Endangered Jaguar- Monica Medor

Monica Medor

Recovery Plan for the Endangered Jaguar

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Description & Ecology of the Jaguar:

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• The jaguar the third largest feline species following the tiger and lion however it is the only and largest Panthera species native to the Americas.
• Panthera oncas are about 5-8 feet long from nose to tail and range from weighing 80 to 348 pounds. The average jaguar weighs about 120 pounds. Males are usually 10 to 30% larger than females. The jaguars have the strongest jaws and teeth of any American cats.
• In tropics the jaguars mate in any season, elsewhere they mate later in the year.
• Gestational period lasts from 95- 110 days. Male and female jaguar stay together during mating and pregnancy. Female gives birth to 1-4 cubs (usually 2). 
• Jaguars live to be about 20 years old in captivity and 11- 12 years in the wild. 
• Reach sexual maturity on average at age 3.

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What Jaguars Eat?

• Exclusively carnivores- top of food chain.
• Opportunistic hunter- meaning it hunts and consumes prey relative to its abundance - eclectic diet.
• Generalist
• Hunt in high grass, plains, forests, and river banks.
• Large mammals such as: deer, cattle, monkeys, & sloths
• Reptiles such as: crocodiles, frogs, & turtles

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Geographic & Population Changes:

• Jaguars historically ranged from Southern United States to central Argentina
• Could be found in CA, AZ, NM, TX, FL before 1940
• Today jaguar populations are only present in Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Guatemala, & Belize. 
• Populations of jaguars have been on a decline since the 1800s 
• Population densities have declined to about 1 - 11 jaguars per 40 miles

Listing Date & Type of Listing:

Date: March 28th, 1972

Type: Endangered

Where listed: Arizona, California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas, Mexico, Central America, & South America. 

Cause of Listing & Main Threats:

• Causes of listing:
• Number of jaguar populations have declined drastically within the last century
• 18,000 wild jaguars hunted each year in 1960's- 70's for beautiful coat
• Now only about 15,000 jaguars left in the whole world
• 3 Main Threats: Humans
1. Deforestation & habitat fragmentation for agriculture and human development 
2. Direct hunting by farmers who view jaguars as a threat 
3. Lack of natural prey from competition with humans for that prey 

Recovery Plan:

• Recovery outline: April 18th, 2012
• Prepared by: Jaguar Recovery Team & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Recovery goal: Conserve & protect the jaguar so that its long-term survival is secured and it can be taken off the endangered and threatened species list. 

Approach: Summarize what's known about the status of jaguar and identify actions necessary to conserve them. 

Plan: 

1. Assess, protect, & restore sufficient habitat to support viable populations of jaguars.
2. Mediate effects of human population growth and development on jaguar survival & mortality where possible.
3. Reduce direct human-caused (i.e., illegal and legal killing) mortality of jaguars.
4. Reduce illegal hunting of jaguar prey and improve regulation of legal hunting. 
5. Maintain/ improve genetic fitness, demographic conditions, and health of the jaguar.
6. Assure the long-term viability of jaguar conservation through partnerships, the development and application of incentives for landowners, application of existing regulations, and public education and outreach
7. Practice adaptive management in which recovery is monitored and recovery tasks are revised by the USFWS in coordination with the Jaguar Recovery Team as new information becomes available.
8. Support international efforts to ascertain the status and conservation needs of the jaguar in the two recovery units.

Sources Used: 

http://www.jaguar.org.br/en/the-jaguar/ecology-and-conservation-of-the-jaguar-in-the-serra-da-capivara-and-serra-das-confuses-national-park/index.html

http://www.panthera.org/

http://www.edu.pe.ca/southernkings/jaguar.htm

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00106.x/full

http://bigcatrescue.org/jaguar-facts/

http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=A040

http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/teacher_resources/best_place_species/current_top_10/jaguar.cfm