Jaguar (Panthera Onca)
Brandon Davis
Brandon Davis
Description/Ecology
The Panthera Onca, or commonly referred to as the Jaguar, is
an endangered species that is the biggest feline in North and South America. In
fact, it is the third biggest feline in the world behind only the lion and the
tiger. The jaguar’s body length ranges from about 5 to 6 feet and weighs between
100-250 pounds. This tan, yellow animal is covered in rosette spots that helps distinguish
individual species. The jaguar is not known for being a fast animal but rather
for being a powerful one. The jaguar is a pure carnivore, and thus it relies on
hunting its prey. Unlike other cats, this feline is also not afraid of the
water and will even hunt aquatic species. When hunting its prey, the jaguar
will often kill its prey with one powerful pounce. (If interested, watch this video).
The jaguars jaw can even crack the shell of a turtle that it is about to eat. Besides
turtles, the jaguar preys on deer, crocodiles, snakes, fish, and anything else
they can find. This species is very solitary and is only found with other
jaguars when they are getting ready to mate. After the male and female jaguars
mate, the female usually has 1-4 cubs. These cubs only stay with their mother
for about 2 years before being mature enough to go off on its own. Like stated
earlier, this species is very independent and it is evident in the behaviors between
mothers and their cubs.
Geographic Range
 |
|
Figure 2 Sanderson et al. (2002). http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/15953/0
|
The geographic range of the jaguar used to extend from the
Southern United States, all the way down to the middle of Southern America. However,
the jaguars range has decreased. There is now little to no jaguars still living
in the Southern United States. Also, the number of jaguars still living in
Mexico has significantly decreased. For example, in Figure 2, just from
2008-2015 the habitat size of the jaguar is decreasing. Throughout these regions
jaguars are found in rainforests, swamps, savannahs, and they may occasionally
enter desert ecosystems. According to the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species, the
jaguar is native to Argentina, Belize,
Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay,
Suriname, United States, Venezuela, and along with some others as well. The
jaguar also has an elevation limit of 3000 meters.
|
|
Listing Date
|
Type of Listing
|
|
Jaguar
(Panthera Onca)
|
8/5/2016
|
Threatened
|
Figure 4 Adams, Stephanie. “Mother Jaguar and Her Cubs.”
Houston Zoo
Main Threats
The biggest threat to the jaguar population is the loss of
habitat due to habitat destruction by humans. One of the main causes of this
habitat destruction is because of deforestation. Humans are destroying the
ecosystem of the jaguars to create establishments for themselves. The loss of
habitat for the jaguars is also starting to fragment this species as a whole.
This can lead to overall lower genetic diversity of this species because the
jaguars will start inbreeding within their localized habitat. Currently in
South America, deforestation rates are very high and it is fragmenting the
jaguar’s habitat. Also, jaguars are at risk of trophy hunting. In the past,
their fur has been traded because it is seen as a status symbol amongst
affluent individuals. Another threat to the jaguars is humans when jaguars get
too close to property or live stock. There has been reports of farmers killing
jaguars because the jaguar preyed on the farmers livestock. These are some of
the main threats that are currently effecting the jaguar populations. If these
threats continue, it could force the jaguar into being endangered or, worst
case scenario, extinct.
Figure 5 Maher, Julie
Larsen “Swimming Jaguar” https://www.wcs.org/our-work/species/jaguars
Recovery Plan
Based off the United States Fish and Wildlife Services, the
primary goal of the Panthera Onca recovery plan is to delist them off of the
threatened and endangered species list. To do this, the US Fish and Wildlife
Service has steps that will help secure and increase the jaguar population. The
first step is to reduce the amount of human interaction with jaguars while also
trying to sustain the ecosystem of these jaguars. The Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) already has a law that makes
the killing, hunting, and trading of jaguars illegal. In the past, jaguars were
a victim of trophy hunting due to its valuable fur coat. However, CITES has
banned this practice and it is a step in the right direction for the jaguar
populations. Another step in this recovery plan for jaguars is to try and limit
the amount of human expansion. Like stated earlier, one of the main reasons for
the jaguars being threatened is because of loss of habit due to human expansion.
Limiting human expansion, when possible, will be beneficial to jaguar
populations. This is a short summary of the overall recovery process for the
jaguar species.
What Can You Do?
As an individual, you actually have a lot of opportunities
to help the jaguars. Through the website http://www.jaguar.org.br/en/get-involved/donation/index.html
you can donate to the Jaguar Conservation Fund that is constantly looking to
help restore the jaguar population. They send researchers, conservationists,
and scientists to help protect this beautiful species and the land that the
jaguars call home. Not looking to spend money, but still want to help? You can
apply for an internship to work alongside with researchers who are trying to
restore the jaguars. This is a great way to get involved if you really want to
protect this species. If neither of these options work for you, spread the word
about the jaguars to people you know. The more people that know about what
could potentially happen to the jaguar species, the more likely people will try
and save them. Informing friends, family, and acquaintances is yet another way
that you can advocate for the jaguars and the protection of this species. There
is a lot that you can do to protect the jaguars and ensure that the generations
to come will be able to enjoy this magnificent species.
Figure 6 WWF Michel
Gunther http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/teacher_resources/best_place_species/current_top_10/jaguar.cfm
Other Resources
Check out the Jaguar Conservation Fund for more info: http://www.jaguar.org.br/en/index.html
Check out the IUCN Red List of the Jaguar: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/15953/0
Check out the US Fish and Wildlife Services for more info: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?sId=3944#recovery
Figure 7 Dan Mead https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/j/jaguar/
References
Adams, Stephanie. “Mother Jaguar and Her Cubs.” Houston Zoo's
New Jaguar Cubs Are 'Two' Cute, People Pets, 10 Nov. 2017,
people.com/pets/new-jaguar-cubs-houston-zoo/.
“Basic Facts About Jaguars.” Defenders of Wildlife, 19 Sept.
2016, defenders.org/jaguar/basic-facts.
GPO. “Jaguar Recovery Plan.” Federal Register, vol. 81, no.
244, 20 Dec. 2016, pp. 1–3.
“Jaguar Crouched Looking into the Distance.” For Jaguars,
Armored Prey Is No Obstacle, 15 July 2016, www.sciencenews.org/blog/wild-things/jaguars-armored-prey-no-obstacle.
“Jaguar Facts.” Big Cat Rescue, 27 July 2015,
bigcatrescue.org/jaguar-facts/.
“Jaguar.” National Geographic, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/j/jaguar/.
McPherson,
Sarah. “10 Amazing Jaguar Facts.” 10 Amazing Jaguar Facts, 24 July
2014, www.discoverwildlife.com/animals/mammals/10-amazing-jaguar-facts.
“Panthera Onca.” Panthera Onca (Jaguar), 2017, www.iucnredlist.org/details/15953/0.
Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. “Jaguar (Panther Onca).” Species
Profile for Jaguar (Panthera Onca),
ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?sId=3944.
I found it super interesting that jaguars jaw can crack the shell of a turtle. Great detailed info about this species, it sounds like you really are passionate about them! -Gabriela Enriquez
ReplyDeleteWOW! You had so much information on the jaguar. I thought it was interesting that you talked about both trophy hunting and habitat fragmentation because it often seems like people on focus on the hunting side. -Kelley
ReplyDeleteIt was so interesting to learn more about jaguars and how they eat turtles, deer, crocodiles, snakes, fish, and anything else they can find. I thought your blog was very detailed and formatted in an easy to read way. Good work!
ReplyDelete-Isabella Davis
Jaguars are one of my favorite animals! That being said, I still learned a lot about them from reading your blog. I learned that farmers kill them off for being on their lands and preying on their livestock, and that it is one of the major reasons for their decline in population. I had a very good time reading your blog, great work!
ReplyDelete-Jay Cuccia
I loved how you implemented the video of the jaguar hunting the cayman. Adding media like this helps to liven up the blog from and keep readers, like me, interested and wanting to read more.
ReplyDelete-Austin Davis
Brandon,
ReplyDeleteGreat job! I had no idea Jaguars hunted marine animals, so that was super surprizing and interesting to learn. I also really liked how you had a detailed, realistic "Ways you can help" section. Overall, you did an awesome job and had great writing.
-Iain Dunn
Awesome job! The fact that trophy hunting is a reason that this species is endangered really bums me out. Humans can really suck sometimes. On a better note I really enjoyed the information presented in this. I can now state with confidence that I know what the third largest feline species is.
ReplyDelete-Annika Dean
Brandon,
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the blog, so informative! I really hope populations recover so these awesome animals can return to their original numbers in the southern United States too. Wow, it seems like almost all the blog posts I have read say that habitat loss is why animal populations are down. I hope us humans can compromise on land so animals can once again use it. -Ashley Fagan
I found it interesting that the listing day for this was less than two years ago. It shows that even after understanding how to conserve certain species, that people seem to still have a negative impact on certain species. Nice job!
ReplyDelete-Luke Davies
Very informative, Brandon. Interesting jaguar facts at the beginning. It's hard to hear that humans are the main threats to the species, especially through deforestation. It's encouraging to hear all that is being done to help the species. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteNick Dekker
I was initially shocked to learn how cubs leave their mothers only 2 year after being born to be more independent. I was also saddened to learn that to learn that there are almost no jaguars left in the southern US- Madison Fawcett
ReplyDeleteGreat job on your blog! I enjoyed reading about the jaguar. It makes me so sad how much of an impact humans have on wildlife. Specifically when you were talking about habitat fragmentation and habitat loss I thought about this one time I went to Costa Rica and saw how habitat fragmentation affected the howler monkeys. Hopefully our generation will make a difference regarding habitat fragmentation.
ReplyDelete-Tori Fields
Great job! I had no idea that jaguars ate turtles and I was surprised to learn that it is the third largest feline in the world! Also, it is sad to see how most of the animals on our blogs are endangered because of habitat destruction from humans.
ReplyDelete-Kylie Durekas