Bigcats News

[Dark Jaguar]

Luísa Caatinga female jaguar unfortunately gets trapped in a cave. AGAIN.

Luísa, a 14-15 years old female Caatinga jaguar from Boqueirão da Onça - Bahia (Northeast Brazil) got trapped by people inside a cave once again, but thankfully this time around the person who trapped her called the biologists so they could rescue her.

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Pró Carnívoros

''In February 2020, Claudia (now working for ICMBio, as manager of the Conservation Units of Boqueirão da Onça), received a message from the resident involved in the first rescue, informing that Luisa had been seen in the region and trapped again, but in another cave.

Yes, Luisa was trapped again in a cave, but thanks to the Program team's work with local residents, she (person who trapped Luísa) did not do anything mean or hidden. Not only did she not react by chasing and shooting the jaguar, but she took the initiative to warn Claudia, revealing the degree of trust that over years of working in the region she and the Program have been building and maintaining. Her reaction to the vulnerability she felt, due to the losses in her herd, was to trap the animal? and call for help to get her out of there. See how careful we need to be in judging situations. And what about the resourcefulness of those who work with animal conservation in the forest?

After obtaining more information, Claudia again assembled a team and went to the site, which also presented difficulties for the rescue work, because there were two openings to the cave, covered again with stones, which required the adaptation of two types of objects for the rescue, also with risks for the team.

After evaluation, the team was able to find the best way to rescue Luisa. After three nights of waiting, Luísa was rescued on the 15th day of the second imprisonment in the cave. Again weakened, Luísa was taken to Cemafauna/Univasf to receive the necessary care.''

Luísa Caatinga female in the containment box during the rescue

*This image is copyright of its original author

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INFECTION IN HER MOUTH

''After a new evaluation, it was discovered that Luisa had a generalized infection in her mouth and would need specific treatment from veterinary dentists, because with this problem she felt a lot of pain and was at risk of worsening the infection. In the case of wild animals, deaths due to generalized infections are not uncommon, as they make it impossible for the animal to capture its natural prey and cannot feed itself. In partnership with Ampara Silvestre, two specialists were sent to treat Luisa, thus eliminating the infection and the pain she was feeling.''

Luísa's worn out dentition

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Luísa caatinga female recovering in captivity from the first case trapped in a cave for 22 days without food and water, she was rescued in dire conditions.

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She measured 58 cm in height, 100 cm in body length without the tail and weighed 46 kg when released back to the wild in Sento Sé - BA, after recovery in captivity.

*This image is copyright of its original author

There's an extra footage of this moment she attacked both cars (with the biologists in) parked next to her over the window. She was probably very stressed in this whole procedure.

*This image is copyright of its original author

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LUÍSA IS NOT ABLE TO RETURN TO THE WILD CAATINGA ANYMORE AND NEX NO EXTINCTION INSTITUTE EMBRACING LUÍSA.

''Considering her physical conditions, her age, the specific characteristics of the Caatinga and the conflict with cattle ranchers where she lived, it was realized that it would no longer be possible to return her to the wild. Following the protocols of the National Captivity Program, the institutions participating in the program were evaluated and NEX was identified as suitable to receive Luisa. We thank NEX for accepting her! Thus, she was sent by ICMBio, with the support of the Friends of the Jaguar Program, Cemafauna, Ampara Animal and the 72nd BI of Petrolina, to her new home at NEX, on February 07, 2021, remaining under the care and monitoring of ICMBio because of the Captivity Program.

The NEX is where Luisa is, this little lady who is now approximately 14 - 15 years old (in the wild they live, on average, 15 years). She will remain there, with all her friends from the jaguars and the Caatinga rooting for her and for all the 'Luísas' who have the sertão as their natural home, a biome that has been so mistreated by us, humans, that we threaten the survival of birds, reptiles, mammals... the waters, the soil... and when we are done with all of this, none of us will survive.''

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LUÍSA ARRIVING AT NEX INSTITUTION

Pass the arrows to the side to see the videos in sequence.

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Pissed off mode Luísa Caatinga female

she destroyed all palm trees in her enclosure lol.

VIDEO

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LUÍSA'S HABITUATION IN NEX's SANCTUARY

Nex No Extinction

''The whole process involving the handling of these animals must be done very carefully and be well planned, because most of these animals are suffering and are traumatized. The biggest challenge is to avoid more stress for them. Luisa is already in her new enclosure, which was built with all of your help (donations). We are immensely grateful for the support you have given us. This chain of good, unity, and love (even more so in such difficult and uncertain times) makes us even stronger to go on fighting for them.

Luisa is getting used to the environment. In the video, you can see that she is still very angry and distrustful. But she broke and uprooted all the palm trees that we planted in the enclosure, that is, she is getting comfortable... no problem, as long as she stays well, she can uproot whatever she wants and we will fix it later (except the canvas)''

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I personally think they did a good thing in taking Luísa to capitivity, just like Merlin male (who very unfortunately got blind by gunshot and he is now also in the NEX sanctuary) these jaguars went through and suffered alot in their lives and Luísa is already 14-15 yo in addition to the rough condition of her the jaws which would make her incapable of succesfuly hunting her natural preys, these jaguars are now being well taken care the best way possible at NEX, treated the way they deserve and in NEX there's no chances of her being trapped in a cave again for a third time.

*This image is copyright of its original author

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