The Jaguar (Panthera onca) is the largest and most iconic cat species found in the Americas.  Jaguars are widely distributed throughout diverse habitat in Latin America, and are even abundant in some areas, including the Amazon Basin.  Nevertheless, habitat loss, illegal hunting, and loss of wild prey threaten the jaguar’s future.  The species has been eradicated from over 40% of its historical range and, as a result, is listed as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

In Brazil’s savannah-like Cerrado biome, human disturbance and habitat fragmentation have left jaguars increasingly restricted to protected areas like Emas National Park.  To help protect jaguars and better understand their use of fragmented habitat, ZCOG has partnered with the Jaguar Conservation Fund (JCF) to monitor a ‘jaguar corridor’ along the Araguaia River near Emas National Park in the Brazilian Cerrado.  The long-term project will map and monitor jaguar movements and develop a habitat suitability model for the corridor.  Additionally, researchers will investigate jaguar predation impact on local cattle ranches and use monitoring data to identify key areas for managing human-jaguar conflict.

 
ZCOG is supporting this important, long-term research and monitoring initiative though fundraising and the purchase of GPS satellite collars and related field equipment.