Puma on the run.
As was typical when we visited Chile’s Patagonia in July 2025, it was cold and very windy. In the distance, we spied a female puma (known as Escarcha) walking along a hillside. Suddenly, she began to run and bound along. The scene was partly backlit and it was nice to see a degree of rim lighting picking out this magnificent big cat. She vanished into some deep undergrowth but we managed to catch up with her on two occasions. This gave us lovely views of this very relaxed cat. Watching such a powerful Puma on the run was a real thrill.
The Puma, also known as the Cougar or Mountain Lion in other parts of The Americas, is a remarkable apex predator found in Patagonia, where it inhabits a diverse range of ecosystems from mountainous terrains to grasslands. Key features of the puma include its sleek, muscular body, long tail, and short, rounded ears, which contribute to its agility and excellent climbing ability. Females can reach up to 2m in length from nose to tail and weigh up to 64kg, whilst males are up to 2.4m in length and weigh up to 100kg. Its coat is typically a tawny or greyish colour, providing effective camouflage in the rocky and scrubby landscapes of Patagonia. Pumas are solitary animals, primarily active during dawn and dusk, and are known for their stealth and hunting prowess, preying on a variety of wildlife, including Guanacos and deer.
I find this quote cited in Jim Williams’ book Path of the Puma captures the essence of this superb big cat. ”A long and limber tail, the better to balance in uneven terrain. A short gut, the better to process meat proteins. Eyes with more rods than cones, the better to see in the dark of dawn and dusk. A skull that positions the eyes right up front, the better to see with stereoscopic vision, giving the cats greater depth of field. Paws with furry covering and retractable claws, the better to stalk silent along a path. Tightly coiled muscle, the better to spring straight from a standstill to a sprint, quick as lightning. Longer rear legs than front legs, the better to leap through steep and broken country. A flexible spine, the better to remain agile in rocky mountain topography.”
Key words: South America, Chile, Patagonia, Torres del Paine, wildlife, nature, animals, safari, Puma, Cougar, Mountain Lion, cat, big cat, snow, wind, run, running