Puma scales 20-meter eucalyptus tree
The image impressed forestry engineer Moacir Reis.
He is the son of the owners of Mutum Farm, located in the municipality of Ribas do Rio Pardo, a city 100 km from Campo Grande, the capital of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
“We often spot pumas around here; they usually attack animals on the farm, especially sheep and calves. There’s a considerable number of pumas in the area. But this situation was very unusual,” said Reis.
He managed to record, using a cellphone, the moment when a puma (Puma concolor) was climbing down from a eucalyptus tree, which stands about 20 meters tall.
“I believe the puma was searching for prey, possibly some game at the top of the tree. At the time, it really felt like this animal has incredible agility. We were very glad to witness such a creature,” he added.
The farm where the puma was spotted is involved in timber and charcoal production from eucalyptus trees.
There is also cattle farming on the property.
Despite occasional attacks on livestock, Reis assures that coexistence with the pumas is peaceful and respectful.
“There’s a very peaceful coexistence with the pumas here in the region, especially in the legal reserve areas. We often see animals like this crossing near the APPs (Permanent Preservation Areas), near streams and creeks. It’s a very calm relationship. These animals are hard to spot because they’re very smart and quick. But they pose no threat to humans.”
PUMA
The second-largest feline in the Americas, behind only the jaguar (Panthera onca), the puma can be found in various biomes from north to south of the continent. It can live in dense forests or on the outskirts of urban areas, thanks to its remarkable adaptability.
Males can weigh up to 110 kilograms (about 243 pounds), while females range from 53 to 72 kilograms (117 to 159 pounds). Excluding the tail, these animals can reach up to 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) in length.
The puma is listed as "vulnerable" by Brazil's national conservation authority, ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation), and as "least concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).