Estimating detection and density of the Andean cat in the high Andes

Reppucci, Gardner, and Lucherini tackled one of the hardest felid monitoring problems: estimating density of the rare, cryptic Andean cat in the high Andes, where it coexists with the more common pampas cat. Using camera traps and spatially explicit capture-recapture, they accounted for imperfect detection and the difficulty of distinguishing the two similar-looking species from photographs. Their work produced some of the first rigorous density estimates for the Andean cat, an Endangered species for which almost no quantitative data existed. The study showcased how modern SECR methods extend to extremely sparse capture data typical of rare cats. It is a landmark reference for small-cat camera-trap research and for monitoring threatened high-altitude felids.