Jaguar Facts
STATUS
Endangered
DESCRIPTION
Jaguars are one of the most majestic animals in the world. Their beautiful spotted fur coats were once in such demand they were almost hunted to extinction in the 1960s. Jaguars have compact bodues, broad heads and powerful jaws. They are only found in the American continent and are its largest cat.
MEANING OF THE WORD
The word “jaguar” comes from the word “yaguara”, which in Guarani (the languages of the Guarani Indians in South America) means “beast that kills with one leap.”
POPULATION
An estimated 15,000 jaguars remain in the wild.
RANGE
Jaguars have lost two-thirds of their original range in Mexico and Central America and one-third in South America. In Mexico they can be found in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve and the Maya Biosphere Reserve (a rainforest that extends into Guatemala and Belize) and in the states of Tamaulipas, Colima, Nayarit and Chihuahua. Jaguars roam the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize. They can be found in Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia. They have an important presence in the Amazon Basin (comprising Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil) and the Pantanal (vast wetlands shared by Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay). Jaguars have disappeared from the US’ bordering states with Mexico, El Salvador, Argentina and Uruguay.
SIZE
The jaguar is the third largest feline after tigers and lions.
LIFESPAN
Wild jaguars can live between 12 and 16 years. Jaguars in captivity live up to 20 years.
OFFSPRING
The average litter size is one to four cubs. Cubs remain with their mothers for two years.
HABITAT
Thick forest and wetlands. A single jaguar needs between 15 and 45 square kilometers of undisturbed habitat to thrive. 650,000 acres of undisturbed habitat are needed in order for a viable jaguar population to exist.
FOOD
The jaguar prey base is diverse, including such species as peccaries (wild pigs), capybaras (large rodents), deer, sloths, caymans, tapirs, freshwater fish and smaller animals. They occasionally prey on domestic livestock, a reason why they are targeted by ranchers.
BEHAVIOR
Jaguars stalk and ambush their prey, often dragging carcasses to safe locations some distance away before eating. They are excellent swimmers and climbers. Instead of roaring, jaguars growl and snarl. They are solitary animals and tend to live in caves and canyons close to a source of freshwater.
THREATS
Man-made habitat loss and fragmentation due to cattle ranching, agriculture, urbanization. Jaguars continue to be hunted illegally.
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