Thamara Fariñas Torres
The Andean cat is listed by the IUCN as Endangered and is the most threatened cat in South America. Knowledge of the Andean cat in the La Rioja province is limited to historical records and a recent record of a pelt, but there is no reliable information on the distribution and population status of this species in the province. A similar situation occurs with the Pampas cat, which is one of the rarest cat species in the province. The habitats where Andean cats live on the ecoregion of Puna and High Andes of the province of La Rioja, are threatened by livestock production, conflicts with farmers and especially, mining and the consequent habitat degradation. In addition, only 39% of the natural habitat of these species in the province is under protection in the only protected area in this region Laguna Brava Provincial Reserve, which has an extension of 5000 km2, and was declared a RAMSAR site in 2003. The reserve contains a system of high Andean saline and hypersaline shallow lagoons with associated wetlands (vegas), located above 3000 meters above sea level. The region was historically used by the Incas for transit to Chile and as an important enclave for the domination of local trans-Andean populations. There are important cultural values in the reserve area, mainly archeological remains. In addition, this protected area is the main focus of tourism in the region.
Vicugna vicugna, one of the protected species present in the reserve, feeding at the edge of the lagoon. ©Thamara Fariñas Torres.
In La Rioja the records of the Andean and Pampas cats species are scarce and the environments where they are found are threatened by mining and habitat degradation. However, currently, no activities are being implemented for small wildcat conservation. This project aims to fill this gap in knowledge and conservation actions and collect the information necessary to plan conservation actions in conjunction with local communities and in collaboration with other NGOs. We hope that the successful completion of this project will allow us to improve and promote the conservation of the Andean cat, so that the felids and the communities with which they interact will be involved in and benefit from an increase in the understanding of the status and distribution of small cats that inhabit the Andean region in La Rioja.
Main viewpoint of Laguna Brava. ©Thamara Fariñas Torres.
Header: First reconnaissance tour of the area with our local guide and some colleagues from the CRILA. ©Thamara Fariñas Torres.