Puma concolor (Carnivora: Felidae) in the El Potrero Reserve, Entre Rios

Abstract

This note documents the first record of puma in the ANP Estancia El
Potrero, province of Entre Ríos. The Puma concolor is the second largest
cat in America and has a wide distribution due to its great ability to
adapt to various environments, from forests and savannas to areas mod-
ified by humans. In Entre Ríos, its historical presence was documented
by travelers and naturalists, although for decades it was considered a
virtually extinct species. Recent studies confirmed that it still persists in
the province, possibly through regionally connected dispersed individ-
uals. The work presents the first documented record of the puma in
the Estancia El Potrero de San Lorenzo, a protected area of more than
26,000 ha. During March 2026, footage was obtained using trap camer-
as and fingerprint records in different sectors of the reserve. The authors
consider that several observations correspond to the same individual,
identified by a distinctive spot visible on a posterior extremity. Based
on the evidence obtained, they estimate that the specimen traveled
approximately 22.30 km in 12 days. The reserve offers favorable condi-
tions for the species due to its large extent, environmental diversity and
abundance of prey, including invasive species such as the axis deer and
wild boar, as well as native mammals. The study highlights the impor-
tance of protected areas and biological corridors for puma conservation
in landscapes heavily modified by human activities.