Problem
Threatened species of Oreailurus jacobita
Other Names:
Threatened species of Andean mountain cat Nature:
It appears that two of the usual human-induced causes of rarity; habitat loss/modification and direct persecution can be ruled out. There have been no significant changes in land-use of the high Andes over the last 2,000 years, if anything, the human population has decreased. It is possible that the Andean mountain cat is rare because it has evolved to be a specialized predator of chinchillias. Both mountain chinchillas and mountain viscachas have naturally patchy distributions, living in small colonies. Or perhaps it evolved to hunt nocturnal chinchillas rather than the larger, diurnal viscachas, which have been hunted to the brink of extinction, intensively exploited for the European fur trade from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries.
Incidence:
Due primarily to its rarity rather than by pressures brought about by hunting, the mountain cat is considered as an endangered species.
The IUCN considers Oreailurus jacobital as "Vulnerable". CITES lists the species as "Appendix 1".
Broader Problems:
Threatened species of Felidae Subject(s):
Birds, Mammals → CarnivoresSocietal Problems → Endangered species
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
E: Emanations of other problems Date of last update
24.09.2020 – 00:52 CEST