Andean mountain cat
Leopardus jacobita
Weight
9 - 15 lbs ( 4 - 7 kg)
Height
22 - 25 inches ( 57 - 64 cm)
About Andean mountain cat
The Andean mountain cat is a small wild cat. It is one of only two felids for which no subspecies have been classically described. Fewer than 2,500 individuals are thought to exist. This cat is one of about two dozen small wild cat species found around the world. In comparison to their larger cousins which may have millions of dollars dedicated to conservation efforts, conservation efforts exist on budgets in the thousands for small wild felids like the Andean mountain cat.
It is one of the least-known and rarest of all felines; almost all that is known about it comes from a few observations in the wild and from skins. There are none in captivity. It is believed to live only in the high Andes mountains of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.
There has been a substantial increase in research effort on the Andean mountain cat since Nowell and Jackson wrote that "it is not clear whether [its] apparent rarity is a natural phenomenon, is attributable to human actions, or is simply a misperception resulting from lack of observations". Surveys since then have confirmed that the Andean cat is a rare species, occurring at lower densities in the same high-altitude environment as its close cousin, the Pampas Cat Leopardus colocolo. Across its range, it has a very low level of genetic diversity.
Hunting Techniques
Choice of hunting equipment