Andean Cat Conservation Education Guide

The Andean mountain cat Oreailurus jacobita, which is found only in the high Andes of South America, is one of least known cats in the world. In 2004, the Andean Cat Alliance, a working group of researchers, identified human persecution as the primary threat to this species, and listed an educational campaign as a priority for the long term conservation of this felid.

To accomplish this goal an International Workshop on Conservation Education for the Andean cat was held in Salta, Argentina in November 2005. The meeting was organized by M.J. Merino and M. Lucherini (Universidad Nacional del Sur) and P Perovic (Universidad Nacional de Salta) of Argentina.

Workshop participants represented seven teams working to increase public awareness and acceptance of the Andean cat in the four range countries. Delegates shared experiences, discussed achievements and problems, and agreed on a common educational strategy to support the conservation of this cat through the participation of local communities. The strategy will be summarized in a manual for environmental educators that will include specific formal and informal activities and tools targeted at audiences ranging from school students to adult local inhabitants and the general public. This innovative and high participative approach will help maximize the efficiency of available resources and may set an example for similar conservation initiatives.   Source: M Lucherini & M Merino