A rare and significant wildlife encounter has been documented in the interior of São Paulo state. A motion-activated camera, set up for fauna monitoring, successfully captured footage of a cougar, known locally as an onça-parda, in a rural area of the municipality of Tremembé.
The footage, recorded in late April, shows the large feline gracefully navigating its environment, crossing a fence line within a stretch of native vegetation. The images were captured by Juliano Marques Gomes, a resident of the neighboring city of Pindamonhangaba. Gomes has dedicated himself to monitoring wild animals in the region's forested areas using specialized trap cameras.
What began as a hobby, stemming from a passion for bird photography, has evolved into a consistent monitoring project for the wildlife of the Vale do Paraíba region. Gomes currently operates nine camera units, strategically placed in patches of native forest across Pindamonhangaba and Tremembé. The devices are left in position for weeks at a time, automatically triggered by animal movement.
This cougar sighting represents a personal milestone for the enthusiast. "For me, the onça-parda was the missing piece. With a lot of persistence, in a perfect location, I was able to make this record," Gomes stated. His work has previously documented other elusive species, including jaguarundis, margays, oncillas, and tamandua anteaters.
Experts note that the presence of such a top predator is a positive indicator for the local environment. Biologist Taciano Gonçalves explains that the cougar is a native species of the Atlantic Forest biome and inhabited the region long before urban expansion. "They were here before all of us. The natural habitat of this animal is the Atlantic Forest," he affirmed.
The biologist suggests that the movement of these felines could be linked to the reduction of forested areas and their search for food. However, he also points out that an increase in such sightings can signal progress in conservation efforts and the development of ecological corridors. "The presence of them, which are top-of-the-chain animals, shows that the ecosystem has been reacting to environmental issues," Gonçalves said.
The monitoring work underscores the critical link between habitat preservation and wildlife survival. Gomes emphasizes that these records help highlight the impacts of deforestation on wild animals. "We see a lot of deforestation. If a certain area is cleared, the animal will seek another forested area. And many times, it ends up approaching cities and houses. Sometimes, a small forest fragment that we look at and think nothing of can be home to many animals," he remarked.
Based on reporting from g1.