JAGUAR IMG_0354

Jaguars (Panthera onca) were once found both in North and South America. However, habitat loss and persecution of this species has lowered its numbers almost to nonexistence in North America and much of its territory in South America. It can now mainly be found in the rain forests of the Amazon Basin.

 

The largest cat of the Americas, jaguars are stocky, muscular and very strong for their size. Male jaguars are generally 10 – 20 percent larger than females. Males typically weigh 125 – 210 lbs (55 – 95 kg), but larger males have been known to weigh up to 350 lbs (159 kg). The size and weight of these animals varies depending on location; jaguars in more northerly regions tend to be smaller, while those in more southerly regions are typically larger.

 

The jaguar’s spots provide very effective camouflage in its jungle habitat. This species also exhibits a condition known as melanism, which causes some jaguars to have a black coat. Melanism occurs in about 6 percent of the jaguar population. Black jaguars are sometimes also called “black panthers.” Jaguars resemble the leopards of Asia and Africa in appearance, but the jaguar is larger and sturdier.

 

Jaguars are excellent hunters, stalking and ambushing their prey rather than chasing it. Their muscular strength also makes them outstanding climbers and swimmers. The jaguar has an extremely strong bite, and often drags its kill long distances or even up a tree to keep it safe from other predators.

 

The number of jaguars in the wild is in decline. Some of the major threats to the jaguar include habitat loss from deforestation and habitat fragmentation throughout Latin America. Jaguars also suffer from human persecution; they compete with humans for prey animals, and are often shot for killing cattle. Commercial hunting of jaguars for the fur trade has declined drastically since protective programs like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) were enacted the mid-1970s. However, jaguar teeth, claws, paws, and other products are still sought after in some countries.

 

Because of these and other threats, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the jaguar as Near Threatened, with the likelihood of being listed as Vulnerable in the near future. This means that the jaguar will be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

 

Breeding programme category: ESB

IUCN Red List category: Near Threatened

 

 

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