In this post we will know Why is the jaguar in danger of extinction? Yes, the great cat of the American continent and the third largest of all felines on the planet is about to disappear. It depends on us that this majestic creature continues to rule our jungles.
¿Where does the jaguar lives?
The jaguar (Panthera onca) is one of the colossal felines of the Panthera genus, the largest in the American continent and the third of all felines on the planet, only behind Tiger and the lion.
It is distinguished by its particular yellow-brown fur with rose-like spots, which gives it a perfect camouflage in the middle of the jungle.
But despite his celebrity many people don't know Where does the jaguar lives. Well, this legendary creature lives in tropical and temperate forests. Its footprint extends from the southern United States to northeastern Argentina, passing through much of Mexico, Central America, and South America.
But despite how extensive its distribution seems, current populations of this colossal cat are fragmented. Such a situation is due to the influence exerted by the hand of man in its delicate environment.
Contrary to what is thought of the big cats, in its original environment the jaguar is an extremely active creature. It is known that it is capable of walking up to five kilometers every day in search of its prey. But he is also distinguished by being an incomparable swimmer.
They can measure two meters long and weigh around 150 kg.
It is a predator that bases its diet on wild boars, anacondas, alligators, and even turtles. Despite all these qualities that seem to guarantee the survival of any creature, the jaguar is in danger of extinction.
How many jaguars are left in the world?
La International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), classifies this American feline as near threatened species. This means that in a short time it could pass to the category of vulnerable species, as its population has ostensibly declined in recent decades.
But when asked how many of these specimens remain on the planet, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) replies that the population of the great American cat has shrunk by an alarming 37%, just since 1980.
However, the chances of long-term survival are considered to be close to 70%, but only if the appropriate measures for its preservation are put into practice.
Currently it is believed that there are approximately 15 thousand specimens in the wild. Of this amount, the WCS has offered to protect more than 5 thousand, as well as 400 thousand km2 of the habitat of this legendary creature.
Main threats of the jaguar
To delve into the details of the information regarding the jaguar in danger of extinction, it is necessary to address the causes that threaten this creature. This is the only way to know how to react to prevent the situation of these creatures from entering a "vulnerable state", as foreseen by the IUCN.
But we must also take into account that apart from affecting the species itself, the decrease in the population of these felines also disturbs the general balance of their environment. This can give us an idea of the consequences of the extinction of the jaguarin an unwanted future.
Now let's see some of the causes that give us to understand Why is the jaguar in danger of extinction?:
Illegal hunting
Illegal hunting is carried out by poachers who, most of the time, have a very negative effect on the population of this species. The jaguar is persecuted for its skin, considered to be the main cause of mortality for this legendary creature.
However, there is another modality that grows over time, it is its capture and trade as exotic prey. Most of the time it is the hunters who kill the jaguar mothers in order to take their young, which very unfortunately are well valued in that black market.
Destruction of your environment
Deforestation is a global evil that harms most of the world's species, including this feline. The black market for wood in the endemic areas of this creature is on the rise, while jaguar populations are proportionally declining.
But as if such a terrible evil were not enough, now many of their former territories are devastated by illegal mining, another multi-million dollar company where this poor feline has no shares.
This practice leads to the slow destruction of the wild environment of the species, which causes the isolation of individuals. But it also brings with it exposure to human beings and a decrease in genetic variety.
Deadly competition with ranchers
The recurrent exploitation of the natural environment of the jaguar has generated confrontations between these creatures and ranchers. These, after cutting down the jungle and planting grasslands to introduce cattle, blame the species for attacking their cattle, a "crime" that is paid with death.
In this way, the jaguar loses its territory and when it is not confronted with the almighty ranchers, it does so with the inhabitants of the towns that seem to proliferate in the vicinity of the cattle areas, once the habitat of the great American feline.
Illegal hunting and trade of jaguar prey
Finally, it is worth noting that the equally illegal hunting of other species, a source of food for jaguars, plays an important role in the decline of the population.
It is noteworthy that the smuggling of exotic animals has become one of the largest companies in the world. Although it is prohibited in most countries of the world, it is a multi-million dollar shadow business.
In such a way that with the hunting and extraction of anacondas, wild boars, alligators and turtles, even the most feared of predators find it difficult to find the food they require to survive.
But it is also another factor that drives him more and more to cross the invisible limits that ranchers place on them.
So if the IUCN production were fulfilled, these would have been the main causes of the extinction of the jaguar.
How to prevent the extinction of the jaguar?
Now that we know why the jaguar is in danger of extinction and how many of them are left in the wild, it behooves us to ask what we can do to prevent this legendary creature from disappearing.
To begin with, it is of the first order to promote a sustainable and respectful lifestyle with the environment. This will help reduce pollution, as well as deforestation and hunting. Definitely a great first step.
That can materialize through small actions, such as with local ecological movements. In this simple way, you contribute enormously to the cause of caring for our planet, which includes the Wild animals.
But this can also be achieved through joint work with other conservation entities and sectors. What how? By disseminating information, raising awareness and/or collecting funds to promote and materialize concrete actions in the environment and in the preservation of the species.
Something as simple as collecting signatures to commit people or draw the attention of the authorities in the protection of natural parks, can be vital for the jaguar and many other creatures.
But the initiative can be extended by stimulating laws that watch over fauna. As you can see, these are also measures that can bring closer and involve state entities that decisively and effectively support wildlife projects and their conservation.