Merinia Mendoza Almeida
This project aims to conserve the Andean cat (Leopardus jacobita) and the Pampas cat (Leopardus garleppi) in the high-Andean community of Ccarhuacc Licapa, located in the Ayacucho region of Peru. The area contains relict forests of Polylepis subsericans, a highly threatened ecosystem that serves as critical habitat for these wild feline species and other important native fauna such as taruca and vicuña. However, these forests are increasingly threatened by deforestation, overgrazing, fires, and the presence of domestic and feral dogs.
Installation of speed-reducing signs indicating wild cat area © Asc. Mujeres Quechua Por La Conservación
Dogs represent a major challenge for conservation, as they can attack wildlife, compete with native carnivores, and transmit diseases. At the same time, families in the community have limited access to veterinary care and knowledge about responsible pet ownership. In response to this issue, the project proposes three complementary strategies: (1) dog population control through neutering and deworming campaigns, (2) environmental education to strengthen coexistence between people and wildlife, and (3) monitoring of Andean cats and feral dogs using camera traps to assess their interactions and guide long-term conservation actions.
The initiative is strongly supported by the Association of Quechua Women for the Conservation of Andean Cats. This group of women has become a key actor in protecting the forest and its wildlife, leading environmental education activities, community participation, and monitoring. Their involvement ensures project sustainability and reinforces its social and cultural impact.
By improving the management of domestic and feral dogs through neutering and deworming campaigns, along with promoting environmental awareness in schools and households, and maintaining constant monitoring of Andean felines, the project seeks to reduce the threats affecting these species and strengthen their conservation and that of their habitat. Likewise, it contributes to the empowerment of Quechua women and positions Ccarhuacc Licapa as a model of participatory conservation in the Peruvian Andes.