Tabby Reed
- Sep 29, 2020
- 3 min read

Jaguar Habitat Loss

Jaguars used to roam from the southern western United States all the way down to almost the tip of Argentina. They have been eradicated from 40% of historic range and are extinct in two countries; Uruguay and El Salvador (Panthera Panthera onca, 2020). It is believed that there has not been a breeding jaguar population in the United States in over 50 years (Panthera Jaguar, 2020). Agriculture seems to be the biggest threat removing jaguar habitat (Panthera Jaguar, 2020).

Agriculture not only removes suitable jaguar habitat but it also makes it fragmented forcing jaguar populations to become isolated, which jeopardizes the genetic gene flow (Panthera Jaguar, 2020). Deforestation is destroying jaguar habitat and threatening wildlife (WWF Jaguar, 2020). Deforestation also creates wildfires that endanger the flora and fauna in the area. Mining and cattle ranching operations have also reduced the jaguar habitat (USFWS Jaguars, 2020).

Panthera created a Jaguar Corridor Initiative to protect jaguars across their entire range (Panthera Jaguar, 2020). The goal is to protect the genetic integrity of jaguars and connect and protect their core habitat (Panthera Jaguar, 2020). Panthera is currently working in eleven countries to help ensure a jaguar corridor is and remains in place (Panthera Jaguar Corridor, 2020). The eleven countries are Belize, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and Suriname (Panthera Jaguar Corridor, 2020).

Although it is wonderful that organizations, like Panthera, are focusing on corridors, it is not always possible. The border wall between the United States and Mexico stops jaguars, pumas, and other wildlife from being able to migrate over their entire range (NJP Border Wall, 2020). The wall has and is destroying species habitat, disrupting migratory wildlife patterns, and alters ecosystems (NJP Border Wall, 2020). Some refer to this border wall, and other border walls, as a ‘fence to extinction’ because of the damage and destruction it causes (NJP Border Wall, 2020).

The Northern Jaguar Reserve is a refuge for jaguars and other wildlife (NJP Reserve, 2020). There is a variety of vegetation and topography for the jaguars to roam through (NJP Reserve, 2020). The reserve protects 215 resident and migratory bird species, over 50 reptile and amphibian species, more than 48 species of mammals, 100 butterfly species and 100 aquatic invertebrates, and these are just the species that have made themselves known to humans (NJP Species of Concern, 2020). Of the 48 mammal species there are four felines, the jaguar, puma, ocelot and bobcat (NJP Species of Concern, 2020). The reserve is 55,000 acres in the middle of prime jaguar habitat, south of the U.S.-Mexico border below Arizona (NJP Location, 2020).

The Northern Jaguar Project is protecting the world’s northernmost jaguars, by providing them with a safe place to live in the reserve (NJP Home, 2020). They have been able to identify over 70 individual jaguars, including mothers and their cubs (NJP Home, 2020). In addition to the reserve the Northern Jaguar Project also works with ranchers, schools, and rural communities to encourage tolerance of jaguars and reduce human-wildlife conflicts (NJP Home, 2020). They strive to preserve essential jaguar habitat in northern Mexico, restore habitat to be suitable for jaguars and other wildlife, support wildlife through educational programs with the communities, and instill pride and respect towards the jaguar (NJP Our Mission, 2020).