Documentation of the presence of four species of wild cats in El Salvador

Abstract

In El Salvador, the study of felines was historically based on indirect evidence (tracks, footprints, excreta, hair), with the use of new technologies such as camera traps, it has been possible to sporadically document some photographic shots of species such as cougar, yaguarundi and margay. However, there was no certainty about the permanent presence of Puma and Ocelot in Salvadoran territory. In January 2021, the National Feline Conservation Program was implemented in the country, one of its specific objectives is to identify information gaps about feline species in El Salvador. With this objective, the first phototrapping station established in the Natural Area was installed. Protected San Carlos Cacahuatique in Morazán, the results achieved from January 2022 to January 2023 are presented. The presence of four species of felines is recorded through videos and photographs: cougar (Puma concolor), yaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), margay (Leopardus wiedii), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), this study provides videographic evidence and their behavior in terms of abundance during a full year of systematic monitoring of the presence of the four felid species in El Salvador.