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Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this page were taken by Paul Smith, Marcelo Bombaci, Sjeff Ollers, Alberto Esquivel,
Arne Lesterhuis and Hugo del Castillo and are used with permission.
PUMA Puma concolor
The second largest cat in the Americas, the Puma has a large range extending up to the USA. It is a much more slender, svelte cat than the Jaguar, with a strangely curious character. Puma´s are famously curious animals. During one of numerous encounters with the species on FAUNA Paraguay tours we encountered an individual by torchlight and the animal sat there patiently in front of us for several minutes, intrigued by what lay behind the light, before he eventually grew bored and moved off into the bush. Whilst this curiosity is great for eco-tourists it has gotten the Puma into a lot of problems. Many people are scared by its interest, thinking that its refusal to runaway is a prelude to attack, and they adopt a policy of shoot first, ask questions later! The Puma is a difficult animal to observe, but should you encounter one you should appreciate the luck and enjoy the experience. To Paraguayans the Puma is known as Léon (Lion).
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 -  (FPMAM507PH) Adult, PN Defensores del Chaco, Departamento Boquerón (Sjeff Ollers October 2009).
FIGURE 2 -  (FPMAM508PH) Same individual (Sjeff Ollers October 2009).
FIGURE 3 -  (FPMAM509PH) Same individual (Sjeff Ollers October 2009).
FIGURE 4 -  (FPMAM510PH) Adult, High Chaco (Hugo del Castillo August 2007).
FIGURE 5 -  (FPMAM511PH) Subadult, PN Tte Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Marcelo Bombaci October 2007).
FIGURE 6 -  (FPMAM512PH) Captive adult roaring , location unknown (Alberto Esquivel undated).
FIGURE 7 -  (FPMAM513PH) Captive adult roaring , location unknown (Alberto Esquivel undated).
FIGURE 8 - (FPMAM514PH) Cub, Estancia Cachiveo, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Arne Lesterhuis May 2007).
FIGURE 9 - (FPMAM515PH) Forefoot, PN Médanos del Chaco, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 10 - (FPMAM516PH) Footprint PN Teniente Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith July 2006).
FIGURE 11 - (FPMAM517PH) Footprint PN Teniente Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith October 2008).
DORSAL

DORSAL
LATERAL

LATERAL
PUMA Puma concolor
DORSAL (FPMAM518PH); LATERAL (FPMAM519PH)
Skulls courtesy of PN Tte Enciso museum