Overview
This lecture covers the endangered Andean cat, focusing on its habitat, population status, major threats (especially from climate change and mining), genetic concerns, and localized conservation efforts.
Species Overview and Habitat
- The Andean cat (Leopardus jacobita) is an endangered wildcat native to the high Andes of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.
- It is rare, elusive, and adapted to harsh alpine environments, living mainly above 3,000 meters in rocky areas.
- Its range is fragmented, with just over 2,000 mature individuals estimated globally.
Monitoring and Field Challenges
- Researchers face extreme conditions: high altitude, cold, and unpredictable weather; locating Andean cats often requires weeks of effort.
- Camera traps frequently fail due to cold temperatures and battery issues.
- Andean cats have large home ranges (up to 60 sq km) but low population density and birth rates.
Major Threats
- Climate change is shrinking and fragmenting the cat’s cold mountain habitats, pushing populations higher up the Andes.
- Mining (especially for lithium, copper, and gold) encroaches on habitats; increased resource extraction is driven by demand for green technologies.
- Human activities from mining create roads, bring dogs, and alter habitats, posing additional threats.
- Hunting and retaliatory killing by farmers remain concerns; disease from domestic/feral dogs is a risk.
Genetic Concerns and Conservation Priorities
- Andean cats have very low genetic diversity, increasing extinction risk from inbreeding and population isolation.
- DNA sampling from feces and roadkill helps map population connectivity and identify isolated groups.
- Priority is given to conserving small, isolated populations to prevent extinction.
Community-Based Conservation Efforts
- The Andean Cat Alliance runs initiatives like CATCrafts, offering alternative incomes and fostering local support for conservation.
- Programs also address disease threats by vaccinating and neutering local dogs.
- Community involvement reduces mining impacts and raises conservation awareness.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Andean Cat (Leopardus jacobita) — A small, endangered wildcat found in the high Andes.
- Fragmented population — Species populations separated into isolated groups, reducing gene flow.
- Lithium Triangle — Region of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile rich in lithium reserves.
- Circular economy — Economic system promoting reduce, reuse, and recycle to minimize resource extraction.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Continue/follow up annual monitoring and DNA sampling in all range countries.
- Support or participate in community conservation programs like CATCrafts.
- Advocate for global adoption of circular economy principles to reduce demand for mined resources.