A mountain lion resting on a log near a yellow caution sign with a mountain lion silhouette.

Tragic: Puma Killed on Highway 307 in Xpu-Ha

A puma was tragically killed in the early hours of Wednesday on Federal Highway 307 near Xpu-Ha, Quintana Roo. The incident occurred around 4:30 am on July 10th, close to the Catalonia Royal Tulum hotel, where the body of the adult female puma was discovered.

The incident was reported on social media by Guillermo D. Christy, a speleologist and activist known for his opposition to the Maya Train project. He expressed concern about the impact of human development on local wildlife, stating, "The works of the so-called Maya Train and real estate developments are pressuring the species to move. What about the wildlife crossings?"

Christy noted that agents from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection and members of the Fire Department were on the scene following the incident. The puma's body was transferred to Profepa for analysis. In response to criticisms about the presence of large cats in Quintana Roo, particularly following accidents involving jaguars and ocelots, Christy stressed the need to consider the effects of human expansion on local wildlife. "Real estate developments pressure species to move. Some claim that there are no pumas in the Yucatan Peninsula," he said.

According to the Profepa website, pumas have been recorded in all states of Mexico, predominantly in Aguascalientes, Michoacan, Durango, Coahuila, Chihuahua, Baja California, Baja California Sur, and Yucatan. The puma is a highly adaptable feline, found in various ecosystems across America, including forests, deserts, jungles, and mountains.