JAGUAR CONSERVATION

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) indicates a suspected 20-25% decline over the past three generations (21 years) of jaguar, in terms of their range, occurrence, habitat quality, and levels of exploitation. However, assessing jaguar populations is challenging, and current numbers could well be underestimated.

The low and fragmented jaguar population is deeply worrying, but by funding the Jaguars in the Fringe conservation project, we hope to safeguard threatened jaguar population in north western Argentina.

The Yungas of north western Argentina – the jaguar’s southernmost enclave – has the potential to act as a source to recolonise other habitats where jaguars once roamed. Although fully protected by law, these jaguars are still threatened by persecution and by the degradation and fragmentation of their forest habitats, but this conservation project seeks to tackle these threats.

HOW CAN WE SAVE JAGUARS IN THE WILD?

Action is required to reduce forest habitat loss and degradation which will also enable the jaguar’s prey base to recover. Educating communities and implementing improved livestock protection will also diminish human-jaguar conflict and encourage co-existence. Strengthening anti-poaching legislation will also protect future generations of jaguars.

JAGUARS IN THE FRINGE

LOCATION: Jujuy and Salta, north west Argentina

GOAL: To protect Argentina’s diminishing jaguar population and promote the future expansion of its range

ACTIONS: Born Free supports the Jaguars in the Fringe project in partnership with Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Argentina’s Administración de Parques Nacionales (National Parks Administration), and Fondation Segré (Segré Foundation)

Since 2011, Jaguars in the Fringe has been working to secure the survival of jaguars in the threatened Yungas and change negative attitudes among the local community towards these large carnivores.

The project seeks to protect jaguars with the following actions:

Reduce habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation
Enable prey base recovery
Decrease livestock losses to jaguars and associated retaliatory killings
Target human-jaguar conflicts through education and improvement of livestock practices
Assist government agencies to implement legislation more effectively Increase awareness among all stakeholders Implement outreach activities to reduce poaching.

In addition, the project supports local governments to more effectively protect the Yungas and its wildlife, through the implementation of the Jaguar Strategic Conservation Plan for the Yungas. By working with diverse land owners – i.e. state, forestry, citric plantations, large cattle ranches and small farmholds – it promotes the recovery of wild prey populations.

A region-wide camera trap survey contributes more reliable estimates of jaguar and prey populations, the identification of key areas for conservation, and provides a better understanding of the ranchers’ attitudes toward jaguars.

WANT TO HELP SAVE JAGUARS?

With your generous support we can continue our efforts to counter the threats to jaguars, protecting their populations, conserving their habitats, and encouraging successful co-existence with communities.