Abstract

PACHECO, Luis F.; LUCERO, Amparo  and  VILLCA, Mercedes. Dieta of puma (Puma concolor) in Sajama National Park, Bolivia and its conflict with livestock. Ecología en Bolivia [online]. 2004, vol.39, n.1, pp.75-83. ISSN 1605-2528.

Based on a sample of 53 faeces, the diet of Puma concolor was studied in a protected area of the Bolivian altiplano. The largest contribution to the diet in number of preys came from medium and small rodents (98%), but camelids made up the main contribution in biomass (53%), corresponding little more than half to domestic species and the rest to Vicugna vicugna. Our results disagree with the hypothesis that pumas feed mainly on those prey most available in its environment, because it seems to prefer vicunas over livestock. However, our estimate of the quantity of livestock consumed suggests that a program of control of puma predation should be started urgently, to avoid larger management problems between the protected area’s administration and local inhabitants.

Keywords : Wildlife conflicts; carnivores; conservation; altiplano; Puma; Vicugna; Lama.

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