Geoffroy's Cat Working Group (GCWG)

REPRAAS

The Environmental and Animal Protection Network (REPRAAS)  is a non-profit working to preserve wildlife and the environment in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.  We are a project member of Geoffroy’s Cat Working Group. Our initiatives include fauna rescue, environmental education, and reporting of crimes such as illegal hunting, animal trafficking, and deforestation.

One of our most significant achievements is the rescue of wild animals, including small wild cats. For example, we successfully rescued a Southern tiger cat from illegal captivity with the support of the police. After conducting a thorough evaluation of the cat's health, we transferred it to a partner zoo for a safe and healthy recovery.In another case, our team successfully rescued a margay wildcat that had been hit by a car. Upon being notified, we immediately provided rescue and medical care. After several weeks of treatment at a partner institution, the wildcat was able to return to its natural habitat, fully recovered. These successful animal rescues reinforce our steadfast commitment to wildlife conservation.

REPRAAS prioritizes environmental education through the "Gatos do Mato" project, raising awareness of local wildlife and habitat preservation. Our education programs promote responsibility for the environment.

Additionally, we are dedicated to combating environmental crimes such as animal trafficking and illegal hunting. Our team uses social media to monitor illegal hunting and works with law enforcement to bring perpetrators to justice and protect wildlife.

REPRAAS is committed to rescuing animals, ending illegal hunting and trafficking, and spreading environmental awareness. Our efforts are making a positive impact on the environment and wildlife, but we need support to continue our progress. If you share our passion for wildlife, especially small wild cats, and the environment, please join us in our mission. By supporting REPRAAS, you are contributing to a better future for wildlife and the planet.

Contact:

 https://www.facebook.com/repraas.brasil/ 

La Esmeralda Protected Natural Area

La Esmeralda Protected Natural Area is an organization formed by a group of people united by a common cause: to conserve and educate about environmental problems. The project is developed in the central south of the Argentine Mesopotamian region near the town of Pueblo Bellocq in the province of Entre Ríos. The members are part of the scientific academy and from the 80's to the present they have studied the plant and animal component of forest ecosystems that have been fragmented by the intensive advance of deforestation and its replacement with extensive crops such as soybeans, corn and wheat. La Esmeralda is a site that guarantees the medium and long-term permanence of flora and fauna. For this reason, the aim is to contribute to the conservation of the environment, ensuring sustainable production over time, but at the same time, to be an active protagonist in environmental education, raising awareness among the rural and urban population from an early age to take care of natural resources. of our beloved planet earth. Actions were recently initiated together with the Geoffroy Cat's Working Group to raise awareness about the importance of small and medium-sized cats in the region. Environmental education tasks are highlighted through guided visits to rural and urban schools near the region, as well as mitigation through informative posters to reduce the mortality of individuals from being run over on rural roads and roads. On the other hand, a program of activities has been started in La Esmeralda, to implement ecological and educational tourism that includes the general public.

Contact: juliansabattini@hotmail.com nmuzzachiodi@hotmail.com

 https://www.instagram.com/anplaesmeralda/ 

Geoffroy’s Cat in Monte desert agroecosystem:  to know to conserve

In the northeast of the argentinean Patagonia (Rio Negro Province and Buenos Aires Province) the Geoffroy´s cat is endangered due to the modificacion of its original habitat caused by anthropic actions (agricultural production, hunting, domestic and wild dogs and run over). Until now, its distribution and abundance in this area is unknown. Within the framework of a project about the conservation of biodiversity in the agricultural environment, surveys to the land owners are made as well as the use of camara trapping to provide information about the presence and habitat use in agroecosystems and to know the attitude of the land owners towards the species. These actions provide basic information about the presence of the Geoffroy´s cat and its habitat needs, but it requires more information in order to study thoroughly the species to allow the elaboration of an action plan to conserve it.

Diego Birochio, Sabrina Cifuentes, Leonel Viladrich y Tobías Puebla Fortunato

Río Negro National University and Kauken NGO

contact: dbirochio@unrn.edu.ar

Carnivores from Yungas ecoregion

Yungas ecoregion or Subtropical Mountain Forest a high diversity forest located in the eastern flank of the central Andes. The area is known for its high biodiversity and endemism, more than 100 species of mammals has been reported for the area, including 17 carnivores and 8 felids (Geoffroy's cat, margay, jaguarundi, puma, jaguar, northern tiger cat, ocelot and Pampas cat). Jaguars in the Fringe aims to address and study the primary conservation threats that compromise the survival of the species that lives in Argentinean Yungas, in order to protect and generate valuable ecological information about Yungas's mammals. We actively work with local farmers to help them reduce conflict with wildlife and at the same time improve their livelihoods. We promote environmental awareness through environmental education in schools and community activities. We are studying the anthropogenic factors that influence mammals' space use, such as roads, trails, wildfires and crops.

Members: Pablo Perovic, Juan Reppucci, Melisa Cordero, Flavia Caruso Lombardi, Miguel Cura, Claudio Sillero-Subirí.

contact: Juan Reppucci, 

juanreppucci@gmail.com

CHAllenges for COexistence: humans and mammals in the Dry Chaco

 CHAllenges for COexistence: humans and mammals in the Dry Chaco

The Argentine Dry Chaco is an ecoregion that covers 490,000 km ²  in Argentina. It is part of the Gran Chaco biome that is the second-largest forest in South America and extends north through Paraguay and into southern Bolivia. The Dry Chaco of Argentina is a global hotspot of deforestation where the puma is the only top predator, given the recent ecological extinction of the jaguar. The rapid expansion of agriculture and grasslands that is taking place in the Dry Chaco, combined with hunting are causing the reduction and local extinction of many species, and require a deeper understanding of what can be done to promote people-wildlife coexistence in these landscapes largely modified by humans.

Through the use of camera trapping and interviews to local residents we are assessing the factors that enable the persistence of medium and large mammal in agroecosystems of the Argentine Dry Chaco and their interactions with local people. We are focusing on endangered species and carnivores. Pumas and Geoffroy’s cats are the most common felids in the region but also the species that require conservation actions because of habitat loss and persecution from local people and hunters from adjacent cities. We are also collecting information on the jaguarundi and a recently discovered population of the Pampas cat. 

We are planning to use a participatory approach to engage local communities in the use of non-lethal method to reduce carnivore predation on domestic animals, and citizen science and conservation education to improve the image of wild cats, especially among rural school children.

Team members:

Mauro Lucherini and Sofia Nanni.

Contact: lucherinima@yahoo.com

Carnivore-livestook conflicts in the southern Argentine Espinal

The Espinal is an ecoregion endemic of Argentina characterized by a mix of grasslands and shrublands. However, over the last hundreds of years this natural habitats have been almost completely converted into ranchlands, especially in the southern, arid portion of its distribution, located in Buenos Aires province.

This project started several years ago by using camera trapping and interviews to local people to assess the conservation status or carnivores and their conflicts with humans, and showed that in spite of the extensive modification and loss of natural habitats, this is the southernmost part of South America where four species of felids are still co-occurring. The puma and the Geoffroy’s cat are still relatively common but are also increasingly threatened by frequent retaliatory hunting for predation on domestic animals and widespread use of poisoned baits. The impact of these threats on the Pampas cat and the jaguarundi is still unclear but we suspect that the very low population densities of these two felids are due primarily to habitat loss.

During the latest years, because of the urgency of these issues, we have moved to conservation actions. We are now testing tools to reduce losses caused by predation on livestock (mainly livestock guarding dogs, and dissuasive lights), implementing awareness raising activities, and supporting governmental agencies in the design of strategies to favour coexistence between carnivores and ranchers.

Team members: Mauro Lucherini, Estela Luengos Vidal, Sabrina Martinez, Nicolas Caruso

Contact: Estela Maris Luengos

Patagonia Cats Project

The colonization by Europeans of the Argentine Patagonia caused strong modifications of the natural steppes and grasslands of this vast territory. The distribution range of two species of small wild felids extends to the southern latitudes of Patagonia: the Geoffroy’s cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) and Southern pampas cat (Leopardus pajeros). With a size of 673,000 sqkm (almost the same as Texas), the Patagonian steppe ecoregion in Argentina represents a large portion of the range of both these cats. However, the information on their presence in the steppe habitats is still extremely scarce and nothing is known about their population abundances. This lack of knowledge would not necessarily be a reason of concern if it was not for the understanding that sheep ranching has not only caused losses of native wildlife but also intense and deeply-rooted conflicts between carnivores and livestock production. Ranchers frequently kill small cats because they perceive them as predators of lambs and chicken.

The Patagonia Cats Project forms part of Geoffroy’s Cat Working Group and aims to conserve the Pampas and Geoffroy’s cat populations in the Patagonian steppe.

We are using camera trapping to produce information on cat distribution and abundance. Cameras have already been displayed in four sites representative of the diversity of habitats of this region, both in protected areas and private ranches. The first results are showing us that where the Southern pampas cat is relatively common, the Geoffroy’s cat is rare or absent and vice versa.

To identify conservation threats, we have started interviewing local people, especially ranchers. As soon as we have a better idea of those threats, we will design and implement tools to address them in specific forms. Meanwhile, we are carrying out awareness activities in rural schools to create pride among children of having these beautiful species in their backyards!

Drylands cats project -The role of protected areas in the conservation of drylands wild cats of Mendoza, Argentina

Many wild felids are among the most threatened species in the world, being particularly vulnerable to habitat loss, prey depletion, and human conflicts related to livestock, poultry farming, or free-range domestic cats and dogs. Natural protected areas (NPAs) play an essential role as refuges, but they are also important recreational and educational spaces for people in contact with nature, whether they are tourists or local people living in these areas. In Argentina, NPAs have different conservation categories with a diversity of human activities inside or around them with potential effects on the feline assemblage. Mendoza province has 13% of its territory protected by NPAs with different particularities and conservation challenges. We aim to carry out an integrated approach to assess the relationship between small wild cats and people living inside and around NPAs, to contribute to the conservation of native species through research and mitigation of their threats. 

We are using camera trapping to investigate how environmental factors and human activities may affect the abundance and local distribution of wild felids in the region. We are currently working in two NPAs: the Ñacuñán Biosphere Reserve (Monte ecoregion) and the Villavicencio Private Reserve (Monte and Puna ecoregions). Five species of wild cats are present in our study sites: Geoffroy´s cat, puma, Pampa´s cat, jaguarundi, and Andean cat, being the first two species the most common. 

We are carrying out activities related to population and sanitary control of domestic cats and dogs associated with protected areas and their surroundings. These actions tend to reduce threats to wild cats as being killed by dogs or zoonotic diseases. Since 2022 we are implementing vaccination and neutering actions, as well as responsible pet ownership campaigns with local people and schools. These actions are coordinated with many institutions, Government Agencies, and the Geoffroy´s Cat and Pampa´s Cat Working Groups.

 Team members: M. Soledad Albanese, Claudia Campos, Fernanda Cuevas, Pablo Moreno, Diego Zeverini, Yasmín Bobadilla, Cielo Linares y Mónica Cona.

Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas (IADIZA), CONICET Mendoza

Contact: soledad.albanese@gmail.com

Cerro Guido Coexistence Project

Cerro Guido is a ranch located in the heart of Patagonia, about 15 kilometers to the East of Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile. This has been a traditional ranch, working for more than a hundred years in livestock raising, mainly sheep. Conflict between carnivore conservation and livestock raising has been a major issue since the beginning. 

Cerro Guido coexistence project aims to promote the coexistence between the conservation of wildlife and livestock raising in a ranch of Patagonia through the design of a respectful tourism program and the implementation of management strategies focused on reducing attacks and minimize the losses of livestock. Through those approaches we expect to contribute to the protection of local wildlife and promote the local and public awareness towards wildlife conservation in Patagonia. In this way, we will seek to demonstrate that wildlife conservation and ranching is possible in the short and long term

Members: Pía Vergara, Nicolás Lagos, Alfredo Rivera, Mirko Utrovicic.

Contact: pia@cerroguidoconservacion.com

Conflict between Geoffroy's cat and anthropic activities in Santa Lucia Wetlands, Uruguay

Santa Lucia Wetlands is a protected area of Uruguay. The area is categorized as a protected area with managed resources. This means that there are people living and making use of the resources of the area, but with guidelines and restrictions regarding the activities that are allowed. This protected area is located in a region classified as highly suitable for Geoffroy’s cat. The landscape is a heterogeneous matrix with natural areas such as riparian forests, grasslands and wetlands, and different degrees of anthropic modification (towns, farms, crops). This leads to wildlife-human interactions, in particular Geoffroy’s cat has conflict with chicken farmers due to the occasional depredation in chicken coops. Producers often hunt this feline, or it is captured and locked up in zoos. The objective of this project is to asses and mitigate conflicts between Geoffroy’s cat and poultry farmers. Interviews will be carried out to evaluate the dimension of the conflict and to find out the feelings of the producers. Also we will be working together  in strategies to mitigate the conflict (such as the design of chickens fences).

Enviromental Education and captive cats

I’m Kylie Reynolds, and I helped creat World Geoffroy’s cat day! We plan to celebrate this day every year on January 28th to bring awareness of this lesser known feline!  Our goal is to share knowledgeable information and continue efforts to ensure the future of these small cats. Working together with the Geoffroy’s Cat Working Group can help raise funds to mitigate the threats they face in the wild.  I am also a liaison between the Feline Conservation Foundations conservation committee and the GCWG, as well as running a breeding program with Geoffroy’s cats in the United States to help bring more awareness and education about these amazing cats!

Member: Kylie Reynolds

Contact: Kylie@amazinganimalsinc.org

 https://www.instagram.com/geoffroyscats/ 

Geoffroy's cat awareness project: FOOTPRINTS OF ANSENUZA

Natura Argentina team, with the support of the Secretary of Environment of Córdoba province and the National Parks Administration, developed different projects in the region of Ansenuza, in the province of Córdoba, Argentina, in order to learn more about the Geoffroy’s cat, this particular and small feline of vital importance for the balance of the wetland. Monitoring with camera traps, a strong environmental education campaign and the creation of the RCFA(Network for the conservation of the ansenuza fauna) were key to raise awareness about this native species and encourage the commitment of local communities to join in its conservation. All this was possible thanks to the support of GCWG. @naturainternationalargentina @parquesnacionalesar @ambientecba

Rioja Cats Project

La Rioja province represents one of the regions of Argentina with the least knowledge of the species of mammals that inhabit it, although in recent years this situation has been improving. In La Rioja there are three species of small cats, Geoffroy´s cat (Leopardus geoffroyi), Pampa´s cat (L. pajeros) and the Andean cat (L. jacobita), along with other species of carnivores. However, the local status of their populations or the threats they face are unknown.

The Gatos Riojanos project, through monitoring with camera traps and working with local residents, hopes to collect information on the diversity, distribution and structure of the carnivore communities that inhabit the province of La Rioja and neighboring Catamarca, to lay the foundations for the development and enhancement of conservation projects, conflict mitigation and education on the native carnivores of these provinces.

This project was born derived from the studies carried out on the fauna of the Sierra de Velasco, where the first surveys and records of the presence of the species in this area were carried out.

Team members:  Thamara Fariñas Torres

Contact: seykara1@gmial.com

Felids on highways along Brazilian Pampa: priority stretches and mitigations

Highways are one of the main causes of environmental changes that cause more extensive impacts on nature, resulting in a decrease in the three levels of diversity: between organisms of the same species, between species and throughout the ecosystem. Currently, being run over is one of the biggest threats to felids. In this sense, the present study aims to identify the priority stretches to reduce the running over of Leopardus geoffroyi on the highways of the Brazilian Pampa, and from there to implement mitigation actions. Based on the collaboration with researchers who monitor run over fauna and the search for data in museums, a data collection of pedestrians being hit by the two species will be carried out and models of probability of being run over will be built considering landscape variables, to be extrapolated to the entire network. road network in the region. The results of the modeling will indicate the stretches of road with the highest probability of being run over by each species, and these will be selected for the implementation of mitigating actions of being run over, such as fences and billboards. In addition, reports will be prepared to be delivered to the competent environmental and transport agencies.

Members:

Flávia Tirelli, Elis Felipeto, Fernanda Teixeria, Marina Favarini e Felipe Peters.

Contact: flavia.tirelli@gmail.com

Human wildlife conflict in Argentia's Patagonia

My name is Olivia Feldman and I work in Chubut and Santa Cruz Argentina at sites operated by Rewilding Argentina (I've also attached locations). I research wild predator behavior on and off land used for sheep ranching to better understand the drivers of sheep predation and resulting human wildlife conflict in Argentina's Patagonia region. I work with Geoffroy's cats, pumas, culpeo foxes and gray foxes, using a combination of camera trap and collar data as well as rancher interviews. My aim is to conduct research that can inform conservation measures in the region, specifically supporting coexistence between wild predators and ranchers.

Contact: Olivia Feldman

ofeldman@ucdavis.edu

Learning "con garra" in Patagonia

Community monitoring, environmental education and identification of the most needed sites for mitigation measures

We are firmly convinced that education is key to the survival of the three species of felines that inhabit the southernmost part of Chile: Geoffroy's cats, Southern pampas cats, and pumas. We use a combined approach of classical knowledge sharing, which may be realized remotely, and project-oriented work. On the one hand, we aim to engage teachers in small wild cat conservation so that they can become multipliers and pass on their expanded knowledge about our native fauna to many students. On the other hand, we want to reach the students with practical activities; among other methods, we want them to work with camera traps in order to develop awareness and a sense of identity. These same students are our entry to learn about the situation of the families with respect to the perception of native felines, their concerns and doubts about them. The first-hand information we gather in this stage will help us identify those households where further mitigation actions are truly necessary and most promising to be effective.

Team: Melanie Kaiser, Patricio Muñóz

Contact: melanielpj@googlemail.com

Small felids conservation in an endangered ecosystem

Paola and her team are working on promote behaviour change on the communities of the chiquitanian dry forest. In a previos analysis doing by interviews they found that people are afraid of felids. With workshops, booklets and other materials, this team is trying to reverse the bad reputation that small felids have in the communities, by highliting its important role on the ecosystem.

Team: Paola Nogales, Daniela Ramirez and Enzo Aliaga

Contact: paonogales@gmail.com

Senda Verde Animal Refuge

Senda verde is an wild animal shelter, that rescued several geoffroy's cats from mascotism. This center rehabilitate the cats and analize if they can be reintoduced, currently just one was reintroduced. However, the other indivuals are emmbassadors of the species for envioronmental education actions.

Team: Paola Nogales, Vicky Ossio

Contact: paonogales@gmail.com

The Great Bear Landscape

Back in 2016, we first embarked on a journey to find out if any Andean bears still remained among the forests of Tarija, Bolivia, the southernmost region where bears lived. Knowledge was little, beyond anecdotes from local people. So it is extraordinary now to look upon the 46 individual bears that we have identified and tracked across the last six years, the 17 new records of medium-large carnivores we have found, and the highest density of felid species in the whole country.Camera trapping has provided novel insights into the bears’ lives, as well as discover the number of other carnivores coexisting with bears. Among them, the Geoffroy cat.

The Great bear Landscape not only protects carnivores, conserve and helps regenerate forests, but provides support to local communities and their livelihoods.

Team: Patricia Sanchez, Felipe Areco, Kenny Ure, Paul Bamford, Ximena Velez-Liendo

Contact: x.velezliendo@gmail.com