DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e129163

Authors: Javier Torres-Jiménez, Sylvia M. Seger, Camila Acosta-López, María Mercedes Gavilánez, Sebastián Kohn, Fabricio Narváez, Andrés Laguna, Marco Monteros, Hugo Ramírez-Piedra, Denis Lucero-Toapanta, Christian Armas

Abstract: Jaguar populations (Panthera onca) on the Ecuadorian coast are critically endangered, with only a few dozen individuals remaining in the region. In some areas, no records have been documented for decades. Between November 2023 and January 2024, independent camera trap monitoring in northwestern Ecuador yielded evidence of the presence of a jaguar, marking a significant recovery after seven years of absence in Manduriacu and at least 15 years in Junín. The jaguar was observed moving through an area of approximately 25 km, traversing forested and human-altered zones. Furthermore, additional evidence from the Ecominga Foundation and the Cielo Verde community indicated the occurrence of livestock attacks, which aligns with the typical predatory patterns observed in jaguar behavior. The attack site was located approximately 8 km from where the jaguar was initially recorded, suggesting that both events refer to the same individual. In response, local authorities inspected the area and organized community workshops. Furthermore, an Andean bear was recorded in Manduriacu during the same sampling period, confirming the co-occurrence of both species in the area. The documented movement of this jaguar, along with the presence of other species, underscores the imperative need to continue research and conservation initiatives in the region. These initiatives will ensure the protection and coexistence of wildlife and human populations in this highly biodiverse region.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.16.e57140

Authors: Gustavo Adolfo Pisso-Florez, Ignacio Gómez-Lora, I. Mauricio Vela-Vargas, Héctor Pizo, Isaac Bedoya Dorado, Héctor E. Ramírez-Chaves

Abstract: Two iconic and charismatic species that inhabit the northern Andes of South America are the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) and the Mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque). Both species can be found sympatrically in several areas of Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru. Despite their overlap in distribution, little is known about interactions between both species, with few reported cases of Andean bear attacks on the Mountain tapir. Here, we report a possible attack by an Andean bear on a Mountain tapir in the northern part of Puracé National Natural Park, Colombia based on strong wounds and marks on a tapir’s back and rump. The wounds match typical attack patterns generated by Andean bears and corroborates previous camera traps records of bears attacking tapirs in this locality.

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