Jaguars (Panthera onca) are big, powerful feline predators. They were driven from the United States many decades ago. But sightings over the last several decades suggest the cats may be making an American comeback. A new Arizona jaguar sighting has once again raised those hopes.
There is no certainty that the cats will recolonize Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. But conservationists and wild cat lovers have certainly rolled out the welcome mat. Continent wide efforts are underway to protect the jaguar and to expand and connect the cat’s range in both north and south America.
In fact, a formal petition has been filed to convince the United States government to actively work to return the cats to the United States. The Arizona jaguar sighting comes during renewed efforts to expand the cats range.
Jaguars once roamed the United States from Louisiana west to California. They ranged south deep into South America. The greatest number remain in Brazil, their traditional stronghold. In central and South America they are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation.
Habitat loss is currently a prime enemy and conservationists are hoping to connect current population pockets and to reintroduce Jaguars into areas from which they have been driven. Some of these efforts are similar to American efforts to save cougars AKA Puma concolor. The Liberty Canyon overcrossing has proven a model for efforts north and south.
of the border. The overcrossing is expected to be completed in 2025. It would link the Santa Monica Mountains with open country to the north. The ambitious project will build a bridge for wildlife over the 101 Freeway. Unfortunately, recent wildfires threaten the area. The impact on the project is not known as of this writing
Another effort seeks to capture wild jaguars and release them into habitat from which they have been driven. A third seeks to retrain jaguars born into captivity so that they can survive in the wild.
Although the Arizona jaguar sighting is important to conservationists it is not conclusive. The cats seen in Arizona are all male. Unless females follow them and raise cubs reintroduction has not occurred.