Petaca
Patagonia Menu
Petaca, the queen of Patagonia, radiates calm and striking confidence as she seemingly poses for us. Pumas receive their names through an informal local process: guides, trackers, and researchers suggest names based on looks, behavior, or locations until one sticks. This usually happens when a mother leaves her cub. Over dinner, I spoke with Mauricio, the tracker who initially named Petaca. He recalled finding her very small when her mother, Sarmiento, abandoned her for six days. When Sarmiento returned, she fiercely disciplined the cub to teach her survival, and left again. Today, that once-tiny cub has grown into a successful mother and stands majestic and unfazed, the undisputed queen. Watching her was a thrill.
