Conservationists are currently on the lookout for pumas. They are not looking to kill but to conserve. Advanced technology is being used to track and monitor these large cats’ movements and health.
The Olympic Cougar Project, Panthera in Washington is currently tracking three pumas (or cougars) on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. This organization is committed to conserving 40 wildcat species worldwide.
Radio signals are transmitted by collars on big cats. This technology, which was originally developed in Africa to combat elephant poaching, makes finding pumas easier.
“Earth Ranger provides us a visual tool to just see in live motion all the animals on the landscape,”One conservationist said. “I can’t even exaggerate how big amount of time we were investing in doing all this stuff to figure out where cats are. All of that’s automated now.”
But what conservationists say they’ve been tracking is alarming them and could hurt the local species’ chances of survival.
“Right here on the Olympic Peninsula, they appear to be isolated from the remainder of Washington State,”They explained.
“And so the Interstate Five is kind of like a noose, and it’s turning the peninsula into an island. They’ll be contained, and there’ll be breeding opportunities amongst themselves, but over time, that’s a terrible thing.”
It will become a problem over time due to inbreeding which could affect the genetics of future generations.
For the moment, conservationists work hard to save the species.
“We essentially want to know that the Olympic Peninsula is healthy,”They also noted: “and the best way to do that is to see if wildlife are able to move from the Olympic Peninsula to the Cascades and back.
“We all know that this ecosystem is stronger, more resilient, and healthier because of the presence and activity of these animals.