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The spots gave it away. Like human fingerprints, the rosette pattern on each jaguar is unique, so after reviewing images captured by a remote camera in Southern California, researchers knew they had a new animal on their hands. Arizona,
The University of Arizona Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center says it is the fifth big cat to be seen in the region after crossing into the US in the last 15 years.Mexico Limit. The animal was captured on camera when it visited a watering hole in November, its distinctive location distinguishing it from previous sightings.
“We’re very excited. It shows that this population of jaguars is continuing to come here because they’re getting what they need,” Susan Malusa, director of the center’s jaguar and ocelot project, said during an interview Thursday.
The team is now working on conducting genetic analysis and collecting scat samples to determine the gender and other details about the new jaguar, including what it likes to eat. The menu can include everything from skunks and javelina to small deer.
As an indicator species, Malusa said the continued presence of big cats in the region suggests a healthy landscape but climate change and border barriers could threaten migratory corridors. He said rising temperatures and significant drought have increased the need to ensure connectivity for the jaguar with its historic range in Arizona.
Over 99% of the jaguar’s range is found in central and South AmericaAccording to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the few male jaguars that have been sighted in the US are believed to have become isolated from the main population in Mexico. Jaguar breeding in the U.S. has not been documented for more than 100 years, officials have said.
Federal biologists list the primary threats to the endangered species as habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as animals being targeted for trophies and illegal trade.
The Fish and Wildlife Service issued a final rule in 2024 revising the designated habitat for the jaguar in response to the legal challenge. The area declined to about 1,000 square miles (2,590 square kilometers) in Pima, Arizona. holy cross and Cochise counties.
Recent detection data supports the conclusion that a jaguar appears every few years, Malusa said, with activity often linked to water availability. When food and water are abundant, there is less movement.
In the case of Jaguar #5, he said it was remarkable that the cat kept returning to the area over a 10-day period. Otherwise, he described the animals as quite elusive.
“That’s the message — that this species is recovering,” Malusa said. “We want people to know this and we still have a chance to get this right and keep these corridors open.”