Here's why:
* They are extremely elusive: Andean cats are notoriously difficult to study and observe in their natural habitat.
* No reliable population data: There's no accurate count of their current population, making it even harder to estimate past deaths.
* Lack of historical records: Records of past Andean cat mortality are sparse, and many deaths likely went unrecorded.
However, we do know that:
* They are critically endangered: This suggests a significant decline in their population over time due to various threats like habitat loss, hunting, and disease.
* The species faces challenges: Factors like climate change and human activity continue to put pressure on their already limited population.
While an exact number of deaths is unknown, it's clear that Andean cats have faced considerable losses throughout history, and their survival is a major concern.