Pumas range across the Americas from Canada to Patagonia and face retaliatory killing throughout their range. Andean communities that lose llamas and alpacas to puma attacks often kill pumas in retaliation, creating sustained persecution pressure.
Pumas trapped or poisoned by herders experience prolonged suffering before death. Kittens that lose their mothers face starvation and cold exposure in high-altitude Andean environments. The economic damage to Andean communities from llama and alpaca losses is real and severe, making coexistence programs that compensate losses and provide non-lethal deterrents the most effective welfare intervention for both pumas and community livelihoods.