Alianza Gato Andino (AGA) Andean Cat Alliance

AGA is structured with one General Coordinator, one coordinator by area and one Representative for each range country. Currently we have four categories of membership: Active Members, Institutional Members, AGA Friends and Honorary Members.

Rocío Palacios
Nationality: Argentina
Studies: Biologist
Activity: independent researcher in carnivores related projects in the central part of Argentina.
Current activities related to Andean Cat: Studies about ecology, conservation status and distribution of the Andean cat in Argentina from 2003. Actually in charge of the project for capacity building protected areas’ personnel in carnivores’ ecology and signs, and Andean cat’s and other carnivores survey in the southern part of the cat’s distribution.

Juan Ignacio Reppucci
Nationality: Argentinean
Studies: Biologist. Doctoral student as part of the "Soul of The Andes" project.
Activities: Assistant researcher in the "Soul of The Andes" project. GECM member, Fellow of CONICET.
Current activities related to the Andean Cat: since 2005, carries on research activities on abundance and habitat use of the Andean Cat in north-western Argentina. Also collaborates in formal and informal education activities.

Sebastián Cañadell

Name: Sebastian Cañadell
Nationality: Argentinean
Studies: Biology student
Activity: Independent collaborator in projects related with carnivores in the central zone of Argentina.
Current activities related to the Andean cat: Thesis student under the Project “Qualification of the staff from the natural protected areas in ecology and carnivore signs, and in presence surveys of the Andean cat and other carnivores in the South zone of the species distribution.

Mauro Lucherini
Nationality: Italian and Argentinean.
Studies: PhD in Zoology.
Activities: CONICET Joint Researcher, director of “The Soul of the Andes” project and principal investigator of carnivore conservation biology projects. Member of GECM, Depto. Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur.
Current activities related to the Andean Cat: Since 1998, he is leading research and conservation campaigns in north-western Argentina High Andes, including field surveys, interviews and educative activities with local communities.

María José Merino
Nationality: Argentinean.
Studies: Biological Sciences Teacher – Master in Environmental Education
Activities: Natural Sciences secondary school Teacher. Coordinator of EduGat Programme, the educational component of “The Soul of the Andes” project. Member of GECM, Depto. Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur.
Current activities related to the Andean Cat: Since 2000, she is developing community participation activities and conservation education with students in rural schools of the Argentina High Andes and activities.

Pablo Gastón Perovic
Nationality: Argentinean
Studies: Biologist, Doctor in Biological Sciences.
Activities: Researcher of the Instituto de Bio y Geociencias, Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Salta.
Current activities related to the Andean cat: Andean Cat Alliance member. Researcher of the following projects: “Conservation of Puna´s Andean cats across national borders”, "Identification of faeces of Andean cat, pampas cat and Andean fox, using sniffing dogs”. Carries out research on the distribution, ecology and conservation status of the Andean cat in north of Argentina since 1998.

Giovana Leonor Gallardo Tapia
Nationality: Bolivian
Studies: Graduate in Biological Sciences. Magister in Sciences: Production, Management and Conservation of Natural Resources, Program of the University of Los Lagos - X Region, Chile.
Activity: Investigator of the Centre of Studies in Theoretical and Applied Biology (BIOTA). Management and Conservation of wildlife Program with emphasis in carnivorous of highlands.
Current activities related to the Andean cat: Since 2002, she carries out research projects on the ecology and distribution of the Andean cat in the Sajama National Park (SNP) and its surroundings. She also carries out environmental educative activities with children and teachers in the rural schools of the SNP.

Ma. Lilian Villalba
Nationality: Bolivian
Studies: Biologist. Master in Wildlife Management and in Biology - Integrative Biosciences.
Activity: Associate Researcher of the Coleccion Boliviana de Fauna (CBF). Development and support in research projects on mammals.
Current Activities related to the Andean cat: Bolivian coordinator of the Project “High Andes Conservation Without Borders” and “Single Road Project”. Support and participates in the different projects of the Bolivian AGA team. Development of research projects on the distribution and ecology of the Andean cat since 1998.

Gabriela Aguirre Bacarreza
Nationality: Bolivian
Studies: Biologist
Activity: Consultant in activities related to environmental education and ethno-biology.
Current activities related to the Andean cat: Activities on environmental education and community sensitizing for the conservation of the Andean cat and its habitat at rural schools and communities of the Bolivian Puna, particularly in the “Eduardo Avaroa” National Andean Fauna Reserve and “Sajama” National Park.

Fernando D. Alfaro Ayllon
Nationality: Bolivian
Studies: Biologist, Candidate to Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Universidad de Chile.
Activity: Associate researcher of the Centre of Biodiversity and Genetics of Universidad Mayor de San Simon, Cochabamba
Current activities related to the Andean cat: Carries out studies on the distribution, conservation status and ecology of the Andean cat in Bolivia since 2004. Leads the Andean cat conservation project in Cochabamba – Bolivia.

L. Fabian Beltrán Saavedra
Nationality: Bolivian
Studies: Zoo-technician Veterinarian. Diploma in Environmental Education (M-EA) and in Higher Education in Health (PPEGESS).
Activity: Associate researcher of the Colección Boliviana de Fauna from University Mayor de San Andrés, Invertebrate Unit, carrying out studies on parasitology and epidemiology.
Current activities related to the Andean cat: Implementation of a new Program of ecosystem health for the conservation of the habitats of the Andean cat. Participates and collaborates to Bolivian AGA team on issues related to veterinary research and workshops with local communities.

Juan Carlos Huaranca Ariste
Nationality: Bolivian
Studies: Biologist
Activity: Associate Researcher of the Centre of Biodiversity and Genetic of the San Simon University.
Current activities related to the Andean cat:
Carries out studies on the ecology, distribution and conservation status of the Andean cat in Bolivia since 2004; has participated in several projects on the distribution of the species in Argentina and Bolivia, training activities and Environmental Education for the conservation of the Andean cat in rural and high Andean zones of the eastern mountain range of the Bolivian Andes (Departments of Cochabamba, Potosí and Tarija).

Alejandra Rocio Torrez Tarqui
Nationality:Bolivian
Studies: Biologist, Monitor in Environmental Education
Activity: Associate Researcher of the Centre of Biodiversity and Genetic of the San Simon University, Cochabamba-Bolivia.
Current activities related to the Andean cat: Participates in the coordination of the environmental education program and helps in research activities on the ecology and distribution of Andean Cat, in the “Cordillera oriental” of the Bolivian Andes. Participates in the Bolivian AGA project for training park guards in wildlife monitoring and rural teachers at protected areas where the Andean Cat is present, using the EEPE technique (Education of Schoolyard Ecology); she also develops workshops of sensitization with local people and children in school age.

Daniela Ulloa Escobar
Nationality: Bolivian
Studies: Sciences of the Social Communication
Activities: Projects on popularization of science and environmental education.
Current activities related to the Andean cat: Activities on environmental education with kids and teachers of rural schools in the Bolivian Puna.

Agustin Iriarte Walton
Nationality: Chilean
Studies: Biologist. Master in Ecology and Conservation, Ph.D. Candidate.
Current work: Professor of Ecology and Conservation. President of Fundación Biodiversitas.
Current activities related to the Andean cat: Chilean representative of AGA. Main researcher of the projects “Conservation of Puna´s Andean cats across borders” and "Impact of the puma (Puma concolor) to cattle activity and to other carnivores in northern Chile". Studies on ecology, distribution and conservation status of the Andean cat in Chile since 1998.

Magdalena Bennett M.
Nationality: Chilean
Studies: Geographer
Activities: Associate Researcher of Universidad Católica de Chile. Area: Integration of Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing for the conservation of wildlife.
Current activities related to the Andean Cat: Research: Studies on ecology and geographic distribution of the Andean cat, and the application of biogeographic models by means of the use of remote-sensing and GIS techniques. Carries out field surveys, field interviews and educative activities with kids of rural schools of the high Andean zone and Chilean Altiplano.

Nicolás Lagos
Nationality: Chilean
Studies: Engineer in Natural Resources
Activity: Researcher at the Ecology Laboratory of the Sciences Faculty, University of Chile
Current activities related to the Andean cat: Research activities on abundance and distribution of the Andean cat in the Chilean High Andes.

Constanza Napolitano Valenzuela
Nationality: Chilean
Studies: Veterinary Medical Doctor. Currently doing a PhD in SV Sciences in Campus Sur Universidad de Chile.
Activity: Researcher in the Molecular Ecology Laboratory of the Sciences Faculty, Universidad de Chile.
Current activities related to the Andean cat: Since 2003 works on ecology and distribution studies of the Andean cat in northern Chile, and also is the coordinator of the educational activities in rural schools of the high Andes for the conservation of the Andean cat.

Rodrigo Villalobos Aguirre
Nationality: Chilean
Studies: Veterinary Medicine
Research activity: Associate Researcher of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Chile with the project "Impact of the puma (Puma concolor) on the livestock production activity in Northern Chile".
Current activities related to the Andean cat: Carries out fieldwork using camera traps in the pre-mountain Andean range and high Andean zone of the I Region of Chile for searching and monitoring the elusive Andean cat.

Analí Madrid Rivera
Nationality: Peruvian
Studies: Graduate in Biology
Activity: Consultant in management and planning of natural protected areas, with experience in environmental education and ecotourism. Work experience with rural organizations in motivation, training, advice and implementation of conservation actions.
Current activities related to the Andean cat:
Since 2001 to the date, carries out studies on distribution and conservation status of the Andean cat (Oreailurus Jacobean) and pampas cat (Oncifelis colocolo) in the north, centre and south Andes of Peru, as well as about aspects of the cultural and traditional use of these cats. She also carries out activities of training and environmental education for the Andean cat conservation in the high Andes of Peru.

José Luis Condori Goyzueta
Nationality: Peruvian
Studies: Management and conservation of biodiversity – CEU University, San Pablo - Spain.
Activity: AGA Researcher. Specialist in Natural Protected Areas, Intendance of Natural Protected Areas - INRENA - Peru.
Current activities related to the Andean cat: Studies on ecology, distribution and conservation of the Andean cat in Peru, since 2003. Educative activities related to the Andean cat conservation in Peru.

E. Daniel Cossios Meza
Nationality: Peruvian
Studies: Biologist. M.Sc. In Ecology and Conservation.
Activity: PhD student.
Current activities related to the Andean cat: Research about population genetics, distribution and conservation status of Andean felids.

Alex Cruz
Nationality: Peruvian
Studies: Biologist, Master in environmental management and sustainable development
Activity:Specialist in forest resources and wildlife of the Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales - INRENA.
Current activities related to the Andean cat:
Since 2006, he carries out activities of training and environmental education for the Andean cat conservation in communities of the high Andes of Peru. He also carries out studies on the distribution and conservation status of the Andean cat in the south Andes of Peru.

Úrsula Fajardo Quispe
Nationality: Peruvian
Studies: Bachelor in Biological Sciences.
Activity: Collaborating researcher of the Department of Mammalogy of the Museum of Natural History of the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos.
Current activities related to the Andean cat: Studies about distribution and status of conservation of the Andean cat in the high Andean region of Lima - Peru (2006-2007). Since 2005, participated in the research project on the ecology and conservation of small carnivores in Central Peru.

Edmundo Miranda Paca

Name: Edmundo Miranda Paca
Nationality: Peruvian
Studies: Lic. In Biological Sciences
Activity: Teacher in the Environmental Engineering Career at the Universidad Privada de San Carlos of Puno - Peru.
Current activities related to the Andean cat: Participates in the Environmental Education Project for the Andean cat conservation in Puno and Tacna, 2006-2008.

Jose L.Velásquez Larico
Nationality: Peruvian
Studies: Biologist and Post-Graduate student in Conservation Biology
Activities: Researcher in the Project “Catchment Management and Mining Impacts in Arid and Semi-Arid South America”, and in the Project “Distribution and Habitat of Chaetophractus nationi (Xenarthra), in south Peru.
Current activities related to the Andean Cat: Carries out studies on the Andean cat distribution and develops educative activities with local communities for Andean cat conservation in south Peru.

United Kingdom

Jorgelina Marino - Coordinator of Distribution and Genetic Area

Jorgelina Marino
Nationality: Argentinean and Bristish
Studies: Ecologist
Activities: Post-Doctoral researcher at the Oxford University, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU): Spatial ecology of threatened species. Coordinator of the People & Wildlife Program on conflicts between fauna and human interests
Current activities related to the Andean Cat:
Ecologist of the Project “Conservation of Puna´s Andean cats across national borders” funded by the Darwin Initiative (UK), with focus in the tripartite border of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile. Habitat use studies of the Andean cat.
More information: http://www.wildcru.org/aboutus/people/marino.htm

Claudio Sillero
Nationality: Argentinean and British
Studies: Conservationist biologist.
Activities: Research Fellow of the Oxford University, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU). It heads the program People & Wildlife and participates in various threatened species conservation programs, management of areas protected and fauna surveys, areas in which is 20 years old of experience in South American, African countries and other regions.
Current activities linked to the Andean cat: Coordinator of the project “Conservation of Puna´s Andean cats across national borders” funded by the Darwin Initiative (UK) with focus in the tripartite border of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile. Wildlife Conservation Network advisor.
For more information: http://www.wildcru.org/aboutus/people/sillero.htm