Puma Tracking Safari

Patagonia, Chile

Pumas, are the largest predator and top of the food chain in southern Patagonia. Adult puma grow head to tip of the tail, from 2.2m to 2.Sm. The female weighs up to 50kg; where-as males are larger, up to 80kg. Puma are found throughout southern Patagonia in Chile and Argentina, with an exceptional high density of these cats in eastern regions of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, which makes it the most sought after destination for tracking, observing and photographing them in their naturally wild territory. Their prominence is due to abundant numbers of guanaco, that resemble small llama. Guanaco are high valued prey for puma. Protected as an endangered species from hunting within Torres del Paine National Park, it's estimated that this 2250 sq kms is home to more than 100 adult puma. Torres del Paine is the best destination in all of South America for professionally organised puma safari tracking expeditions and given their numbers, those who are avid nature photographers, or merely nature wildlife lovers, are virtually guaranteed sightings. However extended time and patience is paramount - it is not a zoo, this is a massive wilderness territory, so you must devote time to be successful.

Ideally a puma tracking safari requires a minimum of 3 days, out with professional tracker guides, to increase the likelihood of one or more sightings. As well as puma tracking within the National Park where professional guides are regulated to defined trails, through long-standing close relationships Keyhole International has access to private lands where puma tracking is permitted, off road. At all times though on private or National Park land, puma tracking is done with extreme respect and consideration, for the puma's space. Guides never search around their known dens, or allow you to get too close when a puma is spotted in the open range.

Puma are diurnal and hunt during the latter part of the day, into dusk and in darkness. The pre-dawn and first light hours of a new day are equalily prime hunting times. Typically they do get out during the day, depending on weather, as it is easier to hunt on cloudy, inclement weather days, than in bright sunshine. A territorial male puma can cover and will defend up to 35,000 hectares. Mostly feeding on guanaco, rhea, mara (Patagonia hares) and deer. Puma occasionally are pure opportunists, attacking domestic sheep. They avoid humans, so shepherds and dogs tending livestock, deter puma.

In the pursuit of taking guests into puma territories, professional trackers are resolute. They will not bait, chase, or interfere with the puma. However with so much in-field experience these professional puma tracking guides are adept at reading and anticipating puma behaviour. Like most every predator cat species, puma use guile, natural camouflage fur colour that blends in with the tundra and vegetation, as well as superior vision compared to their prey, to hunt pre-dawn, when their prey is grazing. Likewise, puma are also active towards the end of the day, when the guanaco particularly are grazing in small herds in preparation for the night ahead. Therefore to be successful in puma tracking sightings, prepare for a series of days waking pre-dawn early morning, off out into the field with your tracker - guide.

Believe us though when we say, a few early mornings is definitely worth it when you see these incredible animals out in the wild.