Scientists Track Elusive Animals in Three Countries

Why this is here: Bolivian scientists gathered over 4,600 photos of the short-eared dog, a rarely seen canine, through 20 years of camera trap work.

In Argentina, Bolivia, and the Caribbean/western Atlantic waters, researchers are using camera traps and social media to study rarely seen animals. WCS Argentina captured video of an Andean mountain cat and her cub in Mendoza province in August 2024. This is the first time a cub has been recorded, suggesting the local population is reproducing.

In Bolivia, a study compiled 4,635 photos of the short-eared dog—known as the “ghost dog”—collected over two decades. Analysis shows this canine relies on large, undisturbed forests and may be more common than previously thought.

Researchers also used social media, fisheries data, and museum records to map the range of devil rays across 17 countries where they hadn’t been formally documented. Despite these efforts, determining exact population sizes for all three species remains difficult. Further study is needed to understand the long-term viability of these elusive creatures.