Puma populations are on the rise in Patagonia, now targeting penguins as prey
ABC News••world
Key Points:
- Successful wildlife conservation in Argentina's Patagonia has led to a significant rebound of puma populations, now the highest density ever recorded in the region at 13.2 cats per 100 square kilometers.
- With pumas returning, Magellanic penguins, which flourished during the cats' absence, have become a new main prey source for the big cats, especially during the penguins' six-month coastal breeding season.
- The decline of sheep farming and the establishment of protected areas like Monte Leon National Park have facilitated the recovery of pumas and other wildlife species, reshaping local ecosystems.
- Pumas have adapted their hunting behavior to exploit the predictable and defenseless penguin colonies, switching back to guanacos when penguins
