Finding and conserving the little spotted cat of the Yungas, Argentina

Erica Cuyckens

Oncilla or little spotted cat (Leopardus tigrinus) ranges from Costa Rica to northern Argentina. It is rare in the majority of its geographical extension and patchily distributed. In the Yungas region of Argentina the only knowledge is based on a few scattered records. We propose to travel to this region to validate a potential distribution map and indicate the importance of ambient variables on local and regional scale. In areas with presence, we propose to develop a conservation campaign, based on school education and parabiologists field training.