The 2023 report from the Pampa Cat Working Group has recently been released, brimming with exciting news. It details various initiatives and activities aimed at safeguarding the Pampas cat, spanning a range of efforts such as environmental education, research, roadkill prevention, and even the vaccination of cats and dogs. Given the extensive distribution of the Pampa cat, these endeavors are spread across seven countries.
As you may already be aware, we are involved in two projects in South America, alongside our partners Mauro Lucherini and Ana Luzia. Ana is currently immersed in writing a children's book centered around the animals of Emas National Park. She's now busy with the second book, following the successful distribution of the first book among children. Notably, in efforts specifically targeting the Pampas cat, Ana and Marcos Cunha have erected a billboard featuring a juvenile Pantanal cat and placed five road signs adorned with stickers proclaiming "I brake for them." These signs serve as warnings to drivers about the potential presence of animals crossing unexpectedly, urging them to reduce speed. Roadkill poses a significant threat to wildlife once they venture beyond the confines of the National Park, and these signs aim to mitigate such dangers.
Our second partner featured in the report is Mauro Lucherini. As you might recall from our previous blog posts and project updates, Mauro is engaged in locating Pampas cats and other species in Patagonia. Mapping out the distribution of these cats across vast territories is crucial for their protection. Mauro's investigations in Patagonia have unveiled intriguing patterns; while the Pampas cat appears to be prevalent, the Geoffroy’s cat is not, and vice versa. Additionally, conducting interviews with local ranchers to understand potential conflict scenarios provides valuable insights for the conservation and preservation of Pampas cats in Argentina.
Both Ana and Mauro actively engage with schools to ignite curiosity among children. Through educational sessions, they impart knowledge about the local wildlife, instilling a sense of pride in the natural richness of their surroundings.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved for their commitment to this fairly unknown wildcat that has otherwise very little attention.