New Delhi: Jaguar is one of the most beautiful animals you will see in a forest, of course, if you are present in its habitat. The regal animal is a large cat species and the genus Panthera’s only living member that is native to the Americas. It is the biggest cat species in the Americas and the third largest in the world.
Every year on November 29, International Jaguar Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the increasing threats that the jaguars are facing and the efforts to protect the animal to ensure its survival from Mexico to Argentina. The day not only celebrates the largest wild cat in the Americas as an umbrella species for biodiversity conservation but also as an icon for sustainable development and the cultural heritage of South and Central America. The day also brings together all the interested parties in the conservation of jaguars and puts the spotlight on the need to conserve jaguar corridors and their habitats.
The appearance of Jaguars
After tigers and lions, Jaguars are the world’s third biggest cat. They can reach a maximum length of 2.5 metres and can weigh up to 113k. However, the size of jaguars differ greatly across different regions. Jaguars look like leopards with fur that is tan or orange in colour. Also, their skin has spots called “rosettes” which feature a complex pattern of central dots.
Where do they live?
In the Americas, the only big cat that lives is the Jaguar. In ancient cultures, they were worshipped as Gods and are mostly found in the rainforest and tropical wetlands. National Geographic states that the jaguar once lived in a massive area from central Argentina up to the southwest of the US. But since 1880, they have lost more than half the territory. They now primarily live in the Amazon Basin and the Pantanal and their population has reduced greatly. They are also found in Brazil as per the WWF.
What do they eat?
Jaguars are keen swimmers and devour turtles, fish, and even caiman. Their diet also includes deer, capybaras, and even the tapir, South America’s largest animal. They can hunt both at night and during the day and can travel more than six miles in search of prey. The powerful bite of the jaguar enables it to pierce the carapaces of turtles and tortoises. Also, it enables them to employ an unusual killing method: The animal bites directly through the skull of mammalian prey between the ears to deliver a fatal blow to the brain.
What are the threats they are facing?
The population of the jaguars is in a perilous position right now. As per the Wildlife Conservation Society, large-scale deforestation for agriculture, building of dams, and rampant poaching of the animal to profit from skin, paws, teeth, and other parts for use in traditional Asian medicine have greatly reduced the population of jaguars.
Loss and fragmentation of habitat, illegal killing to protect livestock and illegal trade of jaguar body parts have reduced its population. Since 2002, it has been listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Deforestation has also played a key role in their dwindling population. The Amazon Rainforest is their only remaining stronghold and the region is rapidly being fragmented by deforestation.
Every year on November 29, International Jaguar Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the increasing threats that the jaguars are facing and the efforts to protect the animal to ensure its survival from Mexico to Argentina. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
