Camera traps as a tool for Carnivore conservation in a mosaic of Protected Areas in the Pantanal wetlands, Brazil

Camera trapping revealed the presence of eight carnivore species, including endangered jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in the Pantanal wetlands' Amolar Mountain Ridge Network. The study identified distinct activity patterns: jaguars and pumas exhibited cathemeral behavior, while ocelots and crab-eating foxes were primarily nocturnal, and Southern coatis and jaguarundis were diurnal. Despite challenges in detecting scansorial or low-density species like tayras (Eira barbara) and crab-eating raccoons (Procyon cancrivorus), camera trapping proved effective for studying carnivores and their prey in this mosaic of protected areas, providing critical data to inform conservation strategies.

Porfirio, G., Foster, V. C., Sarmento, P., Fonseca, C.,. (2018). Camera traps as a tool for Carnivore conservation in a mosaic of Protected Areas in the Pantanal wetlands, Brazil. Nature Conservation Research, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2018.035