Finalist – Nature inFocus Photography Contest, 2021
Sebastian Di Domenico, Casanare, Colombia

A rare encounter caught on camera. The Jaguarundi is one of the rarest cat species in the Americas and it is never easy to see one in the wild. The animal resides in a range of habitats, including forests, mangroves and savannas. The photographer found a few pugmarks on his trip to the Llanos, when the felid suddenly emerged from the forest cover to access a creek. Not only was this a rare encounter, the felid also exhibited a rare colour morph. Jaguarundis are mostly black or dark brown in colour. In a few seconds, the animal vanished into the woods again, leaving the photographer with this memorable image.