Puma (Puma concolor), a top predator in Sierra del Tentzo nature reserve in Central Mexico

Abstract

The puma (Puma concolor) is the felid with the broadest distribution in America and plays a key role in the environment. However, there is scarce information about the species, as well as on how habitat loss, prey depletion and hunting have affected puma population along its range. Thus, it is imperative to generate information on the presence and distribution of puma in highly fragmented habitats like Central Mexico. We conducted a camera trapping survey to determine deer densities during September 2012 along trails in remnants of oak forest near the town of San Nicolas Huajuapan in the municipality of Huehuetlan el Grande, Puebla (18° 46' 57.18" N, -98° 07' 18.95" W). A photograph of an adult puma of undetermined sex was obtained at 00:32 hours on September 16 near a dry river bed at 1,680 masl. During the same season, we also captured other species like white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), ringtail (Bassariscus astutus), coyote (Canis latrans) and grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). This record is important as the closest protected area presumably inhabited by puma is the Izta-Popo Nature Reserve; other sightings have also been recorded in the Mixteca Poblana and the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve. This record is noteworthy because the species distribution in the state is unknown. A distance analysis showed that this site is relevant for connecting different puma populations in Central Mexico.