Ghost of the Andes - Lakewood, CO

A journey above the clouds: meet the ghost of the Andes

High above the clouds, where the air is thin and the horizons are vast, lives one of the rarest and most elusive and endangered felines on Earth: the Andean cat. Known as the soul of the high mountain range, this secret guardian embodies the wild spirit of the Andes—a living mystery that survives in some of the most extreme landscapes on the planet.

For over two decades, the Andean Cat Alliance (AGA) has been working across four countries to protect this threatened species, weaving scientific monitoring with deep community respect. Conservation here is not done from afar; it is built side by side with the indigenous communities whose ancestors have shared these sacred lands for generations. By pairing ancient wisdom with innovative coexistence tools—from craft networks to predator deterrents—we ensure that both local livelihoods and high-mountain wildlife can thrive together.

Join Cintia Tellaeche, Program Coordinator, and Dr. Rocio Palacios, General Director of AGA, as they share the passion, challenges, and hope behind protecting the secret of the peaks. Come discover how community, science, and the wild heart of the Andes meet.