Argentina & Brazil for the sake of the jaguars in the Iguaçu

region
Anne-Sophie Bertrand (annesophie@rede-verde.org)
08/2009

Keywords: conservation, jaguar, international collaboration, Iguaçu, wildlife

The Atlantic Forest Research Center (CeIBA) has been investigating jaguars and pumas for the past six
years. Initially working with camera-traps, they are now doing VHF/GPS telemetry monitoring. Wildlife
biologist Agustín Paviolo has been doing capture attempts for the past two months in the Iguazu National
Park (Argentina). A jaguar was live-trapped on March 26th. It was a gorgeous 71 kg (155 lbs) young
male. Agustín named him Guacarí. Guacarí was releasing after it recovered from anesthesia. Agustin was
helped by Virginia Rago and Hebe Ferreira, wildlife vets from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
French wildlife biologist Anne-Sophie Bertrand has been working on pumas on the Brazilian side of the
park for the last three years. Thanks to an integrative perspective of conservation, Agustin and Anne-
Sophie will be able to join forces.

Both biologists share a vision according to which, working together brings more benefits than each one
working on his own. Thanks to this collaboration, hundreds of felid scat samples will be sent to the
American Museum of Natural History where G. Amato, S. Rabinowitz and Luke Hunter (Great Cats
Program) are developing the Global Felid Genetics Program.

This program is financed by the Panthera Foundation and WCS and intends: 1) to provide standardized
methods for the collection of biomaterials from cats; 2) to provide assistance in the experimental design
of genetic research projects; 3) to recommend the application of genetic techniques to questions of
concern in the management and conservation of cats; 4) to assist in the interpretation of genetic results
and; 5) to provide recommendations, based on genetic findings, for the long-term management and
conservation of wild cats.

Rede Verde Conservation Network Inc. BN: 845495613NP0001

st
York street, 8 - 1 floor Moncton, NB E1C2X9 Canada
URL : www.rede-verde.org Email: info@rede-verde.org
While the scat samples are being analyzed, Agustín will keep tracking jaguars and monitor their moves
and Anne-Sophie will also be setting cameras in the Brazilian Iguaçu National Park to assess the situation
of wildlife in this 185,000 ha Atlantic forest remnant. An important part of her work will consist in
reaching the human communities living in the region and create an environmental awareness among
them. This will provide an ideal opportunity for capacity-building and environmental literacy programs.

Rede Verde Conservation Network Inc. BN: 845495613NP0001

st
York street, 8 - 1 floor Moncton, NB E1C2X9 Canada
URL : www.rede-verde.org Email: info@rede-verde.org