Jaguars of Brazil - Dynamics,Lifestyle,Datas,Studies,Reports

[Dark Jaguar]

Thank you very much @peter I absolutely agree, jaguars deserve detailed attention specially on each population they got in different places and countries.

@OncaAtrox  One more live today 
   


Prey vs. predators: "attack" strategy used by peccaries to "dribble" jaguars

onçafari

https://oncafari.org/2020/03/31/presas-v...-pintadas/

Recently our team published a technical-scientific study that reports a rare behavior observed among prey and predators in the Pantanal. The study addresses interactions between jaguars (Panthera onca) and peccaries (Tayassu pecari) in an anti-predatory strategy known as mobbing, which means "attack". This behavior is eventually used by species of prey living in groups. In this strategy individuals in the flock attack or chase a predator until it gives up and/or leaves the area. In this way the prey is able to "dodge" their predators increasing their chances of survival individually and in the group.

 


Cases observed during the study.

Jaguars and jaguars coexist throughout most of their areas of occurrence on the American continent. The work in question was developed within one of the areas studied by our team: the broad base of ecotourism and research of Onçafari the Ecological Refuge Caiman located in the Brazilian Pantanal. It is known that peccaries are one of the main wild prey of jaguars in this area but one of the most dangerous. This species of prey lives in groups that can reach more than 100 individuals presenting very aggressive behavior in the presence of a predator. In the research published in Acta Ethologica magazine we presented and evaluated three interactions in which the jaguars led to the best in these meetings.

Two cases of mobbing were recorded by photographic traps during our routine research. The third case was observed directly by one of our biologists during daily monitoring.



First case


The first event took place in November 2016. A female monitored by the team known as Estrela ( Star in portuguese ) tried to climb a fig tree carrying a capybara that she had hunted. After three frustrated attempts to climb a group of peccaries approached and chased her and her 8-month-old cub named Cometa ( Comet in portuguese ) tucking them high on the fig tree. The whole episode lasted about 22 hours and for almost 10 hours (non-consecutive) Estrela and Cometa stayed high up in the tree. After the group of peccaries left the area on the next morning Estrela came down and tried to climb the tree with the capybara again but without success. Then she and Cometa came down and probably went to feed on the carcass.


Cometa cub climbing the tree with its mom Estrela moments before the peccaries arrival.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Both cornered by a group of peccaries.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Second case

The second event was observed in May 2017 by Onçafari biologist Eduardo Fragoso in which a group of 15 peccaries chased and attacked Gaia another female monitored by the team. Gaia climbed a tree where she remained for 40 minutes until the peccaries group left. Then she came down safely and walked away from the scene.


Gaia female up the tree cornered by group of peccaries. 

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Third case

The third event published in this article occurred in September 2017 when our photographic traps recorded Fera female jaguar being watched inside a shackle (concrete tube under the road) by a group of peccaries which they all were erect and knocking their teeth out. Fera remained inside the shackle showing her teeth and trying to aggressively expel the peccaries which left the area. Months before this record Fera had already been spotted by the team feeding on a pecari hunted by her inside a shackle.



Conclusion

Our team suggests that mobbing behavior probably depends on the size of the group of peccaries and how close the individuals in the group are to each other. Individuals who are further away from the rest of the group are more vulnerable to predation usually leading to worse in encounters with jaguars as has also been observed by our team. We concluded that this collective behavior is very advantageous for the prey-species because it considerably reduces the chances of success of the predator.


Giant Otters have also been recorded presenting mobbing behavior to expel jaguars from the river banks and thus protect the group especially the young ones which are more vulnerable to predation.

Note: In one video I watched Leandro Silveira states there is cases of jaguars getting killed by group of peccaries. So peccaries in groups are no joke. Reply