Officials from the Arizona Game and Fish Department captured a wild, live jaguar in an area southwest of Tucson.
While the animal was drugged they installed a satellite tracking collar and released it back into the wild. The collar contains GPS technology which will allow researchers to gather data about the movements of the large cat. Jaguars in the United States are protected by the Endangered Species Act.
Bill Van Pelt, who is a manager at the state of Arizona Game and Fish Department and for jaguar conservation remarked on the jaguar’s appearance: “This is a tremendous opportunity to allow us to learn how the animal moves out in the landscape”.
The researchers were actually conducting a study on bears and mountains lions, but were very pleased to be able to discover a healthy, wild jaguar in the region.There have been only several confirmed sightings of jaguars in Arizona since 1996. The animal is probably a known jaguar (named Macho B) which has been photographed over the last 13 years by remote, automatic research cameras. It is believed to be from Mexico as there is no knowledge of any permanent, breeding jaguars in the United States.
Jaguars have an extensive roaming range which can cover over 1,000 miles depending on conditions. Mr. Van Pelt has stated he believes there is only one migrant jaguar using Arizona territory. There was another extremely rare wild jaguar appearance this month. It took place in central Mexico, where there had been no such sightings for 100 years. Habitat loss, poaching, and trophy hunting all threaten the jaguars’ survival.
Image Credit: Mr. Meyer’s 5th Grade Jaguar Resources
About Jake Richardson
