Laws and Legislation
The Andean cat's habitat spans four different South American countries. Each country has made individual laws to protect this wild cat. Each country also has its own protected game areas where hunting is prohibited. The table below outlines the number of the protected areas that fall within the Andean cat's habitat. Biologists are attempting to determine if any of these protected areas house significant populations of Andean cats.
| Country | Law or policy | Protection offered | Year enacted | Number of protected areas | Sightings within protected areas | Unevaluated areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | National Law 22421 of Wildlife Conservation | Prohibits hunting and/or trade of the Andean cat | Unknown year | 9 protected areas | Evidence found in 7 areas | 1 unevaluated, 1 partial |
| Statutory Decree 666/97 | ||||||
| Resolution N' 63/86 of the Secretary of Agriculture | ||||||
| Bolivia | Decree N'22421 | General and undefined ban on hunting, capture, storage, and/or conditioning of wild animals and their by-products. | 1990 | 8 protected areas | Evidence found in 6 areas | 2 areas unevaluated |
| Chile | Law N'19473 | Ban on hunting all felids, with penalties of up to $6,000 fine and/or imprisonment up to 3 years. | 1972 | 7 protected areas | Evidence found in 7 areas | All areas evaluated |
| Peru | Supreme Decree N'013-99-AG | Ban on hunting, trading, and possession of living, dead, or body parts of the Andean cat | 1999 | 12 protected areas | Evidence found in 4 areas | 8 areas unevaluated |
Read more about this topic: Andean Mountain Cat
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