JAGUAR CONSERVATION STATUS
Jaguars are considered key predators because they maintain a balance in the ecosystem by regulating size population of other species into predator/prey systems.
Unfortunately, the Jaguar (Panthera onca) conservation status in Panama is not well known. Jaguars populations along with their preys in Panama are rapidly disappearing due the loss of habitat, deforestation, improper management and intensive poaching. Please consider making a donation to protect the last Jaguars of Panama.
The first big cats conservation studies in Panama were performed 20 years ago; these basic studies were focused on diet, ecologic aspects, and very few on the status of Panamanian populations of big cats. The Isthmus of Panama is a key region in “the jaguar corridor” which is part of the Mesoamerican biological corridor. Panama can make a difference because, in the end, we have in our hands the destiny of these and many other animals’ species.
Jaguar Conservation in Panama
The presence of jaguars is also an indicator of the environmental health of ecosystems, and a sign of the state of Panamanian biodiversity. The jaguar populations in Panama continues to decline rapidly with the risk of disappearing mainly due to the decrease in forest cover and its natural prey, the expansion of the cattle frontier. Jaguars have lost 40% of their habitat in Panama and are increasingly isolated, vulnerable and exposed to more direct and problematic contact with humans because they compete for the same space.
The Panamanian isthmus is especially important for jaguar conservation as it is the last and narrowest portion of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, which has served for thousands of years as a natural land bridge between North and South America.
The conflict between farmers and big cats is one of the main causes of the rapid disappearance of jaguars in the region. This conflict has been dramatically diminishing the populations of big cats.
Our organisation is creating conservation campaigns and integral strategies that include anthropogenic activity in surroundings, vital to protect these and other widlife mammanls in Panama. Our action plans will act as soon as possible and attract funds to promote the coexistence between big cats and humans in Panama.
The decline of jaguar populations in Panama is evident by recent studies, having not well understood ecological implications. Another eminent impact in the decreasing number of this charismatic specie, is been part of the cosmovision and imaginary social structure of many ethnic groups in the region because of its magnificence and the power it invokes. Regrettably, the efforts of national and regional governments to protect these animals from extinction has not succeeded, but it seems that jaguar conservation has become a politic issue with a unique solution, which is killing these big cats.
You can save Jaguars by buying a native tree using our reforestation program called LEAF WILDLIFE. Check out LEAF, there is a wide range of prey that are part of the healthy Jaguar ecosystem, by protecting these animals we protect the jaguar too.
The fitness of the population of jaguars in Panama is extremely critical. One of the most invasive human activities on a large proportion of Panamanian forests is cattle ranching. Therefore, encounters with jaguars has become increasingly common when jaguars begin attacking farm animals due to the reduction of wild preys. Moreover, local ranchers start blaming the jaguars not only for the loss of their cattle but they believe jaguars
can represent a serious threat to human. Hence, ranchers react by killing these big cats. This conflict is the main reason why the populations of jaguars have been in steady decline, not only in Panama, but also throughout the American continent. Similarly, other main causes that have rapidly decimated big cats populations of declination are the losing of habitat by timber, sport hunting or unjustified fear.
