Jaguars: Populations Become Patchy




The jaguar is the third largest “big cat” species in the world, only the tiger and lion are larger. The size of a jaguar depends on the region in which it lives. Geographic barriers, such as the Amazon River, prevent certain gene pools from mixing. Jaguars in Central America tend to be smaller than those in Brazil.

The geographic range of jaguars extends through 19 countries from northern Mexico to northern Argentina. Jaguars are nearly extinct in the United States. The only known population of jaguars in the United States lives south of Tucson, Arizona. Before 1900, jaguars in the United States ranged from central Louisiana to the Pacific Ocean and as far north as Phoenix, Arizona.

Jaguars are strictly carnivorous and can only eat meat. Scientific research shows that there are more than 80 species of animals that a jaguar feeds on. Jaguars will generally only kill animals weighing less than 700 pounds, but are capable of killing an animal weighing up to 800 pounds. However, a jaguar can only eat about 55 to 65 pounds of meat in a single sitting, starting with the chest and neck areas of its prey.

Deep in the rainforest is the preferred habitat of the jaguar. However, the terrain in which a jaguar can be found varies from densely forested to open grassland. Jaguars love to be close to water and stand out, along with the tiger, as one of the few cat species that enjoy swimming.

One difference that jaguars have compared to other “big cat” species is that jaguars rarely attack a human. Most cases where a jaguar has been reported to attack a human means that the animal was probably weak, so a human was the easiest prey option and that person was in the wrong place at the wrong time. .

If you ever come across a jaguar in the wild, or if it ever approaches you: STAY CALM! And this goes against most people’s instinct to turn and run, however, you should NEVER turn your back on a jaguar! Please make sure you stay safe when walking in jaguar territory and NEVER go alone into an area known to be inhabited by jaguars. ~Anthony Benjamin~

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