Andean Mountain Cat

We're proud to bring you pictures of some of the rarest small wild cats in the world.These pictures were kindly sent to ISEC Canada by Lilian Villalba, leader of the Andean Cat Ecology Project in La Paz, Bolivia.

All pictures are strictly copyright to the photographer, and not to be used for commercial purposes.

At Kamincha-Cerro Colorado in Potosi, Bolivia a view of the Andean Mountain Cat habitat consisting of small and high valleys flanked by rocky hillsides with steep and high walls. These are topped by a rocky plateau which is at the foot of even higher hills.

At Khastor, Potosi-Bolivia, a close-up view of where Andean Mountain Cat's were seen. Saline lagoons and bofedals (year-round streams flowing from the mountains that support various cushion grasses) feature at the bottom of valleys. The only tree that can grow here at over 4500 meters is the Queñoa (Polyepsis spp.)

A mountain vizcacha (Lagidium viscacia), probably the main prey of the Andean Mountain Cat. Photo taken by a camera trap, placed in front on a scent station set to attract Andean cats at Peña Lire - Khastor (Potosi, Bolivia) Photo credit: Andean Cat Project, Khastor-Bolivia.