Wildlife Conservation Society has posting a rare and fascinating clip of a female puma making a distinct mating call.
The footage was filmed from one of their camera traps in Mirador-Rio Azul National Park, part of the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala.
“We work with key local partners to conserve this area,” reads the post. “Camera traps like this help us monitor local wildlife populations.”
Pumas are native to Guatemala and can be found throughout much of the country, especially in forested areas in the western highlands and northern regions. The puma population in Guatemala is classified as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List due to ongoing threats like habitat loss and fragmentation.
Their numbers have declined significantly over the past century due to human encroachment and activities. Pumas primarily prey on deer, peccaries, armadillos, rabbits and other medium-sized mammals, however, the Maya Biosphere Reserve remains a stronghold for the animals, as it’s a protected area that contains tropical rainforests important for protecting pumas and their prey.
