Protecting South America's kodkod cat
Although significant research has been conducted on large felids, less is known about smaller species such as the kodkod cat, the smallest cat of the Americas. The EU-funded project KODKOD (Forecasting conservation needs for endangered fauna: Integrating landscape ecology and ethnoecology to predict habitat quality for the kodkod cat (Leopardus guigna) in the Chilean temperate rainforest) studied the tolerance of this threatened species to human modification of temperate rainforest, its main habitat. Researchers radio-tracked individual kodkods in the foothills of the Andes in the Araucania region of southern Chile to determine their home ranges, preferred habitats, and use of forest remnants. Monitoring with camera traps enabled scientists to assess the effects of habitat fragmentation per se. Analysis of kodkod diet showed that they mainly consumed the long-tailed pygmy rice rat (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus). The rat is the principal host of hantavirus, which causes the deadly Hantavirus syndrome. Researchers also conducted interviews and questionnaires with landowners and indigenous Mapuche people to explore local knowledge and attitudes towards kodkods. In addition, they determined how school children perceive the animal through paintings and stories collected as a homework. Scientists confirmed that the kodkod is a vulnerable forest specialist. However, they discovered that it can establish permanent territories in a fragmented landscape and adapt to new hunting grounds along the fragmented edges of the forest. The species is drawn to human habitation by the presence of rodent populations, but this risks conflict with human occupants and attacks by domestic dogs. Data from the KODKOD project will be used by the Chilean Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG), which is responsible for wildlife management. It will also benefit environmental departments of the local municipalities and environmental non-governmental organisations. These policymakers were the target group for the final stakeholder workshop where a local action plan for kodkod conservation was discussed. KODKOD identified strategies for landowners to improve kodkod habitat in impacted southern temperate rainforest. The project also promoted the value of kodkods through puppet videos and biocultural children books (bilingual in Spanish and indigenous Mapudungun) for use in regional schools.
