Fourteen pumas (Felis concolor), being kept illegally, were rescued by the Natural Resources Directorate of the central Argentine province of La Pampa in operations on Jan. 26 and Jan. 31. These native big cats were being kept in cages on private land, presumably to be sedated and then released as easy prey for foreigners visiting the area for sport hunting.

“We are concerned, and condemn the existence of illegal hunting preserves, which is a crime punishable under the Animal Protection Act and the National Wildlife Act,” Silvana Stochetti, of the Argentine Foundation for Animal Welfare, told Tierramérica.

“The authorities have to intensify monitoring procedures to prevent the existence of establishments that, with the excuse that they are promoting tourism and sport, profit from the lives of wild animals in an aberrant way.”