IMPACT

Heart of a Lion is more than a film. It is rooted in decades of research and a growing body of science demonstrating that people and mountain lions can safely share the same landscapes.

The families you meet in the film live at the edge of expanding human communities. Their future — and ours — depends on informed decisions grounded in evidence rather than assumption.

The science is clear: proactive coexistence reduces conflict, strengthens ecosystems, and protects both human safety and wildlife.

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Below you’ll find practical guides and peer-reviewed research that support this work.

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Living in Cougar Country

Living in Cougar Country (PDF)

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Visiting Cougar Country

How to Visit Cougar Country (PDF)

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The Science Behind Coexistence

The work featured in Heart of a Lion is grounded in peer-reviewed research led by Dr. Mark Elbroch through Panthera’s Puma Program.

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For decades, Panthera scientists have studied mountain lion ecology and human–wildlife conflict across the Americas — challenging long-held assumptions about these animals.

Mountain lions are not solitary, random wanderers. They are socially structured predators whose stability influences conflict levels.

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Research shows that indiscriminate lethal removal can disrupt these social systems and increase instability. In contrast, proactive coexistence strategies — including conflict prevention and community education — are more effective, sustainable, and rooted in evidence.

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This science forms the foundation of the story on screen — and the work continuing beyond it.

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Key Research

Elbroch et al., 2017 – Science Advances

Human-caused mortality influences mountain lion social structure and population dynamics.

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.1701218

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Elbroch et al., Mammal Review

A synthesis of research on puma behavior, ecology, and implications for management and coexistence.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mam.12281

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These studies form part of a growing scientific consensus:

Proactive coexistence reduces conflict more effectively than reactive lethal control.

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