Jaguar Directory

[Dark Jaguar]

(03-06-2021, 09:47 PM)Balam Wrote: NORTHERN PANTANAL

Posting the profile of Dani male

*This image is copyright of its original author

What strikes me the most about him is how large he looked walking besides cattle in the picture below, usually size comparisons like this offer a better idea of the size of an animal. I wonder where he is and how he's doing nowadays.

"The cattle-jaguar conflict is the second major threat to jaguar conservation after habitat destruction.


We would like to share this photo to demonstrate that not all jaguars should be labeled "cattle killers".

More than often, jaguars are killed because it is believed by most cattle ranchers that they kill cattle. These cats are opportunistic--if they come across a calf, weak, sick, or an "easy meal" they'll go for it. However, in nature a mother teachs their young to prey on natural prey, like capybara and caiman. In areas like the Pantanal, jaguars have a full plate. However, 200-300 jaguars are killed each year in the Pantanal mainly because it is believe they're ALL cattle killers."

*This image is copyright of its original author

Someone who alleged to work for Oncafari commented the following regarding cattle-jaguar conflicts under the above picture:

*This image is copyright of its original author

It seems like if they have the choice jaguars will select for the most readily available medium-sized prey like caiman and capybara over cattle, their reputation as cattle killers may have been inflated by hunters who wanted an excuse to kill them. Interestingly, this also negates the claims made by a few bitter people on certain forums that jaguars only attain very large sizes when they feed on cattle, despite the largest males in recent times inhabiting areas where caiman and capybara make up most of the diet of jaguars. Perhaps in the southern Pantanal feral hogs may also contribute to the larger sizes. So long as jaguars can gorge themselves frequently with prey that can provide at least 30-35 kg of edible meat in one sitting, they have no need to rely on cattle to grow huge since the supply of meat would be constant. 

Some background on Dani's whereabouts:

*This image is copyright of its original author

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Photo credits: Regina Riberio

Theres a nice short interview at Panthera farm at Fazenda Jofre Velho with Rafael Hoogesteijn and Fernando Tortato talking exatcly about that. I 'll drop it as soon as I finish translations. Reply