The Precarious Lives of Pumas in the Rockies

Pumas, once believed to be solitary, reveal complex social structures essential for their survival in the harsh Rocky Mountains.

### The Secret Lives of Pumas in the Rocky Mountains
Pumas, a rare and secretive predator, are the focus of a documentary tracking two families in the Teton Mountains, Wyoming. The research team, led by Elo, uses **GPS collars and cameras** to uncover the pumas' **social structure and communication**, challenging the belief that they are **solitary animals**. The documentary follows the contrasting parenting styles of two female pumas, F61 and F51, as they raise their young and navigate the **challenges of survival**.

### Studying the Decline of Puma Cubs
The research team is studying puma cubs, weighing them and attaching transmitters for tracking. The population of pumas has **halved in the last 7-8 years** due to factors like competition from returning wolves, human hunting, and harsh weather conditions. The extreme cold has led to the **death of one cub**, and the team is struggling to protect them while also trying to understand the reasons for their **rapid decline**.

### The Struggles of F 51 and F 61's Cubs
F 51 has lost **half of her cubs** due to competition and a pack of wolves, leaving her with **two six-month-old cubs**. F 61, on the other hand, has successfully raised **two of her three cubs to near independence**, but they are now trying to **establish their own territories**. Mark's research team is working to find the dominant male, Sujeong, and has successfully captured a puma, M85, which may provide **valuable information for their research**.

### The Struggles of Juvenile Camels and Their Unfortunate Encounters
Three juvenile camels were observed together, indicating they are **social animals**, but a snowstorm made tracking them difficult. M85, a valuable male, was seen mating after the storm, but the population of males has **decreased due to hunting**. F51, a female camel, faced an emergency with her collar not moving for **18 hours**, raising concerns about her encounter with M85, which led to a **violent confrontation** and ultimately F51's **tragic death**.

### The Struggles of Young Pumas After Their Mother's Death
The male puma exhibits no aggressive behavior and focuses on eating, while the young ones, who lost their mother, are **struggling with hunger**. The pups are eventually found near a riverbank, surviving alone for over a month due to the **plentiful food from a dead elk**. The young pumas are at risk of encountering other predators while feeding on the carcass, and they wander in search of food without their mother's **guidance**.

### The Journey of Dong-sang and F61's Cubs
Dong-sang, a female cub, has been exploring a wide area and successfully hunting on her own, while her brother left the observation area. The cubs of F61 are struggling to learn survival skills, with the **12-month-old fawns still heavily dependent on their mother**. Mark's footage reveals the challenges the young pumas face, and he is concerned about the fawns' survival **after their mother's death**.

### F 99's Struggle for Survival
F 75, the last offspring of F 51, died of starvation, leaving F 99 as the sole survivor. F 99 faced challenges learning to hunt, but after a few weeks, she **gained weight, indicating success**. The research team fitted her with a GPS collar and monitored her, confirming her **healthy development and successful hunting skills**.

### The Decline of the Puma Population
The puma population has sharply declined due to two main factors: the **return of wolves**, which reduces the **survival rate of young pumas**, and human hunting, responsible for **49% of adult puma deaths**. F 99, a young puma, is now at risk of legal hunting while struggling to survive due to **injuries from a hedgehog's quills**. The Teton Puma Research Team's observations have provided valuable knowledge about pumas, which could impact their **future survival**.

### The Struggles and Survival of Pumas in the Rocky Mountains
* 🐾 In the Rocky Mountains, a rare and secretive predator, the **puma**, faces numerous challenges in a harsh environment, revealing much about their **elusive nature** through a year-long documentary.
* 🌨 The Teton Mountains in Wyoming serve as the home for two puma families, where they confront **inclement weather and threats from other predators** while raising their young.
* 🎥 The Teton Puma Research Team, led by researcher Elo, utilizes GPS tracking collars and cameras to gather extensive video data, challenging the belief that pumas are **solitary animals** by revealing their **social structures and frequent communication**.
* 👩 Among the pumas, F61 exemplifies a **caring mother**, successfully raising **two cubs**, while F51 displays more independence and struggles to care for her young, leading to **tragic outcomes** as they face the realities of survival.
* 🦊 The return of wolves to Wyoming poses additional threats to pumas, as they **compete for food** and sometimes **kill young deer**, while human hunting also significantly impacts their population, which has **nearly halved in recent years**.
* ❄ The extreme winter conditions exacerbate the challenges, leading to the **death of cubs due to frostbite and starvation**, highlighting the **precarious nature of life in the wild**.
* 🔍 As the research team investigates the pumas' interactions, they uncover the harsh realities of survival, including the **death of F51** and the struggles of her remaining cubs, who must **learn to fend for themselves** in a **dangerous environment**.
* 📉 Ultimately, the research reveals critical insights into the declining puma population, emphasizing the **need for conservation efforts** to protect these majestic animals from both **natural and human threats**.

[앙코르] 어미 잃은 퓨마 새끼들이 살아남는 법 | 로키 산맥 퓨마의 위태로운 삶

국내 유일의 동물 전문 다큐멘터리 프로그램!
BBC Studios 비롯하여, NHK Enterprise, ZDF Enterprises, Terra Mater Studios, Earth Touch 등 전 세계 최고의 다큐멘터리 제작사들이 제작한 프로그램을 엄선, 우리말로 더빙하여 일반 시청자들에게 소개하는 프로그램이다. 정확한 해설로 시청자들의 생태계 이해를 극대화한다.
 
생생한 대자연의 세계가 안방에!
아프리카의 초원 지대는 물론, 극지방, 사막 등 세계 곳곳에 서식하는 다양한 동식물을 총망라하는 프로그램으로, 전문 다큐 제작사들의 노하우가 화면 곳곳에 녹아 있다. 아이들에게는 주옥같은 교육 자료로, 어른들에게는 일상에서 벗어나 자연과 조우하는 청량제로 그 역할을 한다.
 
온 가족이 함께!
시청자 층이 다각화, 세분화되고 있는 요즘 추세에 비추어 볼 때, 온 가족이 한 자리에 모여 편안한 마음으로 서로 대화를 나누며 시청할 수 있는 몇 안되는 프로그램이다. 컴퓨터 그래픽이나 화려한 무대가 아닌, 카메라맨이 직접 땀 흘려가며 촬영한 화면 하나하나는 시청자들로 하여금 대자연의 위대함과 생태계의 신비, 자연의 소중함을 일깨워 줄 것이다.
