"many pumas"

Clinton Perrywinkle writes about a portion of our trek:
The first leg of our journey into the less -travelled circuit of torre del Paine consisted of dry, twisted thorn bushes mixed with gnarled trees which had suffered from a fire years previous. Our spirits were high as we trekked parallel to the massif and were able to distinctly see the famous Torres. The wind whipped across the plains as we made good time. After several miles, we abruptly encountered a swift but smoothly flowing river on the north eastern side of our trail. The wind died and the warmth of the sun allowed us to shed our layers and continue hiking without sweat drenching our packs and clothes.
Around three o'clock in the afternoon, and having made good time, we crossed a heavily forested creek with a man- made bridge. The water was cold and crisp. Shortly thereafter we came upon acampento Seron. Perhaps half an acre was nestled at the base of a hill with green grass and a few scattered trees. Perched at the edge of the camp was a small dwelling built from corrugated metal and wood. This structure was bordered up for the upcoming winter months. We sat and ate our first lunch of the trip after shrugging off our packs (which were quite heavy with provisions for the next eight to nine days).
After studying the map briefly and consulting with one another, it was decided that we should stay the night at Seron since the next leg of the hike was approximately eleven miles.
After an hour of relaxing in the Chilean sun, we set up our tents and organized our gear. Suddenly, a horse galloped from around the small hut and into view. The rider wore tall boots and dark clothes which were dirty from riding. Atop his head a beret sat perched at an angle. He dismounted and informed us that he was a park patrol and would be camping here for the night. Throughout our conversation with him, we noted a distinct sarcasm toward us coupled with a haughty air of authority. His name was Christian. When Kelly asked about the wildlife in the area Christian informed us that among other animals, pumas roamed the park. "How many have you seen here in the park", inquired Kelly. " I have seen many pumas", replied Christian. And with that he quickly flung his saddle bags over his shoulder and strode away leaving the four of us unsuccessfully suppressing our laughter and using his quick one- liner as our motto for the trip.