Mother and kitten share a tender moment together, nestled in a patch of dense, thorny shrubs. Although I was too far to hear their quiet exchange, the bond between them was unmistakable. Not long ago, such scenes were a rarity beneath the peaks of Chilean Patagonia. Decades of sheep farming and agriculture had driven pumas to the brink, their presence nearly erased. Today, perceptions are shifting, with conservation efforts and the economic promise of ecotourism paving the way for coexistence.