Comments on: Question to Neotropical Mammal watchers about Tayra and Margay

By: Jo Dale

Jo Dale — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 17:37:27 +0000

Hello, new to this forum. We saw a group of three Tayras on the Transpantaneira Highway in the Pantanal. We also saw Jaguarundi and Ocelot on a night drive. My trip report has details here: http://www.kats-korner-uk.com/Brazil2.html

Tayra Pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kittykat23uk/3873697199/in/set-72157622174180742

Haven’t seen a Margay though.

By: tomeslice

tomeslice — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 21:55:00 +0000

Yet another place where I’ve been and not seen one.. Just like all the other places mentioned above. Lol. But in my defense, I had about an hour and a half there, right in the middle of the day, in which time I did manage to see a pair of agoutis, 3-toed sloth, mantled howlers, my first EVER trogon – slaty-tailed (this was when I was a little bit younger.. we’re talking about 2004. haha), my first keel-billed toucan, and some other birds. But I did hear about this place being very good for birds and mammals. I will definitely have to check out Panama some time for more than a 24-hour layover.

By: John Pilgrim

John Pilgrim — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 20:49:21 +0000

I saw Tayra three times in ten days along the pipeline road near Gamboa in Panama in September last year – it’s a great area for wildlife. I also saw Tamandua, Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo, Neotropical Otter, Bushy-tailed Olingo, Mantled Howler, Agouti & Red Brocket in this time (though I was mainly birding).

By: tomeslice

tomeslice — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 23:37:16 +0000

PS since we’re on the topic already (sorry I know I already posted a response today, but this just came to mind), here are a few more places to add onto what other people have mentioned, where tayras, at least at one point, were being seen regularly:
Wasai Tambopata Lodge (I already mentioned): Near the soccer field, at the banana plantation, every day(?)
Cock-of-the-rock Lodge Peru: At the fruit birdfeeder, frequently?
La Paz Waterfall Garden Costa Rica: At the fruit feeder, at least a few times in the past?
Arenal Observatory Lodge: Fruit birdfeeder, almost daily, but stopped about 2-3 years ago….

THat’s where I’ve heard, in addition to all the places everyone else contributed, but again, I’ve been to each of these places and never seen one

By: tomeslice

tomeslice — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 22:15:40 +0000

Lol. I think it’s Tyra Banks… But that’s also an impressive sighting, considering it’s a critically endangered mammal (only 1 specimen in existance)

On another note that’s awesome that everyone is sharing their success stories with tayras… Makes me feel very unlucky. Just kidding. It’s some good info. Did anyone stumble upon the pantanal ranch or ranches where they’re seen a few times every day?

Completely unrelated, I did some research on the bush dog, it turns out in the northern pantanal at SESC Pantanal private reserve, 20km north of Nova Xavantina, it’s “more common” than in other places, but I don’t know how much more common… PS this is not in the regular touristy area off the transpantaneira. It’s like a 7 hour drive from Cuiaba, mostly east and a little north.

By: jurek

jurek — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 09:59:47 +0000

I saw one Tayra at midday under a fruiting tree in Rio Grande and another crossing the road at dusk at Hato Pinero, both Venezuela.

By: Coke Smith

Coke Smith — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 22:06:09 +0000

I saw “Tayra” Banks once….

By: tomeslice

tomeslice — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 23:06:03 +0000

Curtis, that is strange! Maybe in 2003 they were much more common. Or maybe I just didn’t have luck. But despite hiring a native Tikalian (he was born in the park and lived there back when there was an operating school there, etc.) and searching for that species I didn’t see one
He also took us to some of the more remote ruins, like Complejo Q and R, which are ralatively unvisited. Do u remember where you saw it, and where the other guys saw it? Were you with a guide or alone?

By: Curtis Hart

Curtis Hart — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:49:26 +0000

The other people that saw them were only passingly into wildlife, they didn’t know what they were, and they had pictures of 2 different tayras on their cameras.

By: tomeslice

tomeslice — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:24:16 +0000

Ha, this would also go under the category “places I have been and failed to see a tayra” along with just about every place mentioned here besides Ecuadorean amazon and panama. Lol. But it would also be filed under the category of “places I went with my parents when I was younger and didn’t know about mammalwatching.com” so I didn’t have very much info or knowledge, though we did walk on the trail that leads to the swimming hole near the waterfall on the Argentinian side, and it was about 9-10am when we started our walk. But we managed to not see any mammals or interesting birds during our 3 days in the iguazu area besides Brazilian cavy and South American coatis that walked around the park somewhat tamely.