49 images Created 27 May 2015
Pumas of Patagonia
The puma is a member of the Felidae family and is the largest predator in Patagonia. Females weigh up to 110 lbs/50 kgs and males can weigh as much as 180 lbs/80kgs. They are generally between 10 - 12 ft/ 3 - 3.5 meters in length. They are beautiful cats with sleek muscular bodies ending with a thick, long tale. Their fur is thick and is tawny golden in color all though some may appear more gray or red. Pumas inhabit 28 countries in the Americas and are also known as cougars, mountain lions, and shadow cats. They are solitary hunters and have overlapping home ranges up to 40 sq miles/ 65 sq.kms. They come together only to breed or to raise their cubs. Puma mothers are fiercely protective over their cubs. Their favorite prey in Patagonia is guanacos. Like leopards and other ambush predators, they stalk their prey before springing with a powerful leap and securing their meal with a fatal bite to the neck. Their greatest threat is humans as they are often poached as a backlash for killing domestic animals.
