach to conservation
education maximizes the efficiency of available
resources, enforces the use of the Andean cat
as a flagship species for the preservation of
a unique ecoregion, and sets a stellar example
for other conservation initiatives.
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Unique Multinational Conservation Model
In keeping with the feline's natural distribution,
AGA employs a novel grassroots, yet cross-border,
approach to Andean cat conservation. Since high
mountain ranges like the Andes often define international
borders and therefore transect the Andean cat's
habitat, it is imperative that a multinational
and cooperative effort be undertaken to conserve
the Andean cat throughout its range. At the same
time, local researchers are in the best position
to manage the conservation effort since they are
close to the issues and can influence government
policy, local practices, and education programs.
The Andean Cat Conservation Action Plan is available
for download in PDF format:
The Andean
Cat: A Conservation Action Plan - English
El
Gato Andino: Plan de Accion Para su Conservacion
- Espaniol
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AGA Leadership
General Coordinator: Rocio Palacios
Assistant Coordinators: Lilián
Villalba & Mauro Lucherini
Working Group Coordinators & Governing
Council:
Juan Reppucci - Investigation & Argentina
Representative
Giovana Gallardo - Bolivia Representative
Agustín Iriarte - Conservation & Chile
Representative
Anali Madrid - Education & Perú Representative
Jorgelina Marino - Distribution
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