Pampean haystack cat: one of the rarest felines in the world faces danger of extinction The Pampean haystack cat (Leopardus munoai), one of the rarest felines in Brazil, which entered the national list of endangered fauna in the "Critically Endangered" category, the last stage before extinction in the wild, has an estimated population of 250 animals and has lost 25% of its habitat in just 15 years. Discreet, difficult to see and restricted to native grassland areas in the south of Rio Grande do Sul, Uruguay and northeast Argentina, the animal is known among experts as the “ghost of the pampas” due to its rarity and elusive behavior. ? Access the g1 RS channel on WhatsApp Data collected by the Felinos do Pampa project show that, in just 15 years, the feline's native habitat decreased by more than 25%. In the same period, areas destined for agriculture, such as soybean plantations, and forestry, for the production of paper and cellulose, grew by almost 30%, directly replacing the animal's environment. According to researchers, the estimated population of this animal throughout its habitat in Brazil is around 250 animals. The estimate, however, is difficult to confirm, as the animal is rare and an expert at hiding. With grayish-brown fur, triangular ears and a pink snout, the animal has perfect camouflage for hiding in the dry vegetation of the Pampas. ??The Pampa biome, also known as southern fields, is located in Brazil exclusively in Rio Grande do Sul, where it covers 63% of the territory, but also extends across Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. The term, of Quechua origin, means "flat region" and describes the dominant landscape of plains and gentle reliefs, the so-called coxilhas, covered by low vegetation. Considered a cultural heritage, the biome has a rich biodiversity, with around 3 thousand species of plants and almost 500 species of birds. Its landscape is historically associated with Gaucho culture and livestock farming in native countryside, a practice that helped conserve its ecosystems. One of the most alarming data is that less than 1% of the areas considered to be of high quality for the haystack cat are within conservation units. This means that the best refuges for the species are almost completely unprotected. The species specifically depends on native grasslands, an ecosystem found in areas of traditional livestock farming, which is becoming increasingly rare. "Where there is this traditional livestock farming, where there are cattle, that figure of the gaucho on horseback playing cattle, that's where the haystack cat is", says Felipe Peters, biologist and researcher. A Gaucho feline, the Pampean haystack cat has seen its native habitat shrink Felipe B. Peters In addition to the loss of territory, the haystack cat faces other serious threats. Among them are predation by domestic dogs, being run over on highways that cut through their habitat, fires used to manage pastures and retaliatory hunting, when the feline preys on farmed animals. To try to reverse the situation, experts from Felinos do Pampa work on several fronts. Actions include signaling critical points for road kill, vaccination campaigns for domestic animals to prevent disease transmission and dialogue with producers to mitigate retaliatory hunting. The main strategy, however, is to combat habitat loss. "It's an animal that has always been hidden. And we, in recent years, are fighting for people to get to know it, to assimilate the value that this animal fears because it is from the south, it is a gaucho cat", adds Peters. Find out more about the Pampean haystack cat ? A study carried out by researchers Fabio Oliveira do Nascimento, Jilong Cheng and Anderson Feijó, based on the analysis of 142 specimens preserved in more than 20 natural history museums around the world, showed that there are five species known as "haystack cat" (the Pampean cat being the most threatened in Brazil): Leopardus colocola (central Chile), Leopardus pajeros (central and southern Argentina), Leopardus garleppi (Tropical Andes), Leopardus braccatus (Brazilian Cerrado and Pantanal), and Leopardus munoai. 'Ghost of the Pampas': meet the wild cat that lives in RS and is one of the rarest in the world Characteristics: adults weigh 2 to 6 kg. The coat varies from gray to brown, with black stripes on the paws. The nose is pink, and the ears are triangular. Habits: active day and night, its diet includes frogs, birds and small rodents. Occurrence: species endemic to Pampa, restricted to the south of Rio Grande do Sul, Uruguay and northeast Argentina. Infographic - Habitat loss and direct threats place Pampean haystack cats at risk of extinction Art/g1 How to help protect wild cats Be careful on highways: respect speed limits, especially at night. Responsible ownership: keep domestic dogs and cats at home and with their vaccinations up to date. Attacking farm animals: if a feline attacks chickens or other animals, contact environmental agencies such as the Environmental Police (190) or the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) (0800 061 8080). Report: hunting, capturing or keeping these animals in captivity is a crime. VIDEOS: Everything about RS