Often referred to as the American lion, puma, panther, mountain lion, or puma, the wild cougar maintains the largest geographic range of any terrestrial mammal in the Western hemisphere, spanning 28 countries. Yet despite this beautiful species’ notoriety and extensive home range, the cougar remains to be one of the most elusive wild cats on the planet.
Now, thanks to in-depth ecological research carried out through Panthera’s Teton Cougar Project which includes putting remote cameras in dens and on kills we are thrilled to share that Panthera will soon launch a new ‘Cougar Channel’ website, providing a fascinating window into the secret life of the misunderstood cougar.
Sign up to be notified when Panthera’s Cougar Channel launches
Scheduled to launch in the coming weeks, Panthera’s Cougar Channel will feature high-definition videos and photos of some never-before-seen cougar behavior taken with Panthera’s remote camera traps. This incredible footage shows cougar kittens nursing in their dens and playing in the snow; cougar families ‘calling’ and grooming one another, feeding, and curiously inspecting Panthera’s cameras; and Panthera’s scientists tracking, examining and collaring cougars to learn how to better protect the species.Also featured through these videos and photos are the gorgeous landscapes of the Teton Mountains and a variety of wildlife that share their homes with cougars, including grizzly bears, buffalo, moose, elk, wolves, fox and more.
Along with Panthera’s high-tech cameras, our scientists are utilizing cutting-edge GPS collars to track cougar movements, identify cougar dens, and monitor kittens from an early age across the southern Yellowstone ecosystem. Using these research tools, our team has recorded and observed rare and undocumented cougar behavior (including highly social interactions from cats previously perceived as solitary, and the adoption of three orphaned kittens by a female cougar), extended family lineages over time, and gathered a vast amount of data revealing the hidden lives of cougars. Since project inception, our team has collared and monitored 99 individual cougars, documenting their territories, prey selection, and population dynamics.
All of these data are improving our understanding of the social ecology of the species, and allowing Panthera’s scientists to better preserve the ‘American lion.’
- Read the December 2013 National Geographic Magazine ‘Ghost Cats’ article featuring Panthera’s Teton Cougar Project and cougar photos.
- Read a Huffington Post article by Panthera’s Teton Cougar Project Director, Dr. Howard Quigley, on ‘New Insights Into Cougar Behavior.’
- Learn about National Geographic Television’s ‘American Cougar’ documentary featuring Panthera’s Teton Cougar Project.
- Stay tuned for information on an upcoming BBC film on the Teton Cougar Project.
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