A camera trap monitoring project has revealed that these big cats still roam the cloud forests of Guatemala—an encouraging sign of the conservation status of this mountainous reserve.
But that’s not all. The study offers some intriguing findings:
A jaguar was recorded at over 2,000 meters above sea level.
12 independent records of pumas and one of a jaguar confirm that these species still find refuge beyond the Maya Biosphere Reserve.
Over 20 species of mammals were captured on camera in a single year, including ocelots, tapirs, tayras, pacas, and deer—showcasing the region’s rich biodiversity and nocturnal activity.
These findings confirm that the Sierra de las Minas remains a vital refuge for Mesoamerican biodiversity.
We invite you to read the full study: “Big cats (Carnivora, Felidae) still roam the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve: a forgotten Jaguar Conservation Unit in northeastern Guatemala”
Special thanks to the technical team, park rangers, allied communities, and organizations that made this work possible.
Authors: Luis A. Trujillo, Alejandro Mármol-Kattán, Cristina Abugarade, Adriana Rivera-Sandoval, Cristina Chaluleu Baeza, Raquel Leonardo, Diana Mansilla, Allison Trinidad, Claudia Quijivix, Isabel Martínez, Cristina Escobar, Rocío Paz, Andrid Ramírez, Bárbara I. Escobar Anleu, Rebeca Escobar, Rony Garcia-Anleu.
Organizations: Defensores de la Naturaleza, Panthera, CATIE, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), School of Biology - USAC (San Carlos University)