Over the past year and a half, three valuable records of this feline have been obtained in areas where natural fiber producers implement wildlife-friendly livestock techniques.
The Andean cat (Leopardus jacobita) is a small feline known for its striking fur with vertical spots and a proportionally long tail. Its populations are scarce and fragmented across regions of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru, making it one of the most threatened felines in the world and the only one in the Americas classified as “Endangered” by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).
One of the main threats to this species in northern Patagonia is retaliatory hunting by livestock producers since, as a carnivore, it can prey on livestock. Other threats include roadkill incidents, unsustainable livestock management that reduces the population of its primary prey, the chinchillón (mountain viscacha), habitat loss due to oil and mineral extraction, and increasing temperature and aridity in the region caused by climate change.
Thanks to the promotion of coexistence and regenerative livestock techniques, since October 2023, WCS Argentina has recorded three Andean cat sightings after months of monitoring with “camera traps.” This method involves placing motion-sensor cameras in areas where the species is believed to inhabit and roam, based on previous sighting records or reports from local residents.
In August 2024, an Andean cat was spotted with its offspring in the Malargüe department, Mendoza province. Two other valuable records were obtained at the end of 2023 in Neuquén and mid-2024 in Malargüe. These sightings occurred in grazing areas where livestock producers saw a 90% reduction in losses due to predation by wild carnivores, thanks to the implementation of non-lethal control methods, such as the use of livestock guardian dogs. This confirms that the species is still present in the area and that coexistence and regenerative livestock practices are being promoted in key conservation sites alongside sheep and goat producers who raise natural fibers in Patagonia.
“Each sighting demonstrates that our conservation efforts are essential to prevent the extinction of this species,” says María José Bolgeri, a biologist and regenerative management manager at WCS Argentina. “Considering its critical conservation status, we have been monitoring its distribution both inside and outside protected areas for nearly 20 years, and we have confirmed more than 75% of the recorded sightings in the Patagonian steppe to date.”
Sustained Efforts to Promote Coexistence
Based on its scientific research and collaborative work with The Andean Cat Alliance (AGA) and local communities, WCS Argentina promotes regenerative livestock practices that contribute to coexistence between livestock activities and the Andean cat, as well as wildlife in general. These include non-lethal methods to prevent livestock predation, such as the use of livestock guardian dogs. Raised alongside the herd, these dogs establish their territory, preventing wild carnivores such as the Andean cat, foxes, and pumas from approaching. Another method involves using visual, auditory, and olfactory deterrents near corrals to keep predators away at night.
Argentina, including Mendoza, Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut, and Santa Cruz, who have adopted these strategies. WCS Argentina has supported the introduction of 84 livestock guardian dogs and facilitated the incorporation of another 150 by government agencies and producer associations. By adopting these non-lethal methods alongside grazing techniques that allow pasture regeneration, natural fiber and other livestock-based productions receive the Wildlife Friendly® international certification. This recognition has enabled many producers to increase the market value of their products by 15%.
“Studies show that most producers believe deterrent strategies effectively reduce predation losses. We believe it is essential to continue listening to their needs and finding common ground between productive development and wildlife conservation,” says Bolgeri.
Learn about Campanario’s story, a dog that protects livestock and helps conserve the Andean cat