Tuesday August 18, 2009, 10:10 pm
“Problem Jaguars” Help Save the Species
08/17/2009

When jaguars kill livestock, farmers often kill jaguars. Sharon Matola - the “Jane Goodall of Belize” - has turned that problem into a solution that just may save the species.

Sleek, spotted jaguars roam the jungles, wetlands and grasslands throughout South and Central America and in Mexico right to the border with Texas, but according to the IUCN Red List, which lists the species as near threatened, the species is declining throughout its range because their preferred forest habitat is being deforested, degraded, or turned into ranchland. Deforestation isolates the remaining habitat fragments, and these obligate carnivores need a lot of room to roam.

Enter Sharon Matola's brainchild - the Problem Jaguar Rehabilitation Program. Instead of killing the jaguars that repeatedly kill livestock, why not capture them, and bring them to zoos for captive breeding in the Species Survival Plan? Although the cats are listed as endangered in the U.S., only 100 jaguars currently reside in U.S. zoos with fewer than 45 engaged in breeding, not enough to create a healthy reservoir of genetic diversity. After realizing that just between 2002 and 2004, ranchers killed over 60 jaguars in Belize alone, Matola started the Problem Jaguar Rehabilitation Program in 2004. She realized these animals could be captured instead of killed, slowly acclimated to the presence of people, brought to zoos, and then used in captive breeding. The floundering economy has slowed the project a bit, since the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service approves the import of every animal, and cutbacks have slowed permit approval.

In 2008, Pat the Cat became the first jaguar brought to the U.S. through this program, a male cat who Matola housed for several years in Belize. He’s gradually adjusted to his new environment at the Milwaukee County Zoo "He currently has a large outdoor area to wander, with places to hide, large rocks mimicking limestone caves in Belize, a pool and climbing logs," explains Nancy Kennedy, a volunteer under Matola's guidance who has worked with Pat and other jaguars for years in Belize, and now at the zoo. "He also has an indoor area which allows the public to see him at closer range."

Please visit the site to read the rest:

Tuesday August 18, 2009, 10:13 pm



Thnx Raffi hun!!!

Tuesday August 18, 2009, 10:13 pm
Thank you Raffi. They are truly magnificent cats.

Tuesday August 18, 2009, 11:36 pm
Thanks Raffi, good story.

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 12:58 pm
it is a problem

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 1:03 pm
Thanks Raffi. They are beautiful animals and we must protect them. I wish I could blast these folks who are destroying their habitat right off the face of earth. I don't think they will be missed....

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 5:49 pm
Considering that there is little to no wild left and that trying to reintroduce them into the wild may cause problems (such as resuming killing cattle and the like), this might be the best solution though I wish they could stay in the wild. Thank you, Raffi, for sharing this article.

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 5:52 pm
Thank you Raff

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 6:45 pm
THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN INTERESTING PROGRAM,BUT TAM SOMEWHAT CONFLICTED ABOUT CAPTURING THEM FROM THE WILD EVEN THOUGH IT WILL SAVE THEIR LIVES.,ITS A SHAME THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN FROM THEIR NATURAL ENVIROMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING JAGUARS AND USING THEIR NATURAL INSTINCT!TO HUNT!

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 6:58 pm
There is ultimately not much point preserving a species which will have no habitat to return to. If all of the jags forests are gone, what will happen to the captive jags- will they ever be returned to the wild?

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 7:26 pm
yet another problem caused by the human consumption of meat, and human greed and stupidity! it is not fair that they should have to be taken from their homes, but at least it saves their lives! here is another way to save them, GO VEG!

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 7:58 pm
Thanks for your comments everyone

-ultimately it would be wonderful if they could remain in the wild (such as it is or isn't) but if this saves their lives and I am in favor of that.

No Eureka-I don't think they would be missed. ;-)

I'm not a fan or zoos. I'm not a fan of captive situations but as someone who has had experience with wildlife in Florida and having been involved in conservation there (for what it was worth-which wasn't much) there is one priority in my mind -saving these precious lives.

It may not be optimum but there are some zoos , as for instance, Miami Metrozoo and others who REALLY do have the interest of endangered and vulnerable species at heart. In my hear, as well, t-I want to preserve this majestic cat-and then take it from there.

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 11:06 pm
Noted & signed

Thursday August 20, 2009, 1:19 am
I agree it is a shame that they are not accepted in their own habitat

Thursday August 20, 2009, 2:07 am
Not a fan of zoos but this may be the only way out for these cats.

Thursday August 20, 2009, 2:31 am
Not sure this is the answer... by removing them from their natural environment we are often doing more harm that good... but if we can ensure the future of the species and end killing, then perhaps we need to consider this option. They are not the problem, the farmers are. They need to be educated to live with nature, not battle against it.

Thursday August 20, 2009, 3:05 am
I pray for the time when we no longer have to take them from their real homes just to ensure their future. And that by that time, they won't be endangered anymore.

Thanks for the news.

Thursday August 20, 2009, 7:41 am
Don't take them from the wild where they rightfully belong. We don't need more ranchland -if people go
vegetarian and forgo MEAT. Why are we cutting down the forests? We already know it's bad for the
environment. Let's cut down on the population - we're running out of space and WATER !!

Thursday August 20, 2009, 8:39 am
Thanks Raffi.

Thursday August 20, 2009, 9:33 am
THANK YOU RAFFI :-)

Thursday August 20, 2009, 10:38 am
Thannnx.. so pleased to hear that someone has come up with an creative ideas to save a species instead of culling them

Thursday August 20, 2009, 4:50 pm

I do agree with Chaz!!!
Thanks

Thursday August 20, 2009, 6:37 pm
It is sad that they are captive, but it is better than them being killed. I agree we shouldn't be destroying their habitat but that is a separate problem. If we simply worked on stopping that, many jags would lose their lives. Work must be done on both issues.

Tuesday August 25, 2009, 4:54 am
Theses are such beautiful animals; they have no intent to harm anyone, the life as they were meant to live. In the wild eating only to survive have there families and move on. The programs that were set in place by certain counties is called flag fencing. Which is sit up with different gage fence and red flags; this seems to be working in keeping wild animals out and away from farm animals. So Congress needs to create a better way to expedite this project and push it forward. It would sure take a lot of pressure off our critters.
This is very good approach and giving the time they could have a greater life with out the unnecessary death sentence. SAVE OUR BABIES AND THERE HABITATS......Thanks for the story Rafael