Panthera Onca

The worldwide decline in carnivore populations has been attributed to various human impacts. However, our understanding of the mechanisms behind these declines is insufficient to predict the timing and location of local extinctions. We collected data on presence/absence and time since extirpation of jaguars across Venezuela. To test if human impacts or ecosystem productivity better explain the observed spatial variation in probability of jaguar occurrence we compared logistic regression models fit with different combinations of anthropogenic and environmental variables. Similarly, we modelled the time since extirpation, using a multiple regression approach. Our study supported the hypothesis that jaguar extirpations and distribution are determined by a joint effect of anthropogenic factors and environmental variables, mainly those related with ecosystem productivity. Human population density and habitat alterations exerted strong negative effects on jaguar populations, while annual precipitation, mean temperature, forest cover, primary productivity , and other vegetation indices had positive effects. The strength of human impact is shaped by ecosystem productivity: jaguars disappear faster in dry, unproductive areas, and survive better in humid, productive areas even when human densities are higher. We estimated that jaguars in Venezuela have been extirpated from approximately 26% of the territory of Venezuela; present jaguar range covers approximately 66% of the country. We demonstrate that human population density alone cannot adequately explain past extirpations nor predict future jaguar declines. We conclude that the predicted future growth of the human population will not necessarily determine jaguar declines, and proper management and conservation programs could potentially prevent jaguar extirpations.

We report the roadkill of a jaguar in one of the longest highways in Brazil (BR-101), in the stretch where this road crosses one of the most important Atlantic Forest remnants in the country: the Linhares-Sooretama block. The jaguar population present in this area represents the very last in entire Espírito Santo state. There is an approved project to the lines duplication of the entire BR-101 Highway and the company responsible by the work has already started the first activities in the state. However, there is no environmental impact assessment already done neither planning for the implementation of measures to avoid or reduce the roadkill risk in the region. Thus, to minimize the impacts associated with the BR-101, we do not recommend its lines duplication along the 15 km stretch traversing the Linhares-Sooretama block. In addition, alternatively, we suggest the deviation of the current route of the BR-101 Highway or the construction of overpasses to fauna in the most critical points, interspersing these overpasses with electronic speed monitoring devices and warning and educational plates.

Desde los inicios de la civilización, la convivencia entre humanos y carnívoros se ha dado de manera competitiva por espacio y recursos. Sin embargo, en la actualidad esta convivencia se ha transformado principalmente en conflicto, cuando los depredadores se ven obligados a coexistir con animales domésticos en paisajes dominados por el hombre . Aunque la depredación es un proceso fundamental para el mantenimiento de la biodiversidad y los procesos ecológicos, el concepto se ha transformado, debido a las malas percepciones locales y el manejo inadecuado de la información, donde los depredadores, en especial los grandes felinos se perciben como amenazas sobre la seguridad de las personas y sus propiedades (Márquez & Golstein 2014). Aunado a esto, los eventos de conflicto han incrementado en las últimas décadas debido a presiones directas sobre los carnívoros, que incluyen la reducción de sus hábitats naturales, el crecimiento demográfico humano, el incremento en la cacería retaliativa e incidental por parte de los pobladores rurales afectados, la disminución de las poblaciones de presas naturales, y el manejo inadecuado de las actividades antrópicas, entre otros factores (Hoogesteijn and Hoogesteijn 2014, , problemáticas que afectan al 75% de las especies de felinos del mundo (Inskip & Zimmermann 2009).

La figura del jaguar (Panthera onca), como principal representante de “lo felino” en América, ha sido protagonista en todas las áreas de expresión
étnica a lo largo del continente. Las sociedades se han servido históricamente de iconografías felinas como medios metafóricos para expresar cualidades humanas
y simbolizar relaciones sociales. Hoy en día se percibe una relación distinta entre humanos y felinos. El jaguar es actualmente valorado por su función ecológica como especie focal, y como símbolo de conservación de la biodiversidad por académicos y el público en general. Por otro lado, existen un rechazo y una percepción negativa de los habitantes rurales y productores agropecuarios que
comparten sus tierras con jaguares, que deriva de la competencia por recursos y hábitats, así como de un miedo heredado sobre su peligrosidad. El presente
texto busca rescatar antiguas formas de valoración de lo felino en lo que hoy es el territorio colombiano, y atraer la atención sobre aquellos simbolismos que en el contexto presente podrían cobrar relevancia frente al proceso de metavalorización de la especie, y constituirse en un aporte para su conservación. Se hace un llamado a la convivencia entre humanos y jaguares, recalcando que, en una eventual extinción del jaguar, no sólo se perdería su función ecológica sino la relación metonímica que ha enriquecido y enraizado a las culturas del territorio
colombiano por milenios.

Iconographies and Representations of the Jaguar in Colombia: from Symbolic Permanence to Biological Conservation

The figure of the jaguar (Panthera onca), as the main representative of “the feline” in America, has played a leading role in all the areas of ethnic expression throughout the continent. Its societies have traditionally made use of feline iconographies as metaphorical means to express human qualities and symbolize social relations. Nowadays, a different relation between humans and felines is seen. The jaguar is currently esteemed for its ecological role as a focal species and a symbol for the conservation of biodiversity by academics and the general public. By contrast, rural inhabitants, farmers and cattle-ranchers whose lands are inhabited by jaguars have a negative view towards them. These attitudes derive from competition for resources, territories and an inherited fear
to these large wild cats. This study thus seeks to remark ancient forms of valuing jaguars in what is now Colombia and highlight these ancient symbolisms, which in the current context may be relevant to the process of the meta-valuation of the species, and thus serve as contribution to conservation. This is a call for a peaceful co-existence of humans and jaguars, emphasizing that, if the jaguar were eventually to become extinct, we would not only lose its ecological role but also the metonymic relationship which has enriched the cultures of the territory of Colombia for millennia.

Iconografias e representações da onça-pintada na Colômbia: da permanência simbólica à conservação biológica

a figura da onça-pintada (Panthera onca), como principal representante do “felino” na América, tem sido  protagonista em todas as áreas de expressão étnica ao longo do continente. As sociedades vêm sendo servidas historicamente de iconografias felinas como meios metafóricos para expressar qualidades humanas e simbolizar relações sociais. Hoje, percebe-se uma relação diferente entre humanos e felinos. A onça-pintada é atualmente valorizada por sua função ecológica como espécie focal e como símbolo de conservação da biodiversidade por acadêmicos e pelo público geral. Contrastam a rejeição e a percepção negativa dos habitantes rurais e produtores agropecuários que compartilham suas terras com jaguares. Essa correspondência encontra sua base na competição por
recursos e hábitats bem como num medo herdado sobre o perigo que apresenta para os humanos. O presente texto procura, então, resgatar antigas formas de
valorização do felino no que hoje é o território colombiano e atrair a atenção sobre aqueles simbolismos que, no contexto atual, poderiam ganhar relevância diante
do processo de metavalorização da espécie e constituir-se numa contribuição para sua conservação. Faz-se um chamado à convivência entre humanos e onçaspintadas,
salientando que, numa eventual extinção delas, não somente se perderia sua função ecológica, mas também a relação metonímica que tem enriquecido as culturas do território colombiano por milênios.

We analyzed the food habits of the jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor) in
a protected area surrounded by a fragmented landscape in northeastern Mexico. We estimated relative biomass of each prey species consumed; by analysis of 43 and 22 scat samples of jaguar and puma collected during 2010–2012. The diet of both felids was comprised mainly of wild artiodactyls; the collared peccary contributed 35.2% to the biomass of jaguar diets and white-tailed deer contributed
51.9% to puma diets. Diet composition of both felids showed moderate overlap (Pianka index = 0.57; Morisita index = 0.58), but use of the primary prey differed between species (
P ˂ 0.001). The diet of both felids included almost exclusively wild species, suggesting the presence of a good prey base that allows the coexistence of jaguars and pumas. Despite its small size and surrounding fragmentation, the Biosphere Reserve Sierra del Abra-Tanchipa is still an important refuge for large felids and their prey
in northeastern Mexico.

The present communication reports the opportunistic consumption of the meat of jaguar (Panthera onca) in the state of Pará, in Brazilian Amazon. The animal was killed in retaliation for cattle predation and the meat was salted and dried for later consumption. Although there are few reports of the use of the meat of big cats for food in Brazil, the consumption of these species should be further investigated in the country. If the consumption of meat of big cats be characterized as a common practice in some Brazilian regions, as observed in other regions in South America, this activity can become an additional threat for the species in Brazil and should also be considered in the conservation plans of the affected species.

The jaguar is the top predator of the Atlantic Forest (AF), which is a highly threatened biodiversity hotspot that occurs in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. By combining data sets from 14 research groups across the region, we determine the population status of the jaguar and propose a spatial prioritization for conservation actions. About 85% of the jaguar's habitat in the AF has been lost and only 7% remains in good condition. Jaguars persist in around 2.8% of the region, and live in very low densities in most of the areas. The population of jaguars in the AF is probably lower than 300 individuals scattered in small sub-populations. We identified seven Jaguar Conservation Units (JCUs) and seven potential JCUs, and only three of these areas may have ≥50 individuals. A connectivity analysis shows that most of the JCUs are isolated. Habitat loss and fragmentation were the major causes for jaguar decline, but human induced mortality is the main threat for the remaining population. We classified areas according to their contribution to jaguar conservation and we recommend management actions for each of them. The methodology in this study could be used for conservation planning of other carnivore species.

Information on scavenging by jaguars is scarce, dispersed and little documented in the scientific literature, producing a shallow understanding of this phenomenon. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to describe the behavior of multiple jaguars scavenging on single carcasses of olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) that died by jaguar predation. The study was conducted at two beaches (Naranjo and Nancite) within the Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica. We carried out morning walks on Naranjo and Nancite beaches. We set up camera traps to capture the full extent of the feeding behavior on fresh jaguar-predated turtles. We recorded two scavenging events. The jaguars involved in the two scavenging events dragged or tried to drag the sea turtle carcass to a new location. This behavior could suggest the presence of intraspecific kleptoparasitism. However, further investigation of this type is required to determine the existence of kleptoparasitism, and also to get a deeper understanding of scavenging in jaguars and its relation to prey availability. La información sobre el carroñeo por múltiples jaguares es escasa, dispersa y poco documentada en la literatura científica, esto produce un entendimiento superficial del fenómeno. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este trabajo es describir el comportamiento de varios jaguares que carroñean sobre un mismo cadáver de tortuga lora (Lepidochelys olivacea) que murieron por la depredación de jaguar. El estudio se realizó en dos playas (Naranjo y Nancite) dentro del Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, Costa Rica. Hemos llevado a cabo caminatas diurnas en las playas Naranjo y Nancite. Instalamos cámaras trampa para capturar toda la extensión de la conducta alimentaria de jaguar al depredar tortugas marinas. Se registraron dos eventos de carroñeo. Todos los jaguares que participan en los dos eventos de carroñeo intentaron robar y esconder el cadáver de la tortuga marina. Este comportamiento sugiere la presencia de cleptoparasitismo intraespecífico, sin embargo, se requiere más investigación de este tipo para determinar si el cleptoparasitismo existe y, además, lograr un entendimiento más profundo del carroñeo en jaguares y sus relaciones con la disponibilidad y abundancia de las presas.