News from campus and beyond

Furman biology professor is on a mission to protect the mountain lion

|Perry observes part of his collection. Photo by Will Crooks/Community Journals. Used with permission.

Last updated May 23, 2018

By Tina Underwood

Perry admires part of his collection. Photo by Will Crooks/Community Journals. Used with permission.

Furman University biology professor and alumnus Travis Perry ’92 has spent 12 years studying cougars. In 2006, he took a sabbatical to New Mexico to help a private conservation company assess mountain lion predation on bighorn sheep. It wasn’t long after his sabbatical that he established the Furman Cougar Project, which aims to “produce research that can be used for the responsible management and conservation of cougars” in southwestern New Mexico. Since the program began in 2008, over 30 undergraduates have participated in the project.

Perry spoke to Andrew Moore of the Greenville Journal about his research and what he hopes to accomplish. Said Perry, “A primary objective is to engage Furman undergraduates in ecology, conservation, and the scientific process in a meaningful and unforgettable way.” Four Furman students will accompany Perry this summer on his next trip to New Mexico.

Contact Us
Clinton Colmenares
Director of News and Media Strategy