Camera traps reveal four feline species coexisting, facilitated by temporal segregation in Parque Nacional Tingo María, Perú

Abstract

The transformation of natural ecosystems by human activities has significantly reduced the availability of functional habitats for wild felids. In this context, Parque Nacional Tingo María (PNTM), a conservation area of limited extent within a heavily transformed landscape, has confirmed the coexistence of Herpailurus yagouaroundi, Leopardus tigrinus, Panthera onca, and Puma concolor. This study determines the locations and frequencies of these species' records and analyzes their hourly activity patterns. For this purpose, 19 camera traps were installed at PNTM from January to December 2024, yielding 52 independent records (with a total of 5,861 camera-days of sampling effort) for felids. H. yagouaroundi was the most frequently recorded species (17 records), followed by L. tigrinus (12), P. onca (12), and P. concolor (11). In addition, clear temporal segregation is evident: H. yagouaroundi was predominantly diurnal, L. tigrinus mainly nocturnal, and P. onca and P. concolor showed cathemeral activity throughout day and night. These results suggest that the coexistence of the four species in a limited space is facilitated by differences in their activity patterns and support the role of PNTM as a key refuge for territorial felids in an environment undergoing urbanization and landscape fragmentation.