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FOLLOWING THE TRACKS OF THE “TIGER” IN THE UPPER PARANÁ ATLANTIC FOREST New scientific research Since 2002, researchers of the CONICET (the Argentine National Council for Scientific Research and Technology) and Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina, with the support of the Ministry of Ecology of Misiones and the Administration of National Parks, have developed a project that studies the situation of the jaguar in the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest. Essentially, this study tries to answer the following questions: Which is the state of the jaguar population in the Upper Parana Atlantic Forest? In which zones is it present and in which no longer? , What concrete factors are affecting the jaguar’s survival? The progress of the study shows that the population of the jaguar in the Paraná Atlantic Forest underwent a drastic decline in the last 15 years. It demonstrates the necessity of taking urgent concrete measures to change this situation. In that line the Administration of National Parks, the Government of the Province of Misiones, FVSA and other institutions are working together so that the jaguar continues being a living part of our nature and culture.How the investigation is conducted: A registered “tiger”
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In order to conduct this study, the researchers place specially developed camera - traps in forest areas that show different conditions. Through infrared censors, the cameras are activated in the presence of an animal and take the photograph. Thanks to the unique spots of each jaguar, it is possible to identify the same “tiger” in different photos and thus to estimate how many jaguars live in the region.
Besides, a network of more than 200 field collaborators (mostly park-rangers, field biologists, farmers, etc.) in Misiones and neighbouring regions of Brazil and Paraguay assess where jaguars are still present and where they no longer exist. Field collaborators collect evidences of its presence: casts of tracks and faecal material. This network also coordinates and conducts other actions as dissemination of information and education at different locations in the province.  |