Top cat of the Americas
The largest cat in the Americas, the jaguar is declining throughout its range and threatened with extinction everywhere outside its last stronghold in Amazonia. Over the last three generations, the global jaguar population is thought to have dropped by around 20-25%.
This shy and solitary big cat is most at home in dense forest, and its biggest threat comes from habitat loss as its rainforest home is progressively removed to make way for commercial agriculture, subsistence farming and infrastructure development. All these forms of encroachment on jaguar territory are increasing the likelihood of human-wildlife conflict, particularly where livestock farmers are concerned.
Jaguar. © Lucas Bustamante / Nature Picture Library
A jaguar standing on a riverbank.
Fascinating facts about jaguars
Jaguar predating on caiman. © Jami Tarris / Minden / Nature Picture Library
Jaguars are great swimmers and have been known to feed on caiman.
Black panther. © Roland Seitre / Minden / Nature Picture Library
Black panthers in South America are the black colour variant of the jaguar.
What are the main threats to the jaguar?
The main threat to the jaguar is habitat loss caused by agricultural expansion and logging. Illegal logging can have a particularly detrimental effect, as it not only destroys vital jaguar habitat, but also increases the likelihood of opportunistic hunting of this big cat for its body parts.
There is still demand for jaguar paws, teeth and other products, especially in local markets. Jaguar bone is also starting to be considered a replacement for tiger bone among users of traditional medicine in South America’s growing Asian community.
Agriculture too can pose a problem. Land that adjoins the boundaries of protected areas can attract the unwelcome attention of the jaguar – especially if it used to graze cattle, which represent an easy meal for a hungry big cat. This can lead to human-wildlife conflict as farmers take steps to protect their livestock or resort to revenge killings.
Jaguar relocation. © Fabienne Lefeuvre / Ya'axche Conservation Trust
A jaguar trapped after encroaching on farmland, a major cause of human-wildlife conflict.
How can we help save the jaguar?
Through our work to protect important forest habitat in countries such as Belize and Ecuador, Fauna & Flora is helping to preserve the remaining jaguar population.
Habitat protection
By ensuring the protection of vital forest habitat through regular patrols and monitoring, we can help to reduce illegal logging activity. Having a protected area in which these big cats can feed and reproduce is critically important in maintaining jaguar populations.
Human-jaguar conflict prevention
Through our work with local communities and farmers, we can help minimise incidences of human-jaguar conflict and, if needed, compensate farmers for lost livestock to ensure that they do not target jaguars in reprisals.
Population monitoring
Jaguars are apex predators, and their abundance reflects the overall health of the forest. The more ecologically intact the forest, the greater the number of jaguars it can support. Regular patrols also help to reduce illegal hunting of the jaguars, because the presence of rangers acts as a strong deterrent to poachers.
Jaguar © Mat Hayward / Adobe Stock
Jaguar portrait.
“We estimate that in the Chocó rainforest there are only 30 to 50 jaguars, and 95% of the population has been destroyed… if conservation actions are not taken in the short term the species will become extinct.”
Victor Tacuri
Local ranger
Help save jaguars in Belize
Your support could help protect vital jaguar habitat in Belize. Please send a gift today.
DonateJaguar. © Ludovic / Adobe Stock