Partners
Network of conservationists and researchers
Cindy Hurtado 🇵🇪
Co-coordinator of the PCWG and Founder of the Peruvian Desert Cat Project
Biography
PhD in Forest Resources Management from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and Mesocarnivore Specialist for the Government of British Columbia. Her research focuses on the ecology and conservation of large mammals, with an emphasis on carnivores. She has experience in project management, fundraising, and the collection and analysis of ecological data. For her doctoral thesis, she assessed the persistence and connectivity of carnivores in the dry forests of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. She has published her studies in several peer-reviewed journals
Alvaro García 🇵🇪
Co-coordinator of the PCWG and Founder of the Peruvian Desert Cat Project
Biography
Biologist from the National University of Piura, Peru, and MSc in Ecology and Conservation from the State University of Santa Cruz, Brazil. He is the founder and Principal Investigator of the Sustainable Biodiversity Research Center – BioS, where he develops and manages projects focused on the ecology and conservation of large mammals. He has experience with a wide range of techniques for mammal assessment, including the use of camera traps, mist nets, capture and immobilization, telemetry, and censuses. Additionally, he has experience in environmental education, fundraising, and project management. He has published his research in peer-reviewed journals.
Cristian Barros 🇪🇨
Founder and President of Japu Foundation
Biography
Biologist with a Specialization in Sustainability and Conservation Planning, with extensive research experience in terrestrial ecosystems. To date, he has authored seven scientific articles and co-authored two, as well as written one book and edited another. His expertise includes camera trapping, spatial analysis, the use of SMART, and the implementation of conservation and sustainability projects. He is the founder and president of the JAPU Foundation, with strong skills in leadership, project management, and international collaboration.
Pedro Heredia 🇵🇪
Founder of the Milpuj Privade Conservation Area
Biography
PhD in Forest Resources Management from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and Mesocarnivore Specialist for the Government of British Columbia. Her research focuses on the ecology and conservation of large mammals, with an emphasis on carnivores. She has experience in project management, fundraising, and the collection and analysis of ecological data. For her doctoral thesis, she assessed the persistence and connectivity of carnivores in the dry forests of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. She has published her studies in several peer-reviewed journals
Merinia Mendoza 🇵🇪
Founder of the Quechua Women for Conservation
Biography
Biologist with a M. Sc in Environmental Management and Biodiversity from the National University of San Cristóbal de Huamanga, Ayacucho, Peru. She is the founder of the Quechua Women for Conservation Group, an organization that empowers Andean women in feline conservation. Passionate and dedicated to wildlife, she has a strong interest in mammals and the conservation of Andean felids. She has experience using radio collars for telemetry and camera traps, as well as in environmental education. Her expertise includes studies on small, medium, and large mammals, focusing on both taxonomy and ecology. She is skilled in using applications like Epicollect5 and programs like QGIS for improved wildlife data management. Additionally, she can engage with Quechua-speaking communities to promote wildlife conservation.
Gabriel Llerena 🇵🇪
Founder of Pro-Carnivoros
Biography
Conservation biologist from the National University of San Agustín Arequipa, Peru, with specialized studies at the University of Oxford, UK, and currently pursuing a master’s degree at the National University of San Antonio de Abad del Cusco, Peru. He has experience in the design, planning, and execution of biodiversity research and conservation projects at both national and international levels. He works as an independent consultant on biodiversity-related topics, environmental impact assessments, biological monitoring, and conservation planning. His areas of interest include human-wildlife conflict, conservation areas, illegal wildlife trade, population ecology of high Andean ecosystems, and sustainable development.
Patricio Muñoz 🇨🇱
Co-Founder of Con Garra
Biography
PhD in Forest Resources Management from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and Mesocarnivore Specialist for the Government of British Columbia. Her research focuses on the ecology and conservation of large mammals, with an emphasis on carnivores. She has experience in project management, fundraising, and the collection and analysis of ecological data. For her doctoral thesis, she assessed the persistence and connectivity of carnivores in the dry forests of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. She has published her studies in several peer-reviewed journals
Carlos Castro 🇨🇱
Founder of Colocolo Project
Biography
Veterinarian from the University of Concepción with a M.Sc in Ecology from the Austral University of Chile. Currently working as an environmental consultant in Chile, specializing in wildlife. He has published over 10 scientific articles on various vertebrate taxa, with a particular interest in mammals. He currently leads the Colocolo Project in the Maule Region, Chile, which aims to gather basic ecological information on the colocolo cat and support its conservation by mitigating human-carnivore conflicts through guidance and support in Mapuche hen production. Passionate about music, especially power metal.
Mauro Lucherini 🇦🇷
Principal Investigator of INBIOSUR, Universidad Nacional del Sur
Biography
Ph.D. in Animal Biology from the Università di Siena, Italy, co-founder of the Andean Cat Alliance and of the Mammal Behavioral Ecology Group (National University of the South, Argentina). His research focuses on carnivore conservation biology and human-wildlife conflict mitigation. Over the past 35 years, he has worked with 11 Neotropical carnivore species and authored or co-authored more than 80 scientific articles.
Soledad Albanese 🇦🇷
Founder of Dryland Cats Project and Research Assistant of CONICET
Biography
Biologist from the University of Buenos Aires, with research focused on the population ecology of mammals in arid regions. During my Ph.D. and postdoctoral studies, I investigated the ecological and reproductive strategies influencing the population dynamics of the long-tailed fat-tailed opossum, a small desert marsupial. Currently, I work with small marsupials and felids, aiming to identify both human-induced and natural factors affecting their ecology in extreme and human-altered environments. Our projects contribute to species conservation and the mitigation of human activities’ impact on their natural habitat. Additionally, I am a member of the Geoffroy’s Cat Working Group and participate in the management of the Ñacuñan Biosphere Reserve, a protected area in Mendoza, Argentina.
Paola Nogales 🇧🇴
Founder of the Bolivian Feline Research Program - PIF
Biography
PhD in Forest Resources Management from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and Mesocarnivore Specialist for the Government of British Columbia. Her research focuses on the ecology and conservation of large mammals, with an emphasis on carnivores. She has experience in project management, fundraising, and the collection and analysis of ecological data. For her doctoral thesis, she assessed the persistence and connectivity of carnivores in the dry forests of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. She has published her studies in several peer-reviewed journals
Viviana Albarracín 🇧🇴
Founder of the Jukumari Conservation Program
Biography
PhD in Forest Resources Management from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and Mesocarnivore Specialist for the Government of British Columbia. Her research focuses on the ecology and conservation of large mammals, with an emphasis on carnivores. She has experience in project management, fundraising, and the collection and analysis of ecological data. For her doctoral thesis, she assessed the persistence and connectivity of carnivores in the dry forests of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. She has published her studies in several peer-reviewed journals
Flavia Tirelli 🇧🇷
Coordinator of the Geoffrey's Cat Working Group
Biography
Biologist from the National University of Piura, Peru, and MSc in Ecology and Conservation from the State University of Santa Cruz, Brazil. He is the founder and Principal Investigator of the Sustainable Biodiversity Research Center – BioS, where he develops and manages projects focused on the ecology and conservation of large mammals. He has experience with a wide range of techniques for mammal assessment, including the use of camera traps, mist nets, capture and immobilization, telemetry, and censuses. Additionally, he has experience in environmental education, fundraising, and project management. He has published his research in peer-reviewed journals.
Tadeu de Oliveira 🇧🇷
Coordinator of the Tiger Cat Conservation Initiative
Biography
PhD in Forest Resources Management from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and Mesocarnivore Specialist for the Government of British Columbia. Her research focuses on the ecology and conservation of large mammals, with an emphasis on carnivores. She has experience in project management, fundraising, and the collection and analysis of ecological data. For her doctoral thesis, she assessed the persistence and connectivity of carnivores in the dry forests of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. She has published her studies in several peer-reviewed journals
Marina Favarini 🇧🇷
Founder of the Felinos do Pampa Project
Biography
PhD in Forest Resources Management from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and Mesocarnivore Specialist for the Government of British Columbia. Her research focuses on the ecology and conservation of large mammals, with an emphasis on carnivores. She has experience in project management, fundraising, and the collection and analysis of ecological data. For her doctoral thesis, she assessed the persistence and connectivity of carnivores in the dry forests of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. She has published her studies in several peer-reviewed journals
Felipe Peter 🇧🇷
Founder of the Felinos do Pampa Project
Biography
Biologist from the National University of Piura, Peru, and MSc in Ecology and Conservation from the State University of Santa Cruz, Brazil. He is the founder and Principal Investigator of the Sustainable Biodiversity Research Center – BioS, where he develops and manages projects focused on the ecology and conservation of large mammals. He has experience with a wide range of techniques for mammal assessment, including the use of camera traps, mist nets, capture and immobilization, telemetry, and censuses. Additionally, he has experience in environmental education, fundraising, and project management. He has published his research in peer-reviewed journals.
Santiago Turcatti 🇺🇾
Co-coordinator and Founder of the Peruvian Desert Cat Project
Biography
PhD in Forest Resources Management from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and Mesocarnivore Specialist for the Government of British Columbia. Her research focuses on the ecology and conservation of large mammals, with an emphasis on carnivores. She has experience in project management, fundraising, and the collection and analysis of ecological data. For her doctoral thesis, she assessed the persistence and connectivity of carnivores in the dry forests of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. She has published her studies in several peer-reviewed journals
Chiara Correa 🇵🇾
Co-coordinator and Founder of the Peruvian Desert Cat Project
Biography
PhD in Forest Resources Management from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and Mesocarnivore Specialist for the Government of British Columbia. Her research focuses on the ecology and conservation of large mammals, with an emphasis on carnivores. She has experience in project management, fundraising, and the collection and analysis of ecological data. For her doctoral thesis, she assessed the persistence and connectivity of carnivores in the dry forests of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. She has published her studies in several peer-reviewed journals
Jim Sanderson 🇺🇸
Founder of the Small Wild Cat Conservaton Foundation
Biography
PhD Wildlife Conservation from the University of Florida, USA He is the founder and director of the Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation, a member of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group, a review board member of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, and a fellow of Wildlife Conservation Network. Jim’s mission is to ensure the survival of small wild cats and their natural habitats worldwide. This mission is achieved by working with local partners around the world to identify and mitigate threats to the world’s small wild cats. In 1996 Jim used radio-telemetry to better understand habitat fragmentation and landscape connectivity, and conservation issues of Guignas (Leopardus guigna) in Chile. Bolivian and Chilean colleagues and Jim captured and radio-collared the first Andean cat in May, 2004. He has written four books and published more than 120 peer-reviewed journal articles
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Biography
PhD in Forest Resources Management from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and Mesocarnivore Specialist for the Government of British Columbia. Her research focuses on the ecology and conservation of large mammals, with an emphasis on carnivores. She has experience in project management, fundraising, and the collection and analysis of ecological data. For her doctoral thesis, she assessed the persistence and connectivity of carnivores in the dry forests of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. She has published her studies in several peer-reviewed journals