South America 

Mario di BITETTI, member since 2005

I am a researcher of the National Research Council of Argentina at LIEY, University of Tucumán. I completed my Ph.D. in 2001 at the Department of Ecology and Evolution of SUNY at Stony Brook, USA.  I have been involved in different research and conservation projects on felids and primates in the Atlantic Forest of South America.  With my doctoral students and a group of jaguar experts and population biologists I am developing a Population and Habitat Viability Analysis, and eventually a Recovery Plan, for the endangered jaguar population of the Green Corridor of Misiones, Argentina.

CONICET, Calle Yapeyú 23, 3370 Puerto Iguazú, Misiones

Argentina

e-Mail: dibitetti(a)yahoo.com.ar

T ++54 3370 422-139, F ++54 3370 422-370

 Argentina

Mauro LUCHERINI, member since 1998

Since 1996 Executive Coordinator, Mammal Behav. Ecol. Group, Universidad Nacional de Sur, Argentina. Director of a conservation biology project on the kodkod in Argentina since 1998 and Co-director of the thesis "Trophic and spatial niche of wild cats in the Tornquist Park" since 1999. Also Director of the projects "Spatial behavior and conservation of Oncifelis geoffroyi in Campos del Tuyú", "Linking education and research for the conservation of the Andean cat", "Survey and distribution of wild felids in the Laguna Chasicó" (thesis, Co-director). Member of IUCN Canid Specialist Group and Andean Cat Conservation Committee.

Cat. Fisiologia Animal, Depto. Biologia, Bioquimica y Farmacia

San Juan 670, Bahia Blanca 8000, Argentina

e-Mail: luengos(a)criba.edu.ar

T ++54 (291) 459-5101 ext. 2415, F ++54 (291) 459-5130

Claudia MANFREDI, member since 2005

I am a member of the Mammal Behavioral Ecology Group (GECM)-Department of Biology Universidad Nacional del Sur in Bahía Blanca, Argentina. Currently I am doing a study on the ecological niche of the Geoffroy’s cat in the Pampas grasslands of Argentina. During the field work I gained experience in trapping, tagging and raadio tracking wild cats. I learnt to do scat analysis and apply GIS to produce habitat suitability models for conservation.

Catedra de Fisiología Animal, Depto de Biologia, Bioquimica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 670

8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina

e-Mail: claudiamanf(a)yahoo.com.ar

T ++54 (291) 459-5100 ext.2415, F ++54 (291) 459-4130

Martin MONTEVERDE, member since 2005

Our objective is to investigating the spatial ecology, habitat use, and the relationship of the Huiña with the rest of the carnivore assemblage of the Valdivian forest, as well as the consequences of human activities inside the Lanín National Park (Argentine Patagonia). Our study is providing information about the structure of the carnivore community in this forest, and will help the Park to establish conservation goals and strategies to improve the protection they provide to native carnivore species. At the same time we are identifying the urgent threats to the huiña. We also work in puma trophic and spatial ecology and its conflicts with human. These activities are carried out together with WCS, National Parks Administration and the Center of Applied Ecology of Neuquén.

Departamento de Fauna Terrestre, Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Neuquén, CC N° 7, Junín de los Andes, Argentina

e-Mail: mjm(a)jdeandes.com.ar;  ++54-2972-491-305

Javier PEREIRA, member since 2005

My research interest lie in the ecology and conservation of two small wild cats species, Geoffroy´s cat and Pampas cat, in the endemic Monte eco-region of central Argentina. Specifically, I'm interested in examining the effects of human disturbance and livestock raising on the diet, spatial ecology, and demography of these species. I'm also interested in studying the interactions between humans and wild cats, in order to find ways to limiting the conflict and improve their coexistence. Since 1998, I have captured and radio-tracked several Geoffroy´s cats, assessed the health status of the local population of this species, and investigated carnivore mortality factors.

Barrio Privado Cardales Village, Unidad Funcional 90, Ruta 4 km 5.5,

Alto Los Cardales, 2814 Ptdo. de Campana, Pcia. de Buenos Aires, Argentina

e-Mail: javipereira(a)yahoo.com

Pablo PEROVIC, member since 2005

Instituto de Bio y Geociencias, Museo de Ciencias Naturales, UNSa

Mendoza 2, Salta 4400, Argentina

e-Mail: perovic(a)unsa.edu.ar

T ++54 (387) 431-8086

Susan WALKER, member since 2003

PhD in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, 2001, Univ. of Florida, USA.  Current research related to cat conserva­tion in Argentina: Interactions between carnivores and introduced prey in the Patagonian steppe (includes Geoffroy’s cat, pampas cat, and puma) / Effects of state-sponsored bounty hunting on the regional population dynamics of the puma in northern Patagonia / Coordinator of project, “Multinational Initiative to Determine the Status of the Andean Mountain Cat and Priorities for its Conservation” / Distribution and feeding ecology of the Andean cat, the pampas cat, and the puma in the high Andes / Alterations in the carnivore community of Lanín National Park due to human activities (includes Geoffroy’s cat, kodkod, and puma).

Wildlife Conservation Society, Calle Curruhue y Río Chimehuín

Junín de los Andes, 8371 Neuquén, Argentina

 e-Mail: r.susan.walker(a)gmail.com

T ++54 (2972) 492-129

Bolivia

Fernando Daniel ALFARO AYLLON, member since 2005

I studied biology at the University of Cochamba, Bolivia. Since 2001, I have been an associated researcher with the Centre of Biodiversity and Genetics at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology at the Universidad Mayor de San Simón. In 2004/2005 I have been coordinating the project on the status and distribution of the Andean cat in the Central Andes of Bolivia. I have also been involved in work on Hanta and Arena viruses and Leishmaniosis.

Centro de Biodiversidad y Genetica, 538 Cochabamba, Cochabamba,

Bolivia

e-Mail: nanoalfaro(a)gmx.net

T ++591 (4) 4540-796; F ++591 (4) 4540-364

Stephan HALLOY, member since 1993

I am currently Coordinator of the Postgraduate Centre in Ecology and Conservation at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Bolivia. where I work and teache on conservation and sustainable development in the context of climate change. I am also working with WWF, Conservation International and Crop & Food Research (New Zealand) in environmental impact assessments, restoration, and monitoring of impacts of management and global change on biodiversity, with special thematic areas in Felids, particularly the Andean cat, Amphibians and Vascular Plants, and regional emphasis in the Andes, Chaco and Amazonia. This work is linked to integrated social-environmental and economic development, scenarios of global change, and developing alternative diversified land use.

Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Calle 27 de Cota Cota

Casilla 10077, La Paz, Bolivia

e-Mail: halloys(a)crop.cri.nz, T, F ++591 (2) 277-1442

Luis Pacheco, member since 2005

My main interests are the conceptual and practical aspects of conservation. Most of my research has been on the ecology of vertebrates, including lizards, caimans, ungulates, and primates. Although my interest for felids ranks highest, field work with cats started relatively late in my career. I conducted research on range ecology of oncillas  in montane forests, surveys of Andean cats, and pumas  in the High Andes, feeding ecology of puma and the conflict between lama raising operations and puma conservation.

Instituto de Ecología, Univ. Mayor de San Andrés

Campus Universitario, C.27 Cota Cota, P.O. Box 10077, Correo Central, La Paz, Bolivia

e-Mail: luispacheco11(a)yahoo.com

T, F ++591 (2) 277-1442

Lilian Villalba, member since 2002

Since I graduated as a Biologist (1997) I was interested in working with endangered mammals that inhabits the high Andes of Bolivia. In 1998-1999 I carried out a survey on the Andean cat and pampas cat distribution in Bolivia. Research on Andean cat distribution continued during the following years and in 2004 I was able to capture, radio collared and monitored a female of an Andean cat. During 2005 in the same study area, a female of a pampas cat was captured, radio-collared and is still being monitored. The purpose of this current project is to determine home ranges sizes, movement and activity patterns as well as the diet of both cat species.

Coleccion Boliviana de Fauna, Achumani, Calle 17, No.41

La Paz, Bolivia

e-Mail: oreailuritus_04(a)yahoo.com

 Brazil

Peter G. Crawshaw, member since 1986

Born 9 January 1952, São Vicente, Brazil. Graduated in Biology at UNISINOS, Rio Grande do Sul, in 1977.  In 1978, I was hired by Brazilian Institute for the Environment - IBAMA to work with George Schaller in the first-ever jaguar study, in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso.  Until 1984, studied jaguars, pumas, and ocelots, as well as caimans and capybaras.  Completed my Masters at the University of Florida in 1987, with thesis on reproductive biology of Paraguayan caiman. Concluded my PhD also at UF, 1995.  My dissertation was on the ecology and conservation of jaguars and ocelots in Iguaçu National Park. Between 1994 and 2001,I was director of the National Predator Center – IBAMA. Currently studying puma ecology in Rio Grande do Sul.

Brazilian Institute for the Environment-IBAMA, Caixa Postal 79

São Francisco de Paula, RS - CEP 95400-000, Brazil

e-Mail: pcrawshaw(a)uol.com.br

T, F ++55 (54) 3244-1347

Eduardo Eizirik, member since 1999

From 1991-93: Undergraduate Training Researcher in the project “Population Ecology and Conservation of the Wild Felids of Turvo State Park, RS, Brazil”, State Dep. of Agriculture, Brazil. 1993-97: Dep. of Genetics, Univ. of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. (1993-94: Undergrad. Training Reseacher, Laboratory of Blood Groups and Human Genetics): Thesis about mitochondrial DNA comparisons in South American Felids. 1997 –2003 at the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, USA. Since 2003 at the faculty of Biosciences of PUCRS in Porto Alegre.

Faculdade de Biociencias, PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga, 6681, predio 12,

Porto Alegre, RS 90619-900, Brazil

e-Mail: eduardo.eizirik(a)pucrs.br

T++55 (51) 3320-3500ext.4685, F ++55 (51) 3320-3612

Marcelo Mazzolli

Head of Projeto Puma, a non-profit organization devoted to conservation of large neotropical cats and their habitat. Developed project on livestock depredation by pumas, included in the IUCN Cat Action Plan (1996), ecology of pumas and ocelots at a forestry system, and on habitat quality for jaguars and puma. Although researching mostly in southern Brazil, also analysed data and co-authored papers on the ecology of the Kodkod, and surveyed African lion status in Botswana with IUCN/SSP/Cat SG network support. I have recently initiated field courses for students of biological sciences within Projeto Puma.

R. Cristiano Brascher 2080, Lages 88504-301, Brazil

e-Mail: marcelo(a)projetopuma.org

T, F ++55 (49) 3223-7971

Ronaldo Morato, member since 2005

Working with carnivores, especially jaguars, since 1992 firstly as Dr.Peter Crawshaw’s field assistant in the Porto Primavera area (MS/SP-Brazil) and in Iguaçu National Park (PR-Brazil. In 2001 I concluded my PhD focusing my studies on reproductive technology for carnivore conservation. I was the coordinator of the “I Workshop for Research and Conservation of Neotropical Carnivores” held in Atibaia-SP-Brazil and, as result, we published the Neotropical Carnivores Action Plan. I am the coordinator of the project “Population and Habitat Status Analysis for conservation of carnivores at São Francisco River”. I am also participating in 12 other projects. Currently I am the Chief of the National Predator Center in Brazil.

National Predator Center (CENAP-IBAMA), Av. dos Bandeirantes s/n, Vila Junqueira, Parque Balneário, Atibaia, São Paulo 12941-680, Brazil; e-Mail: ronaldo.morato(a)ibama.gov.br

T ++55 (11) 4411-0144; F++55 (11) 4411-6633

Tadeu Gomes de Oliveira, member since 1995

I am a Professor at Maranhão State University (UEMA) and researcher for Instituto Pró-Carnívoros. My main research interests are the ecology, conservation and natural history of Neotropical felids and other carnivores or endangered species. Currently I am leading a long-term, multidisciplinary, country-wide research project with main focus on the ecology and conservation of the six smallest Brazilian felids (“Projeto Gatos do Mato – Brasil”/Wild Cats of Brazil Project). Other research includes ecological studies on other carnivore species and community composition of mammals in Brazil. I am the co-chair and co-founder of the South American Cats Conservation Alliance (SACCA).

Rua das Quaresmeiras, Qd-08, C-14, São Luis, MA 65076-270, Brazil

e-Mail: tadeu4(a)yahoo.com

T ++55 (98) 244-1315 ; F ++55 (98) 232-6988

Rogério C. de Paula, member since 2005

I am a Brazilian biologist, a federal employee, working for IBAMA, and paralelly a field researcher of the NGO Instituto Pro-Carnivoros. I work throughout the entire Brazil. I have been coordinating and conducting research on carnivores ecology and conservation since 1995, with experience in both captivity and mainly in the wild. Presently I coordinate the “Human-Predators Conflicts Control Program” of the National Research Center for Predators Conservation (CENAP) within the Brazilian Environmental Agency (IBAMA), assessing information on causes of conflicts between carnivores and people in Brazil and proposing new policies to solve local and national problems. The main species assessed in the program are pumas and jaguars.

CENAP/IBAMA, Av dos Bandeirantes, s/n - Balneario Municipal

Atibaia 12941-680, Brazil

e-Mail: rogerio(a)procarnivoros.org.br

T ++55 (11) 4411-6744; F ++55 (11) 4411-6633

Leandro Silveira, member since 2002

Since 1991 I have carried or participated of research on cat species in the Atlantic forest, Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal. In 1994 I initiated my own field research in the Cerrado grasslands of central Brazil, more precisely at Emas National Park, where although the main focus was on the jaguar I also carried parallel research on ocelots, oncillas, yaguarundis and pampas cat. In 2002 I help found the organization named Jaguar and coordinate a jaguar study in the Pantanal wetlands and one in southern Amazon. As the head of the organization since its foundation I have concentrated efforts to promote jaguar conservation and try to solve the human/jaguar conflict where predation on livestock is an issue.

Jaguar Conservation Fund, Caixa Postal  193,
Mineiros GO 75830-000, Brazil

e-Mail: l.silveira(a)jaguar.org.br, T/F ++55 (64) 3610-9329

 Chile

Gerardo Acosta-Jamett, member since 2005

My experience with wild cats is mainly with kodkod (Oncifelis guigna). I have captured, anaesthetizing and radiotracking this small wild cat in South-central Chile. Also I have used scent stations to study the ecology of this species in a fragmented landscape in central Chile. I have proposed a conservation strategy for kodkod in native forest fragmented by exotic pine plantations in central coastal Chile. Such a recommendation has been taken into account by forestry companies in the region for conserving biodiversity, using kodkod as an umbrella and a charismatic species

Pasaje Cuncumen 319, V. La Reina, La Reina

Santiago, Chile

e-Mail: g.a.acosta-jamett(a)sms.ed.ac.uk

F ++44 (131) 650-6269, F ++44 (131) 651-3903

Agustin Iriarte, member since 2003

I made my M.Sc. in Ecology at the Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile and my PhD in Animal Ecology at the Department of Animal Ecology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. I am now working in projects related with the Andean cat, the pampas cat, the puma and the guigna. These projects are supported by the WCN, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Darwin Initiative. I am currently assessing the conservation status of pumas and guignas for the Chilean Government.

Universidad Mayor, Camino La Piramide 5750, Huechuraba

Santiago, Chile

e-Mail: agustin.iriarte(a)umayor.cl

T ++56 (2) 328-1408; F ++56 (2) 328-1252

Colombia

Esteban Payan, member since 2005

I  was born in Colombia and have studied with felids since the year 2000. I have worked in genetics using microsatellites and skull morphology of jaguar, puma, ocelot, margay, jaguarundi and oncilla, with livestock conflict and conservation with puma in the Colombian Andes, and with the jaguar and puma in the Colombian Llanos, here I have additionally began examining local human attitudes towards big cats. I am currently working in the Colombian Amazon, camera trapping jaguar and ocelot. My interests lay in human-carnivore conflict, ecology, conservation and distribution patterns of species

Calle 93B #9-61, Apt. 102, Bogota, Colombia

e-Mail: c.payan(a)ucl.ac.uk

T ++44 (207) 449-6324; F ++44 (207) 586-2870

Carlos VALDERRAMA, member since 2005

DVM Universidad Nacional de Colombia 2004.  Director of the “Fundación Vida Silvestre Neotropical”, currently coordinating the National Conservation Program for Felines in Colombia in cooperation agreement with the Colombian Environmental Ministry.  The Program projects will establish the socio-cultural, economical and biological factors affecting felid populations in the wild within the different regions of the country, in order to generate, with the involvement of local communities, educational and management alternatives to induce conservation awareness.

Fundacion Vida Silvestre Neotropical, Calle 119a No. 57-97

Bogota 104, Colombia

Email: carlos.valderrama(a)fvsn.org
T ++571 608-3164; F ++571 224-5616

Paraguay

Rocky McBRIDE, member since 2005

I am a wildlife biologist (Bachelor of Science,  Sul Ross State University). I have captured jaguars in Mexico, Belize, French Guiana, Venezuela, and Paraguay; snow leopards in Mongolia and Kazakhstan; Siberian lynx in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and the Soviet Far East; pumas and jaguars for telemetry studies in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Big Bend National Park, the Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Paraguay, and Venezuela. I did puma population estimates for Corps of Engineers, Texas Tech University, and Texas Parks and Wildlife. I own Faro Moro Ranch in Chaco, Paraguay.

Faro Moro Ecoresearch, P.O. Box 455, Alpine, TX 79831, U.S.A.

e-Mail: rocktmcbride(a)yahoo.com

Peru

E. Daniel COSSIOS, member since 2003

I work in carnivore conservation projects since the year 2002, principally with Andean carnivores and with Sechuran fox in Peru. At the moment, as a PhD student, I am carrying out researches about pampas cat and Andean cat population genetics in Bolivia, Peru and Argentina, as well as about distribution and relationships between this species and people in Peru. For the next years I am interested in continuing with this work and elaborate some documents about Andean felids conservation.

Univ. de Montreal, Dép. de Sciences Biologiques, Succursale centre-ville, Pavillon Marie-Victorin. QC,C.P. 6126, Montreal H3C 3J7, Canada

e-Mail: eduardo.daniel.cossios.meza(a)umontreal.ca

T ++1 (514) 343-2286

Analí MADRID, member since 2005

Graduated in Biology with experience in administration and planning of Protected Natural Areas, environmental education and ecoturism. Work experience with rural organizations in motivation, training, advice and implementation of conservation actions. From the year 2001 to date carryng out the study of the distribution and current state of conservation of the Andean cat  (Oreailurus jacobita) and pampas cat (Oncifelis colocolo) in the north, center and south Andes of Peru, as well as aspects about the traditional uses and cultural valuation of these felines. Collaborator in the elaboration of THE ANDEAN CAT: A Conservation Action Plan.

Peru Ecologico Asociation, Zela street N° 203, Yanahuara

Arequipa, Peru

e-Mail: titipisi(a)gmail.com

Phone: ++51-5427-3847

Venezuela

Rafael Hoogesteijn, member since 1990

I received a D.V.M. degree from the Universidad Central de Venezuela in 1978, Masters degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida, Gainesville in 1997. I have taken part in many expeditions throughout Venezuela devoted to recording and photographing Venezuela’s fauna and flora. Since 1980 I have carried out field studies in the Llanos compiling data on Venezuela’s felines, and problems of depredation in domestic animals. I currently work as a veterinarian and technical adviser in several livestock producing companies all over the country and also for the Ranchers Outreach Program and the Jaguar Conservation Program of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Prohesa, Hato Merecure, Apartado 3083, El Trigal

Valencia, Venezuela

 e-Mail: hoogesteijn(a)intercable.net.ve

T ++58 (241) 821-0850; F ++58 (212) 959-8837