Cougar Predation

[Balam]

Here is a compilation between the interactions of wild horses in Patagonia and the local cougar populations. Most specifically the bagual horses of Torres del Paine national park in Chile:

From an interview with a baguales researcher:

*This image is copyright of its original author

Source: https://www.cascada.travel/en/News/Footsteps-Lady-Florence-Dixie-Tracking-Baguales

And piggybacking off of her claim, the survival rate for foals of this specific populations is very low at only 20%, which reaffirms that cougars are not only active and successful predators of wild horses, but they are essential in keeping their populations in check serving as a strong natural predator, so much so that this specific herd is reducing in size:

*This image is copyright of its original author

Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/kiwi-trav...-patagonia

*This image is copyright of its original author

Source: https://www.cascada.travel/en/News/Wild-...tor-Moraga

*This image is copyright of its original author

"Aggressive in its habituated defense against the cougar" source: Desafios para la conservacion de la fauna chilena, book.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Tom cougar resting in front of Patagonian wild horses it probably predates on, by Wayajapuma Reply