Records of endangered felines in conservation units in the Brazilian Pampa

The Brazilian Pampa biome is an environment formed by grasslands, shrubs, and riparian forests, home to several endemic species. These are being increasingly threatened by the replacement of their native areas by other types of land use, including agriculture and urbanization. To obtain comprehensive records of the native fauna, camera traps were installed in two protected areas, the Ibirapuitã Biological Reserve and the Espinilho State Park. In this way, it was possible to detect diverse populations of two native cats, the margay (Leopardus wiedii) and the Geoffroy’s cat (Leopardus geoffroyi), as well as the first record of the elusive Pampa’s cat (Leopardus munoai) in Brazilian conservation units, highlighting the critical importance of these unique habitats for biodiversity conservation and ecological research.