Status: Near Threatened
Estimated numbers left in the wild: 15,000
Countries found in: Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, Ecuador across Mexico and much of Central America, the Amazon rainforest and south to Paraguay and northern Argentina
Jaguars are the third biggest cat in the world after tiger and lion and is the largest cat in the Americas.
Their name comes from the Native American word “yaguar,” which means “he who kills with one leap.” They are fierce predators, and they often take down prey much larger than themselves. They’re known for their powerful jaw strength, which allows them to crush the skulls of their prey.
Why are these animals threatened?
The Jaguar is threatened by poaching, loss of habitat, illegal wildlife trade, human wildlife conflict and fragmentation of their populations.
The biggest threat to jaguars is poaching. These animals are killed for their pelts, meat, bones, and other body parts.
Habitat destruction is a significant threat to these species, mainly deforestation. They need a lot of space to roam, and when their habitat is destroyed, they lose access to the resources they need to survive. These species can also be killed by humans when they wander into human-occupied areas. Jaguars now occupy less than half of their historical range.